3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga

Overview

Escape to the desert on this compact yet immersive 3-days Marrakech private tour that takes you from Marrakech to the desert town of Merzouga through Morocco’s diverse landscapes. Traverse the lush Draa Valley palm groves, the tranquil Tinghir Oasis and rocky landscapes of the Anti-Atlas Mountain terrain.

Get to see some sights that you may have seen in popular movies such as the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate’s Atlas Film Studios. Experience a camel trek across the towering Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun sets.

Spend the night glamping in a luxury desert camp under starry Saharan skies. Then, wake to witness a breathtaking desert sunrise before your return journey through the dramatic High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech.

Highlights

3 Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech

3 Days Tours From Marrakech To Merzouga

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

Your 3 Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech commences with a 8:00 am convenient pickup from your hotel/riad or wherever you are in Marrakech. Departing from the vibrant city of Marrakech, our journey takes us through the winding roads leading to the majestic Atlas Mountains.

As you ascend the Atlas Mountains, you’ll reach the renowned Tizi n’Tichka Pass, which is 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) above sea level. Take in the picturesque views of the Berber villages, snow-capped peaks and rugged gorges, offering perfect opportunities for breathtaking photos.

Finally, on the other side of the Atlas mountains and after a 4-hour drive you will make a noteworthy stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. This iconic ksar (fortified village) has been a backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions, including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and more recently Game of Thrones.

You will have plenty of time to explore the historic Kasbahs (there are actually six of them within the walled city) with the help of a local guide. On the first day, your traditional Moroccan lunch will be in the Kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou after your guided tour has finished.

Continuing our journey, we’ll venture into the lush Skoura Oasis, an oasis renowned for its verdant palm groves and ancient kasbahs. While here we will explore the 17 th-century Kasbah Amridil, a fortified village with impressive defensive walls. Then continue to Kalaa Mgouna, known as the “Rose City” due to its production of rose water and rose oil.

Your day will conclude in the dramatic Dades Valley, known for its historic fortresses and the impressive rock formations called the “ monkey fingers”. If there is enough time we will take you to explore them. If not, we will explore this unique place the next day.

Once here you can relax and unwind at a traditional riad or a private guest house of your choice and enjoy the culinary delights of a Moroccan evening dinner.

Day 2 : Boumalne Dades → Tinghir → Merzouga Sahara Desert

We kick off the second of our 3 day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga with a tasty buffet breakfast served at the hotel. After checking out, get ready for a thrilling 4-hour drive towards the edge of the Sahara Desert.

The first stop is the Tinghir Oasis, where you’ll take a guided stroll and explore the majestic Todra Gorges. It is famous for its towering 300-meter-high cliffs formed over millions of years by the Todra River carving through the rock. After hiking the gorges, we’ll make our way to Rissani, a town celebrated for its vibrant palm dates market and historical significance as an ancient caravan trading post.

With a bit of extra time in our hands, we’ll walk in the Souk and its famous livestock market and also visit the sacred Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty which rules Morocco to this day. This important spiritual site contains the tomb and mosque complex dedicated to the revered prince who led the national resistance against the Portuguese occupation in the 17th century.

The day culminates in Merzouga, you will drop off your bags in the 4WD and the driver will drive them to the campsite while you get onto your camels and traverse the Erg Chebbi dunes. During this trek, you will pause atop one of the highest dunes to witness the breathtaking sunset over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Afterwards, you will continue riding camels to the campsite, tucked between two towering dunes of Erg Chebbi. You will be greeted with a traditional mint tea upon arrival. Following a delightful traditional Moroccan dinner, you can sit at the center of the camp around a fire pit for drum sessions and dancing performances from your Berber friends under the starry Saharan night sky. You will spend the night in a luxury desert camp of your choice.

Day 3 : Merzouga → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate → Marrakech

On this final day, we encourage rising early to catch the spectacular desert sunrise from atop a towering dune near your camp. After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the desert camp, you have the option to make your way back to Merzouga town on a traditional camel trek or by traveling in an air-conditioned 4×4 vehicle to meet your driver.

From here we will embark on a 9-hour journey back to Marrakech, passing through the Draa River, which happens to be Morocco’s longest river, stretching for an incredible 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) across the dry, desert regions of the country.

As you travel, you will traverse through the diverse landscapes of the Draa Valley’s lush palm groves and the rugged terrain on the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Feel free to ask your driver to make stops whenever you desire.

The next stop is Ouarzazate, the “Door to the Desert”, where you’ll have the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at the Atlas Film Studios. One of the world’s largest outdoor studios, its sprawling backlot has formed the cinematic backdrops for memorable films like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and even the new Star Wars.

After this quick stop, we will drive by the Kasbah Taourirt, an impressive monument made of adobe that looks like a sandcastle. Lunch will be taken at any cafe.

The final leg of our journey will be the winding roads through the dramatically sculpted landscapes of the High Atlas Mountains before arriving into the famed “Red City” of Marrakech. We will drop you off at your accommodation or the airport, marking the end of this 3 day Tour Marrakech to Merzouga.