Marrakech to Merzouga: Sahara Desert Tour & Luxury Camp

Summary

Atlas peaks, ancient kasbahs, rose valleys and the Sahara’s silence

You’ll cross wild Atlas passes from Marrakech, wander ancient kasbahs with local guides, share laughter over Moroccan dinners, ride camels into Merzouga’s dunes at sunset, and spend a night glamping under Saharan stars with music drifting through the dark. This tour is more than sights—it’s moments that linger long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

I never thought I’d be cold in Morocco, but there I was—halfway up the High Atlas Mountains, clutching my coffee and watching wisps of cloud snag on jagged peaks. Our guide Youssef grinned when he saw me shiver (“Wait for the desert,” he said). We’d left Marrakech before sunrise, the city still yawning awake behind us. The minibus was quiet except for bursts of laughter from the back seat—somehow even strangers start to feel familiar after a few hours bumping along those winding roads. The first stop was Ait Ben Haddou. I’d seen photos but walking those sun-baked alleys with a local guide telling stories about old traders and movie sets (I think Gladiator? I never saw it) felt different—realer somehow. Lunch was tagine with too much bread and mint tea so sweet my teeth hurt. Not complaining.

The Dades Valley surprised me—the way green palms just explode out of nowhere between red cliffs. We stayed overnight in a guesthouse with creaky stairs and a view that made me forget about Wi-Fi for once. Next day: Todra Gorge. It’s one of those places where you just have to stop talking for a minute because the cliffs are so close together you can hear your own footsteps echo. There was a smell of wet stone and wild herbs after last night’s rain; someone in our group slipped on a rock and we all laughed (he was fine). Then came Merzouga—flat nothingness turning gold as we clambered onto camels. I’m not graceful on animals but nobody cared; the sand felt cool under my fingers when I slid off at camp.

That night in the Sahara is hard to explain without sounding dramatic. Drums started up after dinner—Berber rhythms under a sky so wide it made me dizzy if I stared too long. My tent had an actual bed (and bathroom!), but I barely slept because every time I closed my eyes, the silence pressed in again, soft but huge. Sunrise over Erg Chebbi dunes is something I still think about when city noise gets too much—you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Dades Gorge via Atlas Mountains

• Pick up from Marrakech hotel
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Stop for coffee and bathroom break
• Visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou with guide
• Enjoy lunch near Kasbah
• Drive to Ouarzazate, view city
• Pass through Skoura palm oasis
• Stop at Kelaat M'gouna (Rose Valley) café
• Drive through Dades Valley and visit Tisdrine viewpoint
• Check in at guesthouse in Dades
• Dinner at guesthouse

Day 2 — Dades Gorge to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Breakfast at guesthouse
• Drive through Boumalen Dades and Tinghir
• Visit Todra Gorge and Todra Valley
• Lunch near Todra Gorge
• Pass through Tinjdad and Erfoud
• Camel ride on Erg Chebbi dunes
• Arrive at luxury Berber desert camp
• Dinner and traditional music at camp

Day 3 — Merzouga Desert to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains

• Watch sunrise from dunes
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Morning camel trek in desert
• Depart Merzouga for return journey
• Pass by Erfoud, Tinghir, Boumalen Dades
• Stop for lunch at Kelaat M'gouna
• Drive through Skoura and Ouarzazate
• Stop for café and restroom break in Atlas Mountains
• Arrive back in Marrakech

Top questions

How long does the Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour take?

The tour lasts 3 days and 2 nights, starting early from Marrakech and returning on the third evening.

Is hotel pickup included for this Sahara desert tour?

Yes, hotel pickup from Marrakech or a nearby meeting point is included at around 7:30 a.m.

Do you ride camels in Merzouga on this tour?

Yes, camel rides across the Erg Chebbi dunes are included before arriving at the desert camp.

Are meals provided during the trip?

Dinners and breakfasts are included at both accommodations; lunch stops are arranged along the route.

What kind of accommodation is provided in Merzouga?

You’ll stay in a luxury Berber tent with private bathroom at a glamping-style desert camp.

Is there sandboarding available during this Morocco desert tour?

Yes, sandboarding in the desert is included as part of your experience near Merzouga.

Are entry fees or guided tours included?

A guided visit of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is included along with entry fees for scheduled stops.

Is this tour suitable for families or people with limited mobility?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels; infant seats are available upon request.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup from your Marrakech hotel or meeting point, comfortable minibus transport with fuel covered, entry fees for scheduled attractions like Tizi n Tichka pass and Rose Valley, guided walks through Ait Ben Haddou kasbahs with locals sharing their stories, one night at a riad-style hotel with pool in Dades Gorge plus another glamping night in a private luxury Berber tent (with bathroom) under Saharan stars—including camel rides and sandboarding—and traditional Moroccan dinners and breakfasts each day before returning to Marrakech in the evening.