Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour: Camel Trek & Villages

Cross the High Atlas, trek dunes at sunset, sleep under the desert sky

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga combines mountain passes, Berber villages, and a camel trek with an overnight stay in a desert camp. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide, spend one night in a Merzouga camp and one in a valley hotel, and ride camels at sunset and sunrise. The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your Marrakech accommodation, and you can choose between a shared group or shared luxury option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley

• Cross High Atlas Mountains
• Stop at Tizi n’Tichka Pass
• Visit UNESCO village Ait Ben Haddou
• Drive through Berber villages and Valley of Roses
• Arrive at Dades Valley hotel
• Enjoy included dinner

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Todra Gorge and walk canyon
• Drive through palm groves and desert villages
• Meet camels for sunset ride
• Overnight in Berber desert camp
• Enjoy included dinner

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech

• Breakfast at desert camp
• Drive back to Marrakech
• End of Sahara trip

The experience

You start in Marrakech and head south through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters with stops to take in the mountain views. The route passes through small Berber villages and the Valley of Roses before reaching Dades Valley, where you spend your first night in a hotel or riad surrounded by red rock formations. The landscape shifts as you move deeper into the desert. This is not a quick drive but a day built around what you are passing through.

On day two, you walk between the towering canyon walls of Todra Gorge, then continue toward the dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the late afternoon, you meet your camels for a sunset ride across the sand. You sleep in a Berbère camp tent in Merzouga: a single night in the desert, not a multi-night stay. The next morning brings a sunrise camel trek before the long drive back to Marrakech. Sandboarding is available as a free optional activity if you want it.

The tour runs as a small group with a live guide speaking English, Spanish or French. You can book either the shared group option (standard accommodation) or the shared luxury version, both including the same route and activities. Pickup and drop-off from your Marrakech accommodation are included, so you do not arrange transport to the starting point. Meals other than breakfast are your own cost.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Marrakech accommodation.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all three days.
• one night in a hotel or riad in Dades Valley.
• one night in a Berbère camp tent in Merzouga (standard or luxury depending on your option).
• camel trek at sunset and sunrise.
• walk through Todra Gorge.
• sandboarding experience (free and optional).
• live guide in English, Spanish or French.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English, Spanish or French06:30, 07:00 and 07:30

Guide in English, Spanish or French06:30, 07:00 and 07:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30, 07:00 and 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Dune whisper tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are arriving in Marrakech and want to see the Sahara without arranging transport, guides or camp logistics yourself. Everything is coordinated, and you move through three distinct landscapes (mountains, gorges, dunes) in a single journey. Choose the luxury option if the desert camp tent matters to your comfort. Both options follow the same route and include the same activities, so the difference is accommodation only.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

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.

What is Todra Gorge like when you walk through it?

Todra Gorge is a dramatic canyon with towering rock walls rising on both sides. You walk between them and can relax by the river that runs through the gorge. It is a break in the drive and a chance to see the landscape up close rather than from the vehicle.

What is the difference between the shared group and shared luxury options?

Both options follow the same route and include the same activities. The shared group tour uses standard accommodation in the valley hotel and the desert camp, while the shared luxury option upgrades to luxury camp tents. Both are small-group departures with a live guide.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour involves camel trekking, walking through Todra Gorge, and long days in a vehicle. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

What happens on the drive back to Marrakech on day three?

Day three is the return journey to Marrakech. The itinerary does not detail stops on the way back, but you are dropped at your original Marrakech accommodation by the end of the day.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Breakfast is included at your hotel and camp, but lunch is not covered by the tour price. You arrange and pay for lunch on your own during the three days.