5-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech

After having an early breakfast, our local driver will pick you up from your hotel or Riad in Marrakech at 8:30 a.m.

Your 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour begins with a drive towards Dades Valley, passing through the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2260 meters above sea level in the High Atlas Mountains. 

Along the way, you’ll enjoy the scenic road, admire breathtaking landscapes with different colors, and pass through many authentic Berber villages.

Our first major stop is in Ouarzazate, where you’ll visit the Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars (castles) in Morocco, and the Oscar film studios, and the Oscar film studios. 

After lunch in Ouarzazate, we’ll continue to the Rose Valley, passing through the Skoura palm grove, a wonderful place to contemplate the scenery and numerous kasbahs. 

In this valley, damascene roses are grown for cosmetic use, such as the valued rosewater. The Rose Festival is held here annually in May, an important cultural event in Morocco. 

We then travel to Dades Valley, where we’ll spend the night at a hotel/Riad overlooking the valley.

After breakfast at the hotel, our tour departs for Todra Gorge. 

Berber villages are scattered along the route, and we’ll pass through Tinghir, stopping to admire the beautiful Todra Valley full of palm trees before arriving at Todra Gorges, a popular rock climbing destination. 

Here, we’ll take a short walk through the grey and pink high canyons that can reach 300 meters.

Next, we’ll head to Tinjdad and Touroug for lunch, then continue to Erfoud, marking the beginning of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet. 

We then finally reach Merzouga and the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes. From here, you’ll embark on a camel ride lasting about an hour and a half to your nomadic Berber tents.

While camel trekking, you’ll take a break in the middle of the dunes to watch the sunset, try sandboarding if interested, take photos, and enjoy the scenery. 

After the sun sets, you’ll continue to the camp where you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea, followed by dinner, a campfire, a music party, and an overnight stay at the Amazigh camp in Merzouga.

We’ll start our Merzouga excursion soon after breakfast to explore different and interesting sites around the Erg Chebbi dunes. 

We’ll visit the Hassi Labied oasis to see its irrigation canal and agricultural land. We’ll then head south to the seasonal Sriji lake (if there’s water), and continue to Khamlia village to listen to the iconic Gnawa music.

Our next stop is the M’ifis mines. Merzouga is not only known for its tourism but also for its minerals and fossils. 

During our 4×4 desert tour, we’ll visit a nomad Berber family living in their tent in the middle of the Sahara, share a glass of mint tea, and learn about desert life.

We’ll stop at various panoramic views to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll return to the village. 

You’ll have a free afternoon, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel or Riad in Merzouga.

After a healthy breakfast at the hotel, you’ll meet your driver and travel to Ouarzazate via Rissani to visit its weekly traditional market. Traditional markets are hosted on specific days including, Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday. 

We’ll then drive through an arid pre-desertic area with typical acacia trees. On the way to the Draa Valley, we’ll make some stops to admire the beautiful views of the river, the longest in Morocco. 

Our journey continues towards Ouarzazate, crossing the Anti-Atlas Mountains. After lunch in the city, we’ll drive to our hotel in Ouarzazate for dinner and an overnight stay.

Soon after getting breakfast in Ouarzazate, we’ll drive to visit the ksar – a fortified village – of Ait Ben Haddou. The famous Kasbah was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. 

Numerous films have been shot in this spectacular location, including “Gladiator,” “Obelix,” and “The Mummy.” 

Our next destination is Tizi n’Tichka Pass, making stops along the way to enjoy the superb views of the mountains and mesmerizing Amazigh villages. 

After lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the Atlas, we continue to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon, marking the end of our 5-Day Marrakech Desert Tour.