Marrakech to Merzouga 7-Day Desert Tour: Private Guided Journey

Seven days moving through Morocco without arranging the stops yourself

A private 7-day guided tour starting and ending in Marrakech that moves through the Red City, the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara desert to Merzouga. The itinerary is fixed—hotel pickups, transport between towns, lunch, and a guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or Arabic are all arranged—so you travel without building the logistics. Minimum age 12; suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Marrakech city tour

• Arrive at Marrakech airport
• Drive to Riad hotel in old city
• Explore Djama El Fna Square
• Watch sunset from terrace

Day 2 — Drive to Ouarzazate and sightseeing

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive through Atlas Mountains
• Visit Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou
• Check in to hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 3 — Drive to Zagora via Draa valley

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Zagora via Tizi-n-Tinifift pass
• Visit Tinfou sand dunes
• Visit Tamegroute library
• Check in to hotel in Zagora

Day 4 — Drive to Merzouga and camel trekking

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Merzouga desert town
• Camel trekking on Erg Chebbi dunes
• Check in to hotel in Merzouga

Day 5 — 4x4 desert excursion and sunrise

• Breakfast at hotel
• Full day 4x4 desert excursion
• Watch sunrise over dunes
• Return to hotel in Merzouga

Day 6 — Drive to Dades Boumalne

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Boumalne Dades town
• Check in to hotel in Boumalne Dades

Day 7 — Return to Marrakech and departure

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive back to Marrakech
• Transfer to Marrakech airport

The Experience

You arrive at Marrakech airport and the driver meets you. After customs and luggage, you drive to the old city and check into a 3 or 4-star Riad hotel in the Medina. That evening, you walk into Djemaa el Fna Square—the beating heart of the city where snake-charmers, storytellers, henna artists, musicians and food vendors work the crowds day and night. You can try a bowl of snails or sheep's head, buy water from an elaborately-dressed vendor, or climb to a terrace and watch the sunset while the call to prayer sounds from the Koutoubia minaret. The square became a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1985 as one of the last places in the world where this kind of street life still happens.

The next morning you drive south through the Atlas Mountains toward Ouarzazate, the "Hollywood of Africa." The route passes through Berber villages and past Kasbahs—the fortified clay dwellings the Amazigh people built across this region. You stop at Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of stacked clay houses and ksars rising from the valley floor. From there you continue to Ouarzazate and check in. Day three takes you further south to Zagora, climbing through the Tizi-n-Tinifift pass and dropping into the Draa valley. You drive an unpaved road through a palm forest to reach the oasis, then visit the sand dunes of Tinfou and the medieval library at Tamegroute, where Koran manuscripts dating to the 11th century sit in the collection.

Day four is the drive to Merzouga, the small desert town at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. These sand formations rise up to 180 meters high. On day five, an early-morning 4x4 excursion takes you into the dunes to watch the sunrise—the pink disc of the sun appearing over the gigantic slopes of sand. You return to your hotel, then on day six you drive north to Boumalne Dades, a town in the Tinghir province sitting at 1,500 meters above sea level in the southeast. The final morning is the drive back to Marrakech airport in time for your flight home.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Marrakech airport and transfers between towns.
• accommodation in 3 or 4-star Riad and desert hotels for seven nights.
• lunch each day.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• and the 4x4 desert excursion in Merzouga.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by carresa.com

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers arriving in Marrakech who want to see both the city and the Sahara without arranging the route, the hotels, the transport between stops or the guide themselves—everything is fixed and waiting.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Djemaa el Fna Square actually like when I get there?

Djemaa el Fna is an open plaza in the Medina where street performers, food vendors and musicians work constantly—snake-charmers, storytellers, fortune-tellers, henna artists, acrobats and Gnaoua musicians fill the space. You can eat from food stalls, watch performers, or climb to a rooftop terrace to sit above the crowd. It became a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1985 as one of the last places in the world where this kind of street life continues unchanged.

How high are the Merzouga sand dunes?

The Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga can reach up to 180 meters high. The 4x4 excursion on day five takes you into them early in the morning to watch the sunrise over the dunes.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or Arabic, depending on which you select at checkout.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to arrange my own transport from the airport?

Hotel pickup is included—the driver meets you at Marrakech airport after you clear customs and collect your luggage, then drives you to your Riad hotel in the Medina.

What meals are included in the 7 days?

Lunch is included throughout the tour. Breakfast and dinner are your own arrangement at the hotels.

Is this tour suitable if I have never done a desert trip before?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and has a minimum age of 12. The 4x4 excursion into the dunes is the most demanding part of the itinerary, but it does not require special fitness or experience.