Marrakech to Merzouga: 3-Day Desert & Camel Ride

Three days crossing Morocco's mountains and dunes, ending at a Berber camp under stars

You travel by private transport through the Atlas Mountains, hike Todra Gorge, ride a camel across Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, and sleep at a Berber camp with dinner and a bonfire. You wake to sunrise, ride back, and return to Marrakech by evening: all transport, meals, and a guide included, so you don't arrange logistics yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Gorges via Ait Ben Haddou

• Meet group and greet
• Drive over Tichka pass
• Pass Berber villages
• Visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Lunch break
• Drive to Valley of the Roses
• View Dades valley and kasbahs
• Overnight in Dades Gorges

Day 2: Dades to Merzouga via Todra Gorge

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Todra Gorge
• Short hike in Todra oasis
• Visit Todra Gorge
• Drive to Merzouga town
• Check in hotel near dunes
• Walk and climb Erg Chebbi dunes
• Relax and swim at hotel pool
• Camel ride to Berber camp
• Dinner and bonfire under stars

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Wake up for sunrise in dunes
• Camel ride back to Merzouga
• Breakfast and shower at camp
• Drive through Berber villages
• Stop at Ouarzazate
• Continue drive to Marrakech
• Drop off at hotel or riad

The experience

The sound hits you first on the second morning: silence so complete it almost hums. You're standing in the Sahara at Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes rising gold and sharp against the dawn, and the only thing moving is the camel beneath you. This 3-day desert tour from Marrakech builds toward that moment, but it doesn't rush. Day one takes you south through the Tichka Pass at 2,200 meters, dropping through Berber villages and past the clay kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou, then into the Dades Gorge where you sleep in a riad. The road itself is half the experience: the landscape shifts from green valleys to rust-colored rock walls, and your driver (English or French-speaking) points out details you'd miss alone.

Day two is the one you'll replay. After breakfast, you hike into Todra Gorge, a narrow canyon where the walls rise sheer on both sides and the light turns the stone almost purple. It's a short walk, nothing technical, but the scale of it stays with you. Then you drive to Merzouga, check into a hotel near the big dunes, and have time to climb them on foot before the main event: a camel ride that lasts over an hour, crossing the golden sand as the light softens. You end at a Luxury Berber camp where dinner happens around a fire, and the stars are so thick you stop trying to count them. You sleep in the camp that night, which means waking to the sunrise over the same dunes, riding back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower, then beginning the return journey.

Day three is the long drive home. You pass through Ouarzazate and retrace the Atlas route back to Marrakech, arriving around 7:30 PM at your hotel or the nearest accessible point. Small groups mean you're not herding through stops. There's room to ask questions, to linger at a view, to sit with what you're seeing. The whole thing runs year-round, so timing is flexible, and the price is built to work for any age of traveller.

What’s included

Your three days include private transportation with an English or French-speaking driver, entry and guided visits to Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and Todra Gorges, a camel ride lasting over an hour across the Erg Chebbi dunes, two nights' accommodation (a riad in Dades Gorge and a Luxury Berber camp), dinner and breakfast each day, and a bonfire under the stars at the camp. Drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or nearest accessible point is included on the return.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 130 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

AgesAdult (17 to 65 years) · Infant (8 to 16 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Omar Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Sahara experience (mountains, gorges, camel ride, and a night under stars) without arranging transport, guides, meals or camp logistics yourself. The fixed itinerary and small-group format mean you move at a steady pace and don't spend time negotiating details on the road.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (8 to 16 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the camel ride?

Over one hour, in the late afternoon as light fades across the dunes toward the Berber camp.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation for three days, an English or French-speaking driver, two nights' accommodation (one riad in Dades Gorge, one Luxury Berber camp), all meals (dinner and breakfast), the camel ride, and guided visits to Todra Gorges and Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah.

Do I need experience to ride a camel?

No. The ride is designed for all fitness levels and requires no prior experience.

What time does the tour end?

Around 7:30 PM on day three, with drop-off at your hotel or the nearest accessible point in Marrakech.

Is the hike at Todra Gorge difficult?

It's described as a short hike in the oasis and gorge: suitable for all fitness levels, not a technical climb.

Can I do this tour if I'm traveling alone?

Yes. You join a small group of other travelers, so you're not alone but the group stays small enough to move at a reasonable pace.

What's the accommodation like at the Berber camp?

It's listed as a Luxury Camp with dinner and breakfast included, and a bonfire in the evening. You'll have a shower available after returning from the camel ride.

When does the camel ride happen?

Late afternoon on day two, after you've hiked Todra Gorge, checked into your hotel in Merzouga, and climbed the dunes on foot.