4 Day Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
Overview
Embark on an immersive 4-day journey from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert and back, traversing Morocco’s diverse and dramatic landscapes.
After crossing the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi N’tichka pass, explore the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou kasbah. Continue through the fragrant Valley of Roses to Dades Valley, the longest river in Morocco.
On day two, travel along the “Road of 1000 Kasbahs” through Todra Gorge to Merzouga. Experience a camel trek across the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi, witness magical sunset and sunrise, followed by an unforgettable night glamping in a desert camp under starry Saharan skies.
Visit Rissani, Draa Valley en route to Ouarzazate. Tour Taourirt Kasbah and Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate. Return to Marrakech via High Atlas.
Highlights
4 Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech
- Crossing High Atlas Mountains
- Visiting Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Seeing Dades Valley rock formations
- Exploring Todra Gorge
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi dunes
- Desert camping under starry sky
- Visiting Erfoud fossil capital
- Exploring Rissani birth of Alaouite Dynasty
- Draa Valley date palm plantations
- Taourirt Kasbah and Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate
4 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
Day 1 : Marrakech → High Atlas Mountains → Ait Ben Haddou → Dades
Start your 4-Day Tour Marrakech To Merzouga with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Marrakech at 8:00 a.m. Leave the city and travel southeast through the majestic High Atlas Mountains, crossing the awe-inspiring TiziN’Tichka pass at an elevation of 2,260 meters.
Throughout the drive, you’ll be treated to some beautiful viewpoints of charming Berber villages perched on the mountainsides. Your friendly driver will be making several stops along the way for you to take scenery photos or to stretch your legs.
Our first stop is the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, a remarkable fortified village that has served as a backdrop for numerous acclaimed films, including Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia.
After a guided tour of the Old Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, we’ll enjoy a delectable Berber food for lunch before continuing our journey along the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs. This scenic route takes us through the Skoura Oasis, known for its lush palm groves and its perfectly restored 17th-century Kasbah Amridil, which is worth a visit.
We’ll then venture into the Valley of Roses, a picturesque region known for its Damascus Rose plantations, rose water production and rose-based cosmetic goods.
Our day concludes in the breathtaking Dades Valley or Boumalne Dades. You will get to see amazing rock formations that look like fingers sticking up, which locals call “monkey fingers.” For the night, we’ll be staying at a comfortable guesthouse with private en-suite rooms and enjoy a tasty dinner.
Day 2 : Dades Gorges → Todra Gorge → Merzouga Desert
After a delicious breakfast, our 4 days trip Marrakech to Merzouga continues as we drive through the 1001 Kasbahs road to the village of Tinghir. Along the route we’ll be making stops to admire the beautiful Todra valley full of palm groves and authentic Berber villages.
Then onto the incredible Todra Gorge (600 feet high). Feel free to wander in the gorges and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. After lunch, we continue our journey to Erfoud, known as the “Fossil Capital of Morocco.” You’ll have time to browse the marble workshops and fossils.
From here we continue our journey to the captivating Merzouga Desert. Prepare for a 1h 30 min camel ride into the heart of the Erg Chebbi dunes to watch sunset. For the thrill-seekers, there’s an opportunity to try your hand at sandboarding.
Then we continue to the camp where you can choose between staying in authentic nomadic tents or more upscale tents that are more like a hotel. You’ll be treated to a delicious Moroccan dinner under the star-studded Saharan sky.
Relax and enjoy your dinner while being serenaded by local musicians and entertainers around the campfire. This night promises to be the highlight of your Marrakech to Merzouga 4 days tour.
Day 3 : Erg Chebbi → Rissani → Alnif → Ati Atlas Mountains → Ouarzazate
Begin your day with a mesmerizing sunrise over the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. If you picked the luxury desert camp, you’ll enjoy breakfast and take a shower right there. But if you went with the basic camp option, you’ll start by hopping on a camel or a comfortable 4×4 vehicle ride across the sandy dunes. After that trek, you’ll head to a guest house in Merzouga town to fuel up with breakfast and freshen up with a shower.
Then we’ll travel to Ouarzazate passing through Rissani, where the Alaouite Dynasty began. We’ll explore the old capital of the Alaouite Sultans. If we are lucky to be here on one of the days of the market ( Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday) we will have the opportunity to visit the traditional Moroccan souk .
From Rissani our journey continues to Alnif. From there, we proceed along the route that winds its way through the Jbel Saghro mountains, part of the Anti-Atlas range. You’ll be treated to the sight of unique grayish black mountains with captivating shapes as we make our way to the main Berber village of Tazarine.
Later, we will drive into the Draa valley, an area famous for its lush date palm plantations. We’ll make some stops to admire the beautiful views of the river that gives name to the valley. It is the longest river in Morocco.
Our 4 days private Marrakech tour continues towards Ouarzazate crossing the Anti-Atlas. Upon arrival in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon, check into your hotel then have dinner.
Day 4 : Ouarzazate → High Atlas Mountains → Marrakech (Red City)
Today, our adventure begins with a delectable breakfast before we set off to explore Ouarzazate, often called the “Hollywood of Africa” and a key gateway to the Sahara desert.
We’ll kick off our day by visiting the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate. This remarkably fortified village, built in the 17th century, served as a residence and small palace for the local el-Glaoui clan, who ruled the region for centuries.
Our next stop will be the Atlas Film Studio, one of the world’s largest film studios. This impressive complex has been the backdrop for numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including “Gladiator,” “Game of Thrones,” and “The Mummy.”
After our tour of the studio, we’ll embark on a scenic journey back to Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains, making stops to capture the breathtaking views. We’ll have lunch at a restaurant in Tizi N’tichka zig zags.
Our adventure culminates as we reach Marrakech in the afternoon. You’ll be dropped at your hotel or taken to the airport. This marks the end of this adventure through southern Morocco’s desert regions and mountain landscapes.
Tour Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech
- A/C transport
- English driver/guide (other languages)
- 2 hotel nights (meals included)
- 1 desert camp night (meals included)
- Camel trekking
- Sandboarding (optional)
- Mint tea at camp
- Fuel costs
- Photo/lunch stops
Tour Excludes
- Accommodation in Marrakech
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments (optional)
- Fees for local guides (if used)
- Tips (optional)
