Morocco · Desert Adventure

4-Day Morocco Desert Trip from Ouarzazate with Erg Chebbi Camp

4 Days Round trip from Ouarzazate 45000 Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Visit the 13th-century fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • 02 Explore Skoura's palm grove, the Kasbah Amridil, and the fragrant Rose Valley
  • 03 Walk beneath the 300 m red cliffs of the spectacular Todra Gorge
  • 04 Experience Berber culture through a nomad family visit and Gnawa music in Khamlia
  • 05 Enjoy a camel ride, desert camping, and sunset in the dunes of Erg Chebbi

Traverse the rarely travelled off-roads of southeastern Morocco on a 4-day journey through Erg Chebbi and the remote Draa Tafilalt region. Discover a landscape of mountains, deserts, valleys, Berber villages, palm groves, kasbahs, and unique rock formations as you travel from Ouarzazate to Merzouga. Along the way, visit Aït Ben Haddou, Skoura, Todra Gorge, and the dunes of the Sahara, with time to photograph the amazing scenery and experience local culture.

Traverse the rarely travelled off-roads of southeastern Morocco on a 4-day journey through Erg Chebbi and the remote Draa Tafilalt region.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Aït Benhaddou, Erg Chebbi, Skoura, Dadès Gorges, Boumalne Dades
Languages Arabic, English, French, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Kasbah Amridil - Dades Valley

  • Meet the driver at 8 AM, who will pick you up from your accommodation, or the agreed location in Ouarzazate. Begin by visiting the famous kasbah of Ait Ben Hadou, a 13th-century fortified village (UNESCO World Heritage Site). This place has been used as a shooting location for movies such as Gladiator and the Kingdom of Heaven. 
  • Afterwards, continue to the oasis of Skoura to visit the kasbah of Amridil.
  • Visit the Rose Valley going through the big Skoura palm grove, a beautiful place to contemplate more than 700.000 palms and numerous kasbahs in the surrounding area. In this valley, Damascena roses are raised for cosmetic use, such as the valued rosewater. The Rose Festival is held here annually in May. 

Finally, reach the Dades valley to spend the night.

2
Day 02

Boumalne Dades - Todra Gorges - Jorf - Erfoud - Merzouga

  • After breakfast in the hotel, drive back through the valley to see the amazing rock formation of “the monkey toes.”

  • View the still-standing 19th century Kasbah of Ait Yul, the famous spot for films like The Mummy (1999) and the Prince of Persia (2010).

  • Leave the Dades valley and head towards Tinrghir. 

  • Reach the Todra Gorge. The scenery is spectacular. Walk under the 300m high red cliff at the gorge, where many rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport. Local people live in the area and can be seen in their adobe villages.

  • Travel to Erfoud and Rissani, where lunch awaits. 

  • Make way to the village of Merzouga.

Overnight in the hotel next to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

3
Day 03

Merzouga - Hassi Labied - Khamlia - Nomad family - Fossil Site - Tour of the dunes - (Camel Ride & Night in Sahara)

  • After breakfast in the hotel, hop in a 4×4 for a dune bashing adventure.

  • Meet a nomad family living in a tent in the village of Khamlia. Listen to the spiritual music of Gnawa.

  • Visit the Dayte Sarji Lake that forms in springtime and attracts pink flamingos. Break for lunch in Merzouga or Hassi Labied.

  • Walk to the canal irrigation system and the oasis located at the foot of the dunes. 

  • In the afternoon, get ready for a camel trek for an hour and a half to enjoy the sunset. 

  • Continue to the camp for an overnight in a traditional nomad tent. 

Take dinner and spend the night in a bivouac in the middle of the dunes.

4
Day 04

Merzouga - Rissani - Nkob - Draa Valley - Ouarzazate

  • Wake up early to view the spectacular sunrise within the desert. 

  • After breakfast, begin to walk back to Ouarzazate through Rissani, the origin of the Alaouite, the royal family that reigns Morocco.

  • Walk through the Berber villages of Alnif and N’Kob and the Draa valley to Agdez, and have lunch.

  • Arrive in Ouarzazate late afternoon. Wait for the driver to drop you off in your accommodation or any other location in Ouarzazate.

The four-day excursion from Ouarzazate to Merzouga desert comes to an end.

Ksar of Aït Benhaddou, Skoura palm grove, Erg Chebbi dunes

Where this trip takes you

Ksar of Aït Benhaddou, Skoura palm grove, Erg Chebbi dunes

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Ouarzazate 45000 10 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private transportation during the excursion in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle or minibus
  • 3 nights of hotel accommodation
  • Professional English-speaking driver
  • Dinners and breakfasts
  • A camel trip in the Sahara Desert with a camel guide

What's Not Included

  • Drinks and lunches
  • Tickets to the sites
  • Any private expenses
  • Travel insurance

What to bring

  • Camera
  • Sunblock
  • Hats
  • Change of clothes
  • Warm clothes and shoes in the winter (December, January and February). The temperature can drop dramatically.

Know before you go

  • This is a private tour.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Ouarzazate, Morocco
Tour start
Ouarzazate 45000, Morocco
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 days finish where they began, in Ouarzazate 45000.

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Starting from

EUR 300 /person
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Estimated room rates

Single Room €300.00 — €1,000.00
Double Sharing €300.00 — €500.00

When

Travellers

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