Morocco · Desert Adventure

5-Day Marrakech and Sahara Desert Tour with Aït Benhaddou

5 Days Round trip from Marrakech Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Jemaa el-Fna Square, the busiest square in Africa
02 Ascend the High Atlas mountain range and spot Mount Toubkal
03 Visit the dramatic Todra Gorge, a 984-foot (300-meter) ravine
04 Ride a camel over the dunes of the Sahara
05 Spend a night in a Bedouin-style camp at Erg Chebbi
06 Discover the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Aït Benhaddou

Discover the beauty of Morocco on this exciting 5-day itinerary that begins and ends in Marrakech. Explore the rocky peaks of the High Atlas Mountains and the colossal sand dunes of the Sahara as you wander through medieval medinas and souks, marvel at palaces and mosques, and visit ancient kasbahs and desert towns. From Marrakech's historic landmarks to Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorge, Ouarzazate, and Aït Benhaddou, this journey combines culture, architecture, and desert adventure.

Take a short hike to the top of a nearby dune to observe the sun setting, then relax with a hot meal by the fire.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Toubkal, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Aït Benhaddou, Tizi n'Tichka, Erg Chebbi, Boumalne Dades

Languages English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrive, Explore the Red City

The souks (el Attarin, Haddadine, and Smata), the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, and the kasbah (old fortress or fortification) area housing the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace are located to the north, west, and south, respectively, of Marrakech's central square, Jemaa el-Fna. The calèches (French for horse-drawn carriages), which provide a distinctive way to tour the medina, are located on the southwest corner (old quarter). The Majorelle Gardens are located in the Ville Nouvelle and make a great getaway from the crowds.
Head to the Koutoubia Mosque, with its impressive minaret, to begin your day. Observe the courtyards and open areas that line many alleyways; these are fondouks or caravanserai, which served as inns for travellers and their animals in the past. Visit the Souk des Teinturiers (Dyers' Souk) while exploring the souks to observe how employees use conventional techniques to dye cloth and wool.
Go to the Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic school from the sixteenth century to see its intricate tile work, carved cedar ceilings, and Islamic calligraphy. Visit the 500-year-old Saadian Tombs or the Bahia Palace, one of the biggest and most opulent palaces of its era, built in the 19th century.
Visit the El Badi Palace from the 17th century if you have time for it for a comparison (be sure to check out the sunken gardens).

Day 02

Over the High Atlas mountains and into the desert

Moving east toward the desert while climbing the High Atlas mountains, leave the busy city behind. Try to locate Mount Toubkal, which is the tallest peak at 13,671 feet (4,167 m). You will pass a lot of traditional mud-brick Berber villages along the way.
After lunch in Taddert, take a tour of the neighbourhood's Argan Oil Cooperative to learn how the women there extract valuable oil from the argan nut to create oil used in the food, cosmetics, and health industries. As you approach the Tizi n'Tichka pass, continue on the winding road and pause to take in the expansive view.
Continue east and pass through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, many of which are dilapidated due to their pisé mud construction (rammed earth). You will pass a lot of small towns on your way to Boumalne Dades where you can see traditional farming practices being practised.
As you travel through fragrant Kela'a M'gouna, the "Valley of the Roses," keep an eye out for nomads caring for their livestock. Eventually, you'll reach Boumalne Dades, a significant town spanning the Dades River and your overnight accommodation.

Day 03

Desert towns, fossil workshops, and camping in the Sahara

To reach your ultimate destination, the sand sea of Erg Chebbi outside of Merzouga, you will travel further east today. Stop in Tinerhir along the way to admire the river oasis that surrounds the town on both sides. Impressive buttes, mesas, and plateaus can be seen in the area's desert landscape.
You will have the chance to visit the Todra Gorge nearby, a 984-foot (300-meter) deep ravine carved out by the Todra River. Continue on to Erfoud, a town in the desert. Visit a craft shop in this region, which is also known for its figs and fossils, to see how the fossil-rich rocks are expertly crafted into useful and decorative items. Additionally, it makes sense to purchase fresh figs here.
Visit the livestock auction and "donkey parking lot" in the market town of Rissani as you get closer to Merzouga, the settlement closest to the Sahara. After leaving Rissani, you will be able to make out the beginnings of the enormous sand sea known as Erg Chebbi.
Once you arrive in Merzouga, change up and board your own camel to start the trek across the sands to your Bedouin-style camp. Take a short hike to the top of a nearby dune to observe the sun setting, then relax with a hot meal by the fire.

Day 04

Date palms, movie locations, and Aït Benhaddou Kasbah

To further explore the Sahara, get up early to witness a desert sunrise. Rent a sand board, go on an Erg Chebbi tour through the sand dunes or an ATV tour, or simply relax by a pool in nearby Merzouga.
Go south to the traditional Saharan village of Khemliya (with its people originally from Mali). Here, you can take in the local music, dancing, and drumming before taking a leisurely stroll through the village and its sand-based farms. You will have another opportunity to visit Maison Tuareg in Rissani, a storefront that sells regional arts and crafts like carpets, jewellery, and leather products.
After that, proceed through acacia forests with their umbrella-shaped trees to reach Alnif for lunch. Continue through the Draa Valley, which is covered in date palmeries and offers another chance to buy a box of dates for the trip.
Continue to the west until you reach Ouarzazate, a popular filming location in the desert. You will have the choice to tour one of the two movie studios, which have become increasingly well-known thanks to the expanding film industry, and see how frequently the nearby areas have appeared in films. Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Prometheus, American Sniper, and Game of Thrones are a few well-known movie credits. Visit the Musée du Cinema to find out more about the area's history and the filmmaking process.
To reach medieval Aat Benhaddou, keep going west. Benhaddou, the most well-known Kasbah in Morocco and a protected UNESCO site, once played a significant role along the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert.
After the daytime crowds have left, spend the night in the old town and explore the deserted alleys. Enter some of the kasbahs for a small fee, then climb to the rooftop for some lovely views.

Day 05

Return to Marrakech

Explore the tiny alleys and passageways before the crowds arrive at the old kasbah to get a true sense of this 11th-century fortified city. Leave Ait Benhaddou behind and make your way back to Marrakech via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass and another trip up and over the High Atlas Mountains.
You will soon return to the bustling city of Marrakech after exploring Morocco's quiet desert towns and various deserts. Consider taking the afternoon more slowly; locate a café close to Jemaa el-Fna and savour your final Moroccan meal before boarding your flight.