3-Day Merzouga Sahara Tour: Camel Rides & Berber Camps

You sleep in a Berber tent under the Sahara sky, not in a hotel room.

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert, traveling through the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and Dades Gorge with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French. Transport by air-conditioned vehicle, camel rides at sunset and sunrise, and half-board accommodation (dinner and breakfast) in a mix of hotels and a Berber tent are included; children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel to Dades and explore Kasbah

• Travel through diverse landscapes
• Visit Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
• Dinner at 4-star hotel

Day 2 — Explore Merzouga and desert camp

• Visit Merzouga sand dunes
• Camel ride to desert camp
• Dinner in Berber tent
• Breakfast in Berber tent

Day 3 — Return to Marrakech via Valley of Roses

• Visit Valley of Roses
• Breakfast

The Experience

The route leaves Marrakech and moves through two distinct landscapes before reaching the dunes. The first day takes you to the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village of earthen buildings that sits on the UNESCO list, and then into Dades Gorge, where the rock walls rise around you as the road follows the river. You stay that night in a 4-star hotel in the Atlas Dades region. The second day is the push toward Merzouga: the landscape opens into sand, and when you arrive at the dunes you trade the vehicle for a camel. A guide leads you out for the sunset ride, then you sleep in a Berber tent at dar tafouite, where dinner and breakfast are part of the package. The third morning brings another camel ride to watch the sunrise over the same dunes before the drive back to Marrakech begins.

Transport is handled throughout—a modern, air-conditioned vehicle picks you up and carries the group across all three days. The guide travels with you and speaks your language (English, Spanish, Italian or French are available). Meals are structured: breakfast and dinner come with the accommodation, so you eat in the places you sleep. Lunches and drinks are on your own, which gives flexibility to stop where you want or skip a meal if the day calls for it. Children from age 3 can join; younger infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.

Two accommodation options shape the experience. The standard tour uses a mix of a 4-star hotel on day one and a Berber tent on day two. The luxury version upgrades the camp itself, keeping the same route and camel rides but changing where you spend the second night. Both include the same transport, guide and meals, so the choice comes down to how you want to experience the desert overnight.

What’s included

• All transport in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle from Marrakech through day three.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• two camel rides (sunset and sunrise) with one camel per person.
• accommodation for two nights (a 4-star hotel on day one, a Berber tent on day two).
• dinner and breakfast each day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Maroc Adventure

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to sleep in the desert itself rather than commute to the dunes from a town—the Berber tent on night two is what makes the full Sahara experience possible inside three days, and the camel rides at both ends of that night anchor the itinerary around the thing you came to see.

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Top questions

What is the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and why does it matter on this tour?

The Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is a fortified village built from earth and clay, a UNESCO World Heritage site that sits on the route between Marrakech and the Sahara. The tour stops there on day one so you can walk through the architecture and see how the buildings are constructed before moving on to Dades Gorge.

How does the camel ride work—is it one ride or two?

You get two camel rides: one at sunset on day two when you arrive at Merzouga, and one at sunrise on day three before the drive back. Each person rides their own camel, and the guide leads both rides from the camp.

Where do I sleep on the second night, and what is a Berber tent like?

The second night is in a Berber tent at dar tafouite, a traditional camp in the Merzouga dunes. Dinner and breakfast are included at the camp; the tent is your accommodation for that one night, and the standard tour uses this setup while the luxury option upgrades the camp itself.

Is lunch included, or do I need to budget for it separately?

Lunches are not included in the tour price, so you'll need to budget for them on your own. Breakfast and dinner are covered at your accommodation each night, but midday meals are your choice.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Children from age 3 are welcome. Younger infants can travel in a pram or stroller in the vehicle, and specialized infant seats are available if you need them during the drive.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is live and speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French, so you can choose the language that works for your group when you book.