Marrakech to Merzouga: 3-Day Desert Tour & Camel Ride

Three Days Crossing Morocco: From Atlas Mountains to Erg Chebbi Dunes

You travel three days from Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains, rose valleys, and Todra Canyon to the Merzouga dunes, with a camel ride and night under the stars included. The tour handles all transport, accommodation, and timing, so you show up at pickup and step out in Marrakech three days later having crossed the country's main landscapes without organizing any of it yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Visit kasbahs and valleys, overnight stay

• Visit Ait Benhaddou kasbah
• Enjoy traditional lunch
• Continue journey to Ouarzazate
• See kasbah Taourirte in Ouarzazate
• Stop at Roses valley and cooperative
• Arrive and check in hotel in Gorges

Day 2: Explore Todra Canyon and desert camp

• Have breakfast and board van
• Travel through Todra Valley
• Discover Todra Canyon
• Arrive Merzouga and start camel caravan
• Reach desert camp and watch sunset
• Dinner and overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Sunrise and return to Marrakech

• Early wake up to see sunrise
• Return to meet driver
• Travel back to Marrakech
• Arrive and drop off in Marrakech

The experience

Picture this: you're standing in front of Ait Benhaddou, the clay kasbah that's been used as a film set for decades, and the light is hitting the walls in a way that makes the whole structure look almost unreal. That's where this three-day desert tour from Marrakech begins, not with a bus ride, but with a moment that stops you. Day one takes you through the High Atlas Mountains, past rose valleys where locals still harvest by hand, and into the Dades Gorges where you'll spend your first night. The drive itself is the point. The landscape doesn't stay the same for more than an hour.

On day two, you wake in the gorges and head toward Todra Canyon, where the rock walls rise so close on either side that the sky narrows to a strip above your head. Then comes the shift. You arrive in Merzouga and trade the van for a camel. An hour and a half across the dunes on foot (or on the camel's back, depending on what you choose) gets you to the camp as the sun drops. Dinner happens under stars that have no light pollution to compete with, and you sleep in the desert itself, either in a tent with AC or without, depending on what's available when you book. It's not luxury camping. It's the real thing.

Day three starts before dawn so you can watch the sunrise over the sand, that's the moment people actually remember, and then the driver takes you back to Marrakech. The whole tour moves through shared groups, so you're not alone, but the vehicle is air-conditioned and the driver knows the route well enough that stops happen at the right places. No arranging transport between towns, no figuring out how to get a camel, no guessing how long the canyon takes. It's all timed and included.

What’s included

Your three days include pickup from your Marrakech hotel, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver, entry to Ait Benhaddou kasbah, a traditional lunch on day one, two nights of accommodation (one in Dades Valley, one in a desert camp near Merzouga), a camel ride from Merzouga town to the camp, dinner and breakfast at the camp, and drop-off back in Marrakech on day three.

Options for this experience

3 options

Normal option07:00 and 07:30Pickup is included

Moyenne Package07:00 and 07:30Pickup is included

Luxury Package07:00 and 07:30Room and tent, fully equipped. Important: a solo traveler will share the room and tent with another solo traveler. Includes pickup

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

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00 and 07:30, from US$ 106 per person and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:30Other times ›

Book up to13h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 20

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Marrakech City Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Morocco's main landscapes (mountains, valleys, canyons, and desert) in one trip without renting a car or planning stops yourself. The shared group format and fixed itinerary are what fit all of it into three days.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

How long is the camel ride in Merzouga?

About an hour and a half from the town to the desert camp.

What's included in the tour price?

Air-conditioned vehicle transport, professional driver, camel ride, two nights accommodation (one in Dades Gorges, one in the desert camp), and meals at the camp.

Do I have to ride the camel?

The itinerary includes a camel ride to the camp, but you can ask your driver about alternatives when you arrive in Merzouga.

What type of accommodation is in the desert?

A camp with tents. Some tents have AC, others don't. Availability depends on the date and your booking option.

Is this a private tour or shared group?

It's a shared group tour, so you'll travel with other passengers.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup is from Marrakech on day one. Drop-off is back in Marrakech on day three. Exact times depend on your hotel location.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The camel ride is the main physical activity, and you can discuss any concerns with the driver when you meet.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, comfortable clothes for the van, and layers for the desert (it gets cold at night). The tour operator can provide a full packing list when you book.

Is lunch included on all three days?

A traditional lunch is included on day one. Meals at the desert camp on day two and three are included. Meals on the road back to Marrakech on day three are not.