3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour: Kasbah, Oasis & Dunes

Ride camels across Erg Chebbi at sunset, then wake in the Sahara to do it again at dawn.

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga takes you through the Atlas Mountains, the UNESCO kasbah at Aït Ben Haddou, the Tinghir Oasis, and the Todgha Canyons before two days in the Sahara Desert. You ride camels at sunset and sunrise, sleep at a luxury desert camp, and try sandboarding in the dunes. A local guide leads the oasis walk and the kasbah visit is available with an additional guide. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup from your hotel, and children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Kasbah

• Stop for photos and scenery
• Guided tour of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Climb Kasbah summit for views
• Engage with Berber community
• Lunch at local cafe
• Overnight at Hotel Le Chateau de Dades
• Enjoy 3 course Moroccan dinner

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Walking tour of Tinghir Oasis
• Stroll through Todgha Canyons
• Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi dunes
• Overnight at Palais Des Dunes Desert Camp
• 3 course dinner at desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Breakfast at Sahara desert camp
• Stop and walk in Ouarzazate city

The experience

The route leaves Marrakech and climbs into the Atlas Mountains with stops to stretch and photograph the high passes. At Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO fortified village built of mud brick, you walk the narrow lanes with a guide who explains the Berber community and the kasbah's history. It has appeared in Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You climb to the summit for views across the Ounila River valley and the desert beyond, then eat lunch at a local café. That night you stay at a hotel in the Dades Valley.

Day two starts with a guided walk through the Tinghir Oasis, where you see the palm groves and ancient irrigation channels that keep the settlement alive in the desert, and learn how Berber farmers work the land. Then you walk the Todgha Canyons, where rust-colored walls carved by the river over centuries rise on both sides of a narrow gorge. By afternoon you reach Merzouga village and ride a camel into Erg Chebbi as the sun sets, watching the light change across the dunes. You sleep at the Palais Des Dunes, a luxury desert camp.

The third morning brings a sunrise camel ride before breakfast. After that, you try sandboarding down the dunes. The return journey stops in Ouarzazate for a walk through the city's traditional streets and markets, then continues to Marrakech. Lunches on the road are on your own. The tour includes the guide, the vehicle, the camel rides, and the camp night.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for all three days.
• sunset and sunrise camel rides in Erg Chebbi (one hour each).
• sandboarding in the dunes.
• one night at the Palais Des Dunes luxury desert camp.
• guided walk through the Tinghir Oasis.
• hotel accommodation in the Dades Valley.
• hotel pickup in Marrakech.
• a local guide in English or French.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 204 per person, with a live guide in English and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish and FrenchOther languages ›

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

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Marrakech Desert Trips

Is this one for you?The tour keeps a steady pace with long driving days and early starts, so it suits travelers who are comfortable in a vehicle for several hours and ready to wake before dawn for the sunrise ride. The camel rides and sandboarding are gentle activities, not strenuous, and the walking through the oasis and canyons is leisurely. The main demand is the schedule itself, not the physical effort.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and why is it worth visiting?

Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed fortified village built of mud brick, famous for its appearance in films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You walk through its labyrinthine alleyways with a guide, climb to the summit for views of the Ounila River valley, and meet the Berber community who live there.

How much time do I spend on camel rides during the 3-day tour?

You ride camels twice: a one-hour sunset ride on day two as you enter Erg Chebbi, and a one-hour sunrise ride on day three before breakfast at the desert camp.

What happens at the Tinghir Oasis and the Todgha Canyons?

At Tinghir Oasis, a local guide leads you through the palm groves and shows you the ancient irrigation systems that sustain the settlement, while explaining Berber farming practices. At the Todgha Canyons, you walk between towering rust-colored canyon walls carved by the river, enjoying the cool air and rock formations.

Is a local guide included at the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou?

A local guide at the kasbah is optional and costs 3 euros per person. The main tour includes a guide for the Tinghir Oasis walk only.

What is sandboarding and when do I do it?

Sandboarding is included on the morning of day three, after your sunrise camel ride at the desert camp. You ride down the dunes on a board before heading back to Marrakech.