3-Day Ouarzazate Tour: Dades Gorge, Merzouga Desert & Kasbahs

Walk through kasbahs and gorges, then ride a camel to sleep under the stars.

A three-day guided tour departing from Ouarzazate that moves through Southern Morocco's oases, valleys and desert, with stays at a riad in the Todra Gorges and a luxury bivouac in Merzouga. The itinerary includes a tour of Kasbah Amridil, walks through Dades and Todra gorges, a one-hour camel ride into the Sahara, and a return route through Berber villages and the Draa Valley. All transport, meals, accommodation, entrance fees and the camel ride are included; guides speak English, Spanish and French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Oases, Valley of Roses, and Dades Gorges

• Depart from Ouarzazate to Skoura Oasis
• Visit Kasbah Amridil with Naciri family
• Drive to Kelaa M'Gouna through Valley of Roses
• Arrive at Dades Gorges for lunch
• Walk in Dades Gorges
• Dinner and overnight at Riad Dar Bab Todra

Day 2 — Todra Gorges and Sahara Desert Experience

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Walk in Todra Gorges and Tinghir palm grove
• Drive to Erfoud for lunch
• Travel to Merzouga dunes
• 4x4 transfer to camels
• One-hour camel ride to luxury bivouac
• Dinner under starry sky at bivouac

Day 3 — Kasbahs, Berber Villages, and Anti Atlas Mountains

• Breakfast at bivouac
• Camel ride to 4x4 vehicle
• Visit Rissani village
• Stop at Alnif for Berber daggers
• Stop in Tazarine village
• Lunch in N'kob village
• Explore Draa Valley palm groves and oases
• Visit Tizgui Waterfalls in Anti Atlas
• Pass Tizi N Tinfifite mountain pass
• Return to Ouarzazate and end tour

The Experience

The tour leaves Ouarzazate in the morning and heads to the Skoura oasis, a palm grove where you'll visit Kasbah Amridil, a restored family-owned fortress that shows how oasis architecture worked. From there the road crosses the Valley of Roses near Kelaa M'Gouna before reaching the Dades Gorges by late morning—a natural canyon where you can walk among the cliffs and stay overnight at a riad.

Day two starts with a walk through the Todra Gorges and its palm groves, then the route moves east toward Merzouga. You'll stop in Erfoud, an old Berber trading town, for a meal before the final push to the desert. Once there, a 4x4 takes you to the camels; you ride for about an hour across the dunes to a luxury bivouac where dinner happens under open sky, with Berber music and a fire.

The return on day three reverses by camel back to the 4x4, then follows what was once the caravan route through villages like Rissani (a former Moroccan capital), Alnif (known for traditional dagger-making), and Nkob (full of old kasbahs). The Draa Valley section shows the palm groves and fortified settlements that made the region wealthy centuries ago. Before Ouarzazate, the route climbs through the Anti-Atlas Mountains, passing the Tizi N Tinfifite viewpoint at 1660 meters and stopping at the Tizgui Waterfalls, a quiet spot in the mountains where few tourists go.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with a multilingual guide.
• accommodation at a riad in the Todra Gorges and a luxury bivouac in Merzouga.
• all meals throughout the tour.
• entrance fees to Kasbah Amridil and other historical sites.
• a one-hour camel ride into the desert.
• Berber music and campfire entertainment at the bivouac.
• mineral water and tea at the desert camp.
• luggage handling for the entire journey.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by DESERT DREAM

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling with children over six or want one fixed itinerary covering oasis, desert, and mountains—the included meals and set route mean you move through Southern Morocco's landscapes without deciding stops along the way.

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Top questions

What is Kasbah Amridil and why do we stop there?

Kasbah Amridil is a restored fortress in the Skoura oasis owned by the Naciri family, and the tour includes a guided walk through it on day one. It's an example of traditional oasis architecture and gives a close look at how families lived and defended their settlements in the palm groves.

How long is the camel ride in Merzouga?

The camel ride lasts about one hour and takes you from the 4x4 pickup point across the dunes to the luxury bivouac where you spend the night.

What happens at the bivouac in the desert?

Dinner is served at the bivouac under the open sky, and the evening includes Berber songs and drum beats around a campfire. Mineral water and tea are available, and you sleep at the camp before riding back by camel the next morning.

Which villages do we pass through on the return to Ouarzazate?

The route includes Rissani, a historic town that was Morocco's capital centuries ago; Alnif, where traditional Berber daggers are made; Nkob, a village with many old kasbahs; and stops in the Draa Valley to see palm groves and fortified settlements along the old caravan route.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, children are welcome from age six. The tour includes a camel ride, walks through gorges and villages, and stays in comfortable accommodation, making it suitable for families with older children.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, accommodation at a riad and a luxury bivouac, all meals, entrance fees to sites, the camel ride, a professional guide who speaks English, Spanish or French, and mineral water and tea at the bivouac.