Marrakech to Merzouga: Sahara Camel Trek, Ait Benhaddou & Camp

Summary

Morocco desert journey with camel ride and Ait Benhaddou visit

You’ll cross Morocco’s Atlas Mountains from Marrakech, wander ancient kasbahs at Ait Benhaddou with a local guide, share lunch in a Berber village, then ride camels into Merzouga’s dunes for sunset and music by the campfire. Expect laughter, real stories, and moments that stick with you long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We were already winding up the Tichka Pass before I’d really woken up — the road out of Marrakech just sort of pulls you along, you know? Our driver, Hassan, kept pointing out little villages clinging to the hillsides. At one stop for mint tea (so sweet it made my teeth ache), he told us how his grandmother used to walk those same mountain paths. The air smelled like dust and wild herbs. When we reached Ait Benhaddou, our guide Youssef explained how families still live inside the old kasbah walls. I tried to imagine growing up there — kids darting through those sun-baked alleys while tourists snap photos outside.

The drive is long but never boring. Somewhere past Rose Valley I dozed off and woke up to see pink cliffs and a river that looked almost fake in the afternoon light. Lunch was tagine in a Berber village — I tried to say “thank you” in Tamazight and got a big laugh from our host (I probably butchered it). By the time we reached Tinghir for the night, my shoes were full of sand and my head was spinning from all the new smells: cumin, diesel, roses. That mix sticks with me even now.

The next day was all about getting to Merzouga and finally meeting our camels. The Todra Gorge is wild — sheer rock walls that make you feel tiny. We rode into the Sahara just as the sun started dropping, everything turning gold and then red. My camel was called Bob Marley (not sure why), and he kept stopping to chew on whatever he could find. The silence out there is weirdly loud — just wind on sand and someone singing at camp later that night around the fire. I still think about that sky; I’ve never seen so many stars.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Tinghir via Ait Ben Haddou

• Meet at accommodation at 8:00 am
• Drive over High Atlas Mountains and Tichka Pass
• Optional visit to rural Argan Oil Co-operative
• Enjoy mountain views
• Visit UNESCO site Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Lunch near Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Tour Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou (optional)
• Drive through Rose and Dades Valley to Tinghir
• Overnight in standard hotel in Tinghir

Day 2 — Tinghir to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive through Todra Gorge
• Lunch in Berber village en route
• Arrive Merzouga early afternoon
• Relax and pack small bag
• Meet camels and guides late afternoon
• One-hour camel trek to desert camp for sunset
• Cross Erg Chebbi sand dunes
• View sunset from large dune summit
• Walk to highest dunes for sandboarding
• Enjoy traditional Saharan music and campfire
• Overnight in standard desert camp

Day 3 — Merzouga to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains

• Optional early sunrise dune climb
• Breakfast and shower at camp
• Ride camels back to dune edge
• Drive through Anti Atlas and Draa Valley
• Return to Marrakech accommodation early evening
• Drop off at Jamaa el Fna square
• Say goodbye

Top questions

How long does it take to get from Marrakech to Merzouga?

The total drive is about 10 hours on the last day; each day involves several hours of driving with stops along the way.

Is there a camel ride included in this Sahara tour?

Yes, each traveler gets their own camel for an hour-long trek into the desert camp near Merzouga.

Do we visit Ait Benhaddou on this trip?

Yes, there’s a guided visit to Ait Benhaddou kasbah included on day one of the tour.

Are meals included during the tour?

Lunches are provided en route; breakfast is included at accommodations.

What kind of accommodation is provided?

The first night is in a standard hotel in Tinghir; second night is in a standard tented camp in Merzouga.

Is hotel pickup available from Marrakech?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included at your accommodation in Marrakech.

Can children join this Sahara desert tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; infant seats are available if needed.

Will there be a local guide at Ait Benhaddou?

A local guide can explain history and culture during your visit to Ait Benhaddou kasbah.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech, air-conditioned transport across valleys and mountains, an overnight stay in Tinghir’s hotel plus a night under canvas at Merzouga’s desert camp (with your own camel ride), breakfasts each morning, lunches along the way, and guidance from locals who know every twist of these roads.