Morocco · Desert Adventure

4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakesh with Camel Camp Stay

4 Days Round trip from Marrakesh Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou
  • 02 Pass through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass
  • 03 Explore Telouet Kasbah and the kasbahs of Ouarzazate
  • 04 Ride camels across the Sahara dunes for magnificent sunset views
  • 05 Take short walks in the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
  • 06 Admire the contrasts between the nature and culture of Morocco

Embark on this four-day Sahara Desert trip through one of the wildest environments on the planet, where you will admire the red desert dunes and see Berber villages. Explore the kasbahs of Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge, and drive past the picturesque High Atlas Mountains, Roses Valley, and Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Enjoy a camel safari to Morocco's highest dunes and witness beautiful sunset views.

Embark on this four-day Sahara Desert trip through one of the wildest environments on the planet, where you will admire the red desert dunes and see Berber villages.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Aït Benhaddou, Tizi n'Tichka, Skoura, Dadès Gorges
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Marrakesh to Ouarzazate via Telouet Kasbah and Ait Ben Haddou

  • You will be met at your riad after breakfast, and then set off for Ouarzazate.
  • We will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, which, at an altitude of 2260 m (7417 ft), is the highest pass in Morocco.
  • You will enjoy amazing views of this fascinating landscape and the Berber villages it contains, and see the Telouet Kasbah, a former residence of the Pasha of Marrakesh.
  • Continuing south, we will arrive at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, probably the most celebrated, filmed, and photographed kasbah in Morocco. Featured in numerous films, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Sheltering Sky, and Gladiator, it is the best-preserved kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Arriving in Ouarzazate, you will be able to explore the famous Atlas Film Studios and two other interesting kasbahs - Taourirt and Tiffoultoute - before staying overnight in a hotel with a pool.
2
Day 02

Ouarzazate to Merzouga through the Draa Valley

  • After breakfast, we will take the Agdz road along the Draa Valley - the longest valley in Morocco.
  • En route, you will notice the Berber mud-built kasbahs in the valley and the beautiful oases as we pass through many different small towns and villages.
  • We will stop for lunch in Rissani, where you can try traditionally baked Berber pizza.
  • In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Merzouga. You will meet your camel guide, who will take you across the sand dunes to a Bedouin camp, where you will stay overnight and enjoy the spectacular view of the thousands of stars.

Palmyra Luxury Camp is equipped with a hot shower and a western bathroom.

3
Day 03

Merzouga to Dades Valley via Todra Gorge

  • After experiencing a beautiful sunrise in the desert, you will have a leisurely breakfast and then set off for Erfoud - a fossil town. Here, you will see stalls selling crystals, semi-precious stones, and fossils. The workshop Usine de Marmar is open to visitors.
  • We will then travel through Todra Gorge, a narrow corridor with sheer cliffs rising dramatically 300 m (985 ft) on each side. These are the most impressive cliffs in southern Morocco and are well known to experienced mountaineers.
  • Here, you will have lunch before continuing to the Dades Valley, where you will see impressive rock formations known by locals as "monkey toes", as well as interesting mud kasbahs.

Overnight stay in a hotel or riad overlooking the Dades Valley.

4
Day 04

Dades Valley to Marrakesh via Rose Valley and Skoura

  • Today, we will travel off-road and explore the region between the Dades Valley and the Valley of Roses.
  • You will encounter local nomads, some of whom still live in caves and tents. At El-Kelaa M'Gouna, up to 4000 tonnes of rose petals are picked every spring to be processed into rosewater or exported for the perfume industry. The Rose Festival is held here in May.
  • As we travel from El-Kelaa M'Gouna towards Skoura, you will see kasbahs set among the greenery of the Dades Valley. The small town of Skoura is surrounded by an impressive palm grove, and some of the most beautiful kasbahs in southern Morocco are to be found here.
  • Crossing the mountains via the Tizi n Tichka Pass, we will arrive in Marrakesh, where you will experience the famous Jemma el Fna square with its snake charmers, singers, fortune tellers, and teeth pullers.

The end of the tour.

Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Merzouga sand dunes, Todra Gorge

Where this trip takes you

Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Merzouga sand dunes, Todra Gorge

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Marrakesh 10 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private tour
  • Top-notch accommodation
  • Dinner and breakfast throughout
  • English-speaking driver/guide
  • Camel riding experience
  • Camp in the Sahara Desert
  • SUV car

What's Not Included

  • Drinks and lunches

Know before you go

  • Every itinerary is designed to meet each guest's needs. Please get in touch, and we will assist with anything you may need.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup from your accommodation in Marrakesh, Morocco
Tour start
Marrakesh, Morocco
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 4 days finish where they began, in Marrakesh.

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