Our 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour, the perfect escape into Morocco’s enchanting south. Travel through the majestic Atlas Mountains, explore ancient kasbahs, and enjoy an immersive Sahara experience with two nights in the desert — including a full day of Merzouga desert exploration, camel trekking, and cultural encounters with local nomads.

4-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert tour highlights:

Drive through the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass
Explore the ancient Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Visit Ouarzazate & Atlas Film Studios – the Hollywood of Morocco
Discover the Dades Valley & Todra Gorge
Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
Spend 2 nights in a luxury Merzouga desert camp with Berber music under the stars
Enjoy a full day of desert adventure: nomadic encounters, fossil sites, Gnawa music & more
Optional quad biking, dune buggy, or horseback riding in the Sahara
Witness magical desert sunrises and sunsets

Itinerary of our 4-Day Sahara excursion desert tour :

Day 1: Marrakech → High Atlas Mountains → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley

Begin your desert adventure with an early morning departure from Marrakech. Travel across the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), making scenic stops along the way. Visit traditional Berber villages and enjoy a refreshing cup of mint tea.

Continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified kasbah known for its cinematic history and timeless architecture. Explore its narrow alleys before heading to Ouarzazate, home of the famous Atlas Film Studios and Kasbah Taourirt.

Journey through the lush Skoura Oasis and the fragrant Valley of Roses, then arrive at Dades Valley, where dramatic rock formations and winding canyons await. Dinner and overnight in a charming riad or boutique hotel.

🚗 Distance: 320 km
⏳ Drive Time: ~6 hrs (excluding stops)
🏡 Overnight: Dar Blues OR Riad Paradise Dades OR Xaluca Dades OR Hotel Dar Ahlam OR Hotel Babylone Dades OR Eden boutique hotel (HB)

Day 2: Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi Dunes)

After breakfast, head along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, passing oasis towns and date palm groves. Stop at the impressive Todra Gorge, where you can walk between towering canyon walls.

Continue through Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops and market life, before arriving in Merzouga, gateway to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.

In the afternoon, set off on a magical camel trek into the dunes. Ride across golden sands, pause for photos atop the dunes at sunset, and arrive at your luxury camp nestled deep in the Sahara. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner and Berber music by the campfire.

🚗 Distance: 270 km
⏳ Drive Time: ~5 hrs (excluding stops)
🏕️ Overnight Stay: Luxury Desert Camps in Merzouga (HB)

Day 3: Merzouga Desert Exploration – Nomads, Fossils & Gnawa Culture

After breakfast, enjoy a full day immersed in the rich culture and diverse landscapes of the Sahara Desert.

Option 1: Camel Trek to Oasis
Walk and ride camels across a dry riverbed to visit a nomadic family in their desert tents. Share tea and learn about their way of life. Continue to Obira Oasis, a peaceful retreat beneath high dunes where you can relax or play in the sand.

Option 2: 4WD Desert Excursion
Hop into a 4×4 for a tour of the surrounding desert. Visit Mifis Ghost Town, an abandoned mining village known for ancient Kohl and quartz extraction. Explore fossil fields filled with ammonites and trilobites — relics of an ancient sea.

Stop at Khamlia Village, home to descendants of Sub-Saharan slaves. Experience the soulful rhythms of Gnawa music, a powerful mix of African and Berber traditions.

Optional Activities:

🚙 Quad biking or dune buggy rides
🐴 Extra camel or horseback riding

Return to your desert camp for a second magical night under the stars.

🏕️ Overnight Stay: Luxury Desert Camps in Merzouga (HB)

Day 4: Merzouga → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate → Marrakech

Rise early to witness a desert sunrise over the dunes — a truly magical moment. After breakfast and a 4WD or camel transfer back to Merzouga, begin your return journey to Marrakech.

Drive through the expansive Draa Valley, home to one of Morocco’s longest rivers and thousands of date palms. Stop in Agdez or Ouarzazate for lunch before crossing the High Atlas Mountains once more. Arrive in Marrakech by early evening.

🚗 Distance: 560 km
⏳ Drive Time: ~9 hrs (excluding stops)

What’s Included

✔️ Private transport (4×4 or minibus) with English-speaking driver
✔️ 1 night in riad/hotel in Dades Valley (HB)
✔️ 2 nights in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga (HB)
✔️ Camel trek or 4WD transfer to and from the dunes
✔️ Desert exploration tour (camel or 4WD option)
✔️ Sandboarding (optional & free)
✔️ Live Berber music at camp
✔️ Daily breakfast & dinner