3 Days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert

Marrakech to Erg Chebbi Round-Trip: High Atlas, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge & Desert Camp

A 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is a captivating round-trip journey that allows you to experience the diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Morocco.

This expedition takes you from the bustling historic medina of Marrakech, across the dramatic High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, to the world-famous golden dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert, and back. Along the way, explore UNESCO-listed mudbrick kasbahs, lush palmeries in Skoura, towering 300-meter cliffs in the Todra Gorges, and enjoy an enchanting camel trek with an overnight stay under starry desert skies at a traditional Berber camp.

Highlights

• Traverse the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m)
• Guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage fortress Ksar Ait Ben Haddou
• Discover Ouarzazate ('Hollywood of Africa') and the historic Kasbah Taourirt
• Travel along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs through the Skoura palm oasis and Dades Valley
• Walk beneath the soaring 300-meter-high canyon walls of Todra Gorges
• Visit the historic market town of Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite Dynasty
• Sunset and sunrise camel trekking across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi
• Overnight desert camping under starry skies with traditional Berber dinner and drumming

Included

• Transportation
• Professional Guide
• Camel Trek
• Activities
• Daily Breakfast

Not included

• Lunch and Beverages
• Personal Expenses
• Travel Insurance
• Tips
• Optional Activities

Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Boumalne Dades

Depart Marrakech at 8:00 AM, heading eastward into the High Atlas Mountains. Ascend through twisting mountain roads over the famous Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with sweeping vistas of terraced valleys and ancient Berber villages. Arrive at the renowned UNESCO World Heritage site of Ksar Ait Ben Haddou, an extraordinary fortified earthen village that has starred in classic films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven. After free time to explore and lunch, continue to Ouarzazate, Morocco's film capital, and pause at the Kasbah Taourirt. Traverse the lush oasis palm groves of Skoura and the Valley of the Roses to reach Boumalne Dades in the late afternoon. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing overnight stay at your hotel or riad overlooking the Dades River valley.

Day 2: Boumalne Dades – Todra Gorges – Rissani – Merzouga & Erg Chebbi Desert Camp

After breakfast, journey along the celebrated 'Road of 1,000 Kasbahs' towards Tinghir. Stroll into the magnificent Todra Gorges, where narrow orange limestone cliffs rise 300 meters above the riverbed in breathtaking fashion. After lunch at a local cafe near the gorge, travel through the ancient oasis town of Rissani—the ancestral seat of the Alaouite dynasty—before arriving at the edge of the Sahara in Merzouga. Mount your camel for a peaceful trek across the undulating dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun dips below the horizon, bathing the dunes in rich copper colors. Arrive at your nomadic desert camp, savor a freshly prepared Moroccan tagine dinner by the campfire, listen to hypnotic rhythms of Saharan drums, and sleep in private nomadic tents beneath a sea of stars.

Day 3: Erg Chebbi Sunrise – Rissani – Alnif – Draa Valley / Ouarzazate – Marrakech

Wake early to witness a magical Saharan sunrise lighting up the rolling sands. Trek back on camelback (or 4×4) to Merzouga for a hearty breakfast and fresh shower. Meet your driver and begin the journey back to Marrakech, traveling across varied arid landscapes via Alnif and Tazzarine or the southern mountain route through Ouarzazate. Stop for lunch and refreshments along the way. In the afternoon, cross back over the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n'Tichka pass, watching the landscape shift from dramatic barren mountain crests to lush green valleys. Arrive back in Marrakech in the mid-evening, where your driver drops you off at your accommodation, concluding an unforgettable 3-day Sahara expedition.