Merzouga & Erg Chabbi 3 Days Sahara Tour from Marrakech

Three days from mountain pass to desert dunes: Ait Benhaddou, two gorges, camel rides at both ends of the day

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga crosses the High Atlas Mountains, stops at the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou Ksar and the Dades and Todra gorges, then reaches Erg Chabbi where you ride camels at sunset and sunrise and spend a night under stars in a Berber tent. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, two nights of accommodation (standard, comfort or VIP depending on your option), and pickup from central Marrakech. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French. Lunch and drinks are not included, nor are the local guides at Ait Benhaddou and Todra Gorge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley

• Meet driver at hotel
• Drive through local villages and markets
• Pass Tizi-n'Tichka mountain pass
• Visit Ait Benhaddou Ksar and lunch
• Visit Ouarzazate and cinema museum
• Stop at Valley of Roses
• See "toes of monkeys" rock formations
• Arrive at hotel in Dades Gorge
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Dades Gorges to Merzouga Sahara

• Morning in Dades Gorge
• Guided visit to Tinghir Oasis
• Visit Todra Gorges and lunch
• Drive through Tin-Jdad, Erfoud, and Rissani
• Arrive in Merzouga
• 45-minute camel ride at sunset
• Overnight in Berber tents under stars

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech

• Early morning walk in sand after breakfast
• Meet driver for return trip
• Stop for photos at interesting places
• Enjoy Berber meal with mountain views
• Rest stop at Ait Barka village
• Driver drops off travelers at hotels

The experience

The drive leaves Marrakech at seven in the morning, climbing through villages and markets that fade into the High Atlas foothills within 45 minutes. You cross the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass (the second-highest summit in Morocco after Toubkal), where the road opens onto views of the mountains themselves. The Ait Benhaddou Ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and a film location for Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia and Game of Thrones, sits at the pass's far side. You stop for lunch and a walk through the old palace compound. From there it's 20 minutes to Ouarzazate, nicknamed the Hollywood of Africa, where a 45-minute stop includes the cinema museum and Taourirt Kasbah. By late afternoon you reach the Valley of Roses, where the local economy runs on rose oil and perfume extraction done the traditional way. The landscape shifts again (rock formations called the Toes of Monkeys rise from the valley floor), and you arrive at your first night's accommodation in a traditional kasbah in Dades Gorge.

Day two is dedicated to the eastern gorges. A local guide meets you in Tinghir for a 90-minute walk through the oasis, then leads you into Todra Gorge. After lunch in the village, the drive turns south toward Merzouga, passing through Tin-Jdad, Erfoud and Rissani. When you arrive at Merzouga, a 45-minute camel ride takes you into Erg Chabbi at sunset: the dunes rise to 160 meters and shift color from rose gold to orange, pink and purple as the light moves. You spend the night in a Berber tent with a fire and folkloric music. The next morning, another 45-minute camel ride at sunrise brings you back out of the sand. Merzouga sits in one of Morocco's best bird-watching zones. Desert sparrows, Egyptian nightjars, desert warblers, fulvous babblers and blue-cheeked bee-eaters live here, and in spring a shallow lake northwest of town attracts flamingos.

The return journey on day three starts at seven in the morning with a walk in the sand after breakfast, then the driver brings you back toward Marrakech. You stop for photographs at scenic points, then eat a Berber meal at a restaurant in the Atlas foothills overlooking villages and mountains. A final stop in Ait Barka village gives you time to rest and drink tea before the driver drops you at your hotel or nearby riad by 7:30 p.m. The entire route covers ground you would not reach without a vehicle and a guide who knows where to stop.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with driver for all three days.
• two nights accommodation in your chosen tier (standard, comfort or VIP).
• 1 hour and 30 minutes total camel riding split between sunset and sunrise at Merzouga.
• pickup and drop-off from central Marrakech hotels and riads.

Options for this experience

4 options

Shared transport, standard hotelsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Standard hotels, standard breakfasts and dinners, shared minibuses. Pickup is included.

Shared transport, comfort hotelsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00Comfort accommodation: comfort hotels are equivalent in value to 3-star hotels under the international hotel classification. Breakfasts and dinners are comfort-level or better. Shared air-conditioned minibuses. Pickup is included.

Shared transport, VIP accommodationGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00VIP hotel room and tent: this option provides a deluxe hotel room on the first night and a luxury tent in place of standard accommodation. Semi-VIP: VIP accommodation is provided, with different hotels and camps and shared transportation. Upgraded dinners and breakfasts. Shared minibuses with a maximum of 17 seats, air-conditioned, with an English- and French-speaking driver. Pickup is included.

VIP and private tour optionGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 08:00VIP accommodation: this type rivals the quality of luxury five-star hotels while showcasing the authentic character of Arabic culture. 45-minute Sahara quad bike ride. VIP tour with a personalized itinerary, in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with local guides at Ait Ben Haddou palace and the Todra Gorges. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00 and 08:00, from US$ 91 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (8 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 49

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Great Travel Morocco

Is this one for you?Choose shared transport if you're traveling with a flexible budget. Pick private if you need your own vehicle and driver for the full duration.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 11 years); Child (3 to 7 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's the difference between the standard, comfort and VIP accommodation options on this tour?

Standard accommodation is in non-classified establishments with basic features; comfort accommodation is equivalent to a 3-star international hotel; VIP or luxury accommodation is equivalent to a 5-star hotel. All three options include two nights, one in a traditional kasbah in Dades Gorge and one in a Berber tent in Merzouga.

How much camel riding is included in the Merzouga part of the tour?

You ride camels for a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes: 45 minutes at sunset to enter Erg Chabbi on day two, and 45 minutes at sunrise to exit the dunes on day three morning.

Does the tour price include meals and drinks?

Lunch is not included on any of the three days, nor are drinks. You'll stop for meals in villages along the route and have time to eat, but you'll pay separately for food and beverages.

Is pickup from my hotel in Marrakech included?

Pickup and drop-off are included, but only from a defined central area of Marrakech. If you stay outside that zone, you'll meet the driver at the designated meeting point or arrange pickup by contacting the operator on WhatsApp.

What happens at Ait Benhaddou and Todra Gorge? Do I get a guide there too?

Local guides are not included at either Ait Benhaddou or Todra Gorge. You walk these sites on your own or hire a local guide separately if you want one.