Merzouga Desert 3-Day Tour: Camel Trek & Berber Camp

Three days crossing the Atlas to sleep under stars in the Sahara

A 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga combines mountain passes, UNESCO-listed kasbahs, and a camel trek ending in an overnight Berber camp. The itinerary crosses the High Atlas, visits Ait Ben Haddou and Todra Gorges, and includes two nights' accommodation (one in a hotel, one under canvas), a live guide in English or Spanish, and Berber drum music around the campfire. Lunch on day two is not included. You choose between a private tour or a shared group option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Kasbah

• Depart Marrakech at 7:30 AM
• Cross High Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Visit Ouarzazate and have lunch
• Drive to Dades Valley via Valley of Roses
• Dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Breakfast in hotel
• Drive to Tinghir Oasis via 1001 Kasbahs road
• Visit Todra Gorges
• Drive to Rissani date market
• Drive to Merzouga dunes
• Camel trek to desert camp
• Dinner and Berber drum music
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Tazarine and Agdaz

• Sunrise in Sahara Desert
• Breakfast in desert camp
• Camel ride to meet driver
• Drive back to Marrakech

The experience

The tour departs Marrakech at 7:30 AM on day one, climbing through the High Atlas via the Tizi-N-Tichka pass to reach Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah where films like Gladiator were shot. After exploring the site, you'll drive through the valley of roses to Dades Valley, stopping for lunch with views of the kasbah, then spend the night in a hotel there.

Day two takes you across the Road of 1001 Kasbahs to Todra Gorges near Tinghir, then south through Rissani's date market to the edge of Erg Chebbi's dunes. Camels wait at the desert camp entrance for a trek across the sand formations to your overnight camp, where Berber musicians play drums around the fire under the stars.

On day three you wake early to watch the Sahara sunrise, have breakfast in the camp, then ride camels for an hour and a half back to meet your driver for the return to Marrakech. A live guide in English or Spanish travels with you throughout. You'll need moderate fitness for the camel riding and desert walking.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation in Dades Valley on night one.
• overnight stay in a traditional Berber desert camp on night two.
• camel trekking across Erg Chebbi's dunes.
• breakfast and dinner all three days.
• visits to Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, Todra Gorges, and Rissani date market.
• Berber drum music and campfire evening.
• live guide in English or Spanish throughout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard group tourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00

Group tour at a high standardGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Tent and bathroom for private use

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Car for private use

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by morocco trip ismail

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option if you want your own pace and driver. The group tours keep costs lower and run on fixed dates. Either way, the three-day span lets you cross the mountains, see the gorges and kasbahs, and spend a full night in the desert. A 2-day tour would skip the overnight camp, and a 5-day version would add the coastal towns south of the Atlas.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6).

What exactly happens during the camel trek in Merzouga?

The camel trek crosses the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi from the camp entrance to your overnight desert camp, letting you see the sand formations up close. The ride takes roughly an hour and a half each way, and you'll return to the same camp for dinner and the night under Berber tents.

Where do I sleep on each night of the tour?

Night one is in a hotel in Dades Valley after the drive from Marrakech. Night two is in a traditional Berber desert camp in Merzouga, where you sleep under canvas after the camel trek and evening music around the campfire.

Is lunch included in the 3-day price?

Lunch on day two is not included in the tour price, so you'll pay separately when you stop in Rissani or along the route. Breakfast and dinner are provided on all three days.

Can I book this as a private tour or do I have to join a group?

You choose at checkout: private tour, high standard group tour, or normal standard group tour. All three options follow the same itinerary and include the same guide language (English or Spanish).

What is Ait Ben Haddou and why do we visit it?

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah (fortified village) in the Atlas foothills where you'll stop on day one. It's famous as a filming location for major Hollywood productions and gives you a close look at traditional Moroccan architecture and Berber settlement patterns.

Do I need any special fitness level or experience to do the camel trekking?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the camel riding and walking across the dunes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller if needed, and public transportation options are available nearby in Marrakech if you need an alternative to the tour transport.