5 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
Overview
This 5-day desert tour takes you from the vibrant city of Marrakech and back. It is the best desert trip to drive less and explore more. We will take you to travel to Erg Chebbi Dunes, charming desert towns, and other impressive places.
On this excursion you will cross the High Atlas mountains, visit Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, and journey through the fragrant Rose Valley. Hike in Todra Gorge’s canyons and experience an unforgettable camel trek into the Sahara’s Erg Chebbi dunes for a night under the stars in a nomad-tented camp. The tour also includes ATV rides, visits to local markets and a chance to meet some nomads.
On the last day you’ll return to Ouarzazate traversing the famous Tizi N Tichka pass and finally terminate your tour in Marrakech. Our tour can be modified according to your desires and interests.
Highlights
5 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
- Cross Tizi n'Tichka Atlas pass
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou kasbah
- Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate
- See Rose Valley
- Overnight in Dades Valley
- Hike Todra Gorge
- 4x4 desert tour
- Camel trek on dunes
- Sandboarding
- Berber camp overnight
- Sunrise & sunset over dunes
- Visit the Berber nomad families
- Draa valley
5 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga
Day 1 : Marrakech → High Atlas Mountains → Ait Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Your 5 days trip from Marrakech to Merzouga starts after picking you up from your hotel/riad in Marrakech at 8:00 AM. You will depart for Dades Valley with an expert tour guide/driver. On the way you will cross the towering High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n’Tichka pass at an elevation of 2,260m.
Along this scenic route, we’ll make stops to bask in panoramic views and take photos, and you are welcome to request stops at your convenience.
Lunch will be either in Ait Ben Haddou or Ouarzazate. En route to the Dades Valley, we’ll drive through the “Valley of Roses” near Kelaat M’Gouna. If visiting in April/May, you may see the Damask roses in full bloom across this fertile valley. We’ll stop at a local co-op to learn about rose water and oil distillation.
Our next stop is the lush desert oasis of Skoura and its incredible Glaoui kasbahs (forts) built by feudal lords. A highlight is exploring the Amridil Kasbah, one of Morocco’s best-preserved kasbahs.
In the afternoon, you’ll make your way through the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” into the dramatic Dades Valley. Marvel at the unusual rock formations dubbed “monkey fingers”. We’ll enjoy dinner while overlooking this otherworldly rocky expanse before overnighting in a traditional auberge (guesthouse).
Day 2 : Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga
After breakfast at the hotel our 5 Days Tour From Marrakech To Merzouga continues as we travel to the oasis town of Tinghir. Enroute we will make stops to admire the beautiful Todra valley full of palm trees.
Continuing our journey, we’ll make our way to the awe-inspiring Todra Gorge (300 m high), where you will go on a casual hike along the riverbed and the canyons. Free time to have lunch in this wonderful place.
We will then take the road to the Merzouga desert crossing the palm tree groves where best dates fruits grow up. Proceed to the charming town of Erfoud, where you may visit fossils and a marble workshop.
We will arrive in the Merzouga Sahara desert in the afternoon. From here we will take a camel ride across the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi to your Nomadic Berber tents. During the trek you will stop atop a high dune to watch the sunset. You can also try sandboarding if that’s an activity you’re interested in.
After the sun goes down you will continue to the Nomadic camp (we have both luxury and normal comfort camps). Enjoy a delicious traditional Moroccan dinner followed by mesmerizing Berber drum performances around the campfire and spend the night under the starry desert sky.
Day 3 : Explorative day of the desert
Today we highly recommend to rise early to witness the fabulous sunrise behind the dunes. After breakfast, we will pick you up to start our 4X4 Merzouga excursion to explore interesting sites around Erg Chebbi dunes.
We will start by visiting the nomads in their hand-woven tents. Share a cup of mint tea as you learn about their unique way of life away from civilization.
Our off-road discovery excursion continues to the Galena mines, which you’ll have a chance to explore. We’ll then journey to the village of Khamlia, where you can watch dance performances and listen to Gnaoua music performed by the locals. These musicians trace their origins back to southern African countries like Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Free time for lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch we will visit Merzouga Lake if it is full. Then drive a few kilometers to the town of Merzouga. Free afternoon, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel/riad.
Day 4 : Merzouga → Rissani → Draa Valley→ Agdez → Ouarzazate
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you meet up with your driver then make your journey from Merzouga to Ouarzazate. Our first stop will be in Rissani, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore its lively traditional markets (Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday).
From there, we continue driving through the stunning Draa Valley, making stops to admire the beautiful views of traditional Berber villages and the river. It is the longest river in Morocco. Make a brief stop in the town of Agdez, famous for its pottery workshops where you can witness the traditional pottery-making techniques and some valley landscapes.
Arrive in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon/evening, check into your comfortable riad and have dinner.
Day 5 : Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah → Telouet Kasbah → Marrakech
Continue our 5 Day private tour Marrakech to Merzouga, after breakfast at your hotel we visit Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, a fortified city dating back to the 17th century and was once the residence of the powerful Glaoui family. Afterwards, we will visit the famous Atlas Films Studio which has been the backdrop for numerous Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows, including “Gladiator,” “Game of Thrones,” and “The Mummy.”
After these visits, we’ll continue our 5 days Marrakech desert tour to the iconic Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will be taken on a walking tour to get a hold of its background as well as its history of one of the targeted places of shooting numerous films, including “Gladiator,” “The Mummy,” and “Game of Thrones,” due to its incredible preservation. Free time for lunch in town.
Next, we’ll explore the Telouet Kasbah, a once lavish palace that served as the residence and fortress of the powerful Glaoui tribe in the late 19th century.
In the afternoon, we’ll begin our journey back to Marrakech. We’ll travel through the TiziN’Tichka pass through the Atlas Mountains making stops to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful views of these mountains and authentic Berber villages.
Stop for lunch at a restaurant in the Middle Atlas before arriving in the red city. We will drop you off at your accommodation or airport. This marks the end of our 5 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga.
Tour Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech
- Fuel costs
- Tour in air condition vehicle A/C
- English driver/guide (other languages)
- Visits to interesting places along the way
- Photo and lunch stops
- Camel trekking in the desert
- Sandboarding (optional)
- 3 hotel nights (dinner & breakfast included)
- 1 desert camp night (dinner & breakfast included)
Tour Excludes
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Monument fees (optional)
- Local guide fees
- Tips (optional)
