3-Day Marrakech Desert Tour with Ait Benhaddou and Erg Chebbi

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou
• 02 Experience the beauty of the Dades Valley and the Valley of the Roses
• 03 Explore the magnificent Todra Gorge with its steep rock walls
• 04 Ride a camel in the Erg Chebbi dunes
• 05 Travel over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass

Embark on a 3-day Marrakech desert tour with a private English-speaking driver, crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou. Discover the Dades Valley, the Valley of the Roses, and the dramatic Todra Gorge before continuing to the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Ride a camel to a luxury desert camp, enjoy a traditional tagine dinner under the stars, and visit Ouarzazate and the historic Glaoui Kasbah Taourirt on your return to Marrakech.

This community of clustered Berber kasbahs has appeared in over 20 films and was once one of the most important fortress strongholds on the historic Salt Road, which transported enslaved people, gold, ivory, and salt from Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Luxury

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Marrakech, Taourirt, Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Aït Benhaddou, Tizi n'Tichka, Atlas Mountains, Erg Chebbi

Languages English, French

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate and Dades Valley

• Meet your private driver for the Marrakech desert tour and depart Marrakech, heading over the High Atlas Mountains to the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
• There will be time to pause, take in the scenery, and enjoy a break for coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.
• Spend part of the day at Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This community of clustered Berber kasbahs has appeared in over 20 films and was once one of the most important fortress strongholds on the historic Salt Road, which transported enslaved people, gold, ivory, and salt from Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond.
• Continue via Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses, known for its delicate Persian rose oil.
• Pass through many Berber settlements and observe arid hillsides studded with kasbahs as you enter the desert landscape.
• Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in the Dades Valley.

2

Day 02

Dades Gorges to Erg Chebbi and Camel Ride to Desert Camp

• After breakfast, take a short trip to stroll through a major fault that divides the High Atlas Mountains.
• The steep rock walls of Todra Gorge rise to 300 metres at their narrowest point.
• Then continue toward the Erg Chebbi sand sea.
• Travel deeper into the desert environment until the dunes appear on the horizon.
• In the afternoon, arrive at a hotel, a small rural inn near Merzouga, where you will meet your camel guide and ride into the bivouac (camp).
• Upon arrival, a traditional tagine dinner, with vegetarian options available, will be prepared under the evening stars sparkling brightly in the pure night sky.
• Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your nomad tent bed.

3

Day 03

Erg Chebbi Desert to Ouarzazate and Marrakech

• Return to the hotel by camel in the morning for breakfast and a shower.
• The rest of the day is spent driving back via Ouarzazate, where you will have lunch and visit the historic Glaoui Kasbah Taourirt.
• Then cross the High Atlas once again through the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
• Arrive in Marrakech in the evening, at around 6 p.m.
• Staying in a Marrakech hotel for this night is optional and available at an additional expense.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Private car with an English-speaking driver or a driver and an English-speaking guide
• Hotel in the Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast
• Luxury camp in the desert with dinner and breakfast
• Camel ride in the desert (one camel per person)

What's Not Included

• Lunches
• Drinks
• Tips (optional and dependent on service)

What to bring

• An infuser bottle of water (say no to plastic bottles)
• A warm jacket, especially if you are traveling in winter, as it gets cold in the desert at night
• Walking shoes, sunglasses, and caps
• Sunscreen

Know before you go

• Driving time is long, especially on the last day, with a 10-hour drive from the desert back to Marrakech.
• On the first and second days, driving times are around 7.5 hours, including site visits; this is not a direct drive.
• Dress moderately; no special attire is required at any location.
• Enjoy many scenic panoramic views along the trip, and feel free to take as many photos or videos as you like.
• Always ask for permission before photographing a person.

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.