3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour: Camel Rides & Desert Camp

You ride camels at sunset into dunes that rise 300 meters, then sleep under stars in a nomad tent.

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert, crossing the Atlas Mountains and visiting the UNESCO Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, with camel rides, sandboarding, and a night in a desert camp. The tour includes air-conditioned transport, hotel accommodation in Tinghir, a camel ride at sunset and sunrise, and dinner and breakfast at the camp. Lunches and drinks are not included. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and six other languages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Tinghir via Atlas Mountains

• Depart Marrakech at 8 am
• Cross Tizi n'Tichka pass
• Stop for photos at Tizi n'Tichka peak
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Photo stop at Atlas studios
• Pause at Roses Valley for photos
• Stop for panoramic views in Dades Valley
• Overnight stay in Tinghir hotel

Day 2: Tinghir to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Breakfast in Tinghir
• Visit Todra Gorges and trek
• Drive through Berber villages to Tinejdad
• Lunch stop in Tinejdad
• Continue to Erfoud and Merzouga
• Camel ride into Erg Chebbi dunes
• Dinner and overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Roses Valley

• Early breakfast in desert camp
• Drive to Kelaat Mgouna Roses Valley
• Pass Ouarzazate and Atlas Mountains
• Pass Tizi n'Tichka pass
• Arrive back in Marrakech

The experience

You depart Marrakech's Jamaa El Fnaa square at 8 am and drive toward Ouarzazate, crossing the High Atlas at Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 meters elevation). A stop at the pass gives photography time before you reach the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed Berber fortified village that has stood as a film set for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven. You cross the river to explore the village at your own pace, then pass through the Roses Valley (where rose picking starts in April and a three-day festival runs the first week of May) before arriving in Tinghir for the night.

Day two takes you from Tinghir through the Todgha Gorges, a 15-kilometer valley lined with 300-meter-high grey and pink rock walls and date palms. You pass through Berber villages like Tinjdad and Erfoud (known for fossils) on your way to Merzouga. In the late afternoon, your guide and camels meet you at the edge of Erg Chebbi, and you ride across the towering sand dunes as the sun sets. Dinner and the night happen in a traditional nomad tent at the desert camp, with drums and Moroccan food around the fire.

The final day starts early with breakfast, then a camel ride at sunrise before you drive back through the Roses Valley and over the Tichka Pass to return to Marrakech by evening. The minibus is air-conditioned throughout, and you can upgrade from the standard desert camp tent to a luxury option at checkout.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minibus transport with fuel included.
• hotel accommodation in Tinghir.
• a night in a traditional desert camp tent in Merzouga with dinner and breakfast.
• camel rides at sunset and sunrise with an individual camel for each person.
• sandboarding in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• a live guide in your choice of language.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared Standard TourGuide in 10 languages · 07:30Second night at a standard desert camp in Merzouga, with shared bathrooms and toilets; the tents have no air conditioning or heating. Shared group tour lasting 3 days, with two breakfasts and two dinners. A/C minibus or minivan driven by a professional English-speaking driver-guide, with ample space. Pickup is included.

Shared Luxury TourGuide in 10 languages · 07:30Second night in a private luxury tent in Merzouga, equipped with air conditioning and heating, plus your own shower, bathroom and toilet. Shared luxury tour: a group tour with private luxury accommodation and personalized service at the desert camp. Duration: 3 days. Two breakfasts and two dinners. A/C minibus or minivan driven by a professional English-speaking driver. Pickup is included.

Private Premium TourGuide in 10 languages · 9 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 14:00One night at an upscale riad and one night at Royal Desert Camp, with air conditioning and heating available. Private premium tour: a private 3-day desert tour featuring quad biking, sandboarding and a camel ride. Duration: 3 days. Two breakfasts and two dinners. A/C minibus and minivan driven by a professional English-speaking driver-guide, with enough room for your luggage. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 141 per person, with live guides in 10 languages and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Morocco Trip

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want multiple landscapes (mountains, gorges, oasis, and desert dunes) connected by a single itinerary rather than piecing together separate day trips.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

What's the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou like when you get there?

The Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed Berber fortified village where you cross a river to enter and explore at your own pace. It has been used as a film location for major Hollywood productions including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven.

How long do you actually spend riding camels?

You ride camels twice: once at sunset on day two as you travel into the Erg Chebbi dunes toward the desert camp, and again at sunrise on day three before heading back to Marrakech. Each person gets an individual camel for the rides.

What happens at the desert camp overnight?

You spend the night in a traditional nomad tent in the heart of Erg Chebbi. Dinner is served under the tent, with Moroccan cuisine and drums filling the evening, and you sleep surrounded by the Sahara. Breakfast is included the next morning before your sunrise camel ride.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes air-conditioned transport, hotel accommodation in Tinghir, camel rides at sunset and sunrise, sandboarding, dinner and breakfast at the desert camp, and all overnight stays. Lunches and beverages during the driving days are not included, nor is a local guide at the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah itself.

Can I choose a different style of desert camp tent?

Yes, you can upgrade from the standard desert camp tent to a luxury camp tent option at checkout. Both options include dinner, breakfast, and the night in Erg Chebbi.