3-Day Dades Valley and Merzouga Tour from Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou

3 Days Round trip from Marrakesh Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi NTichka pass at 2,260 meters
02 Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aït Benhaddou, famed for films and series such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones
03 Ride a dromedary camel into the Merzouga dunes and watch a magical desert sunset
04 Spend the night in luxury tents with traditional mint tea, local music, dance, and a starry Saharan sky
05 See the towering Todra Gorges and travel through the Rose Valley, Skoura palm groves, and the Draa Valley

Discover the real Morocco on a 3-day tour to Dades Valley and Merzouga, and experience the beauty of the far-stretched dunes that have given birth to the great valleys. Travel through Aït Benhaddou, the Rose Valley, dramatic gorges, and the High Atlas Mountains, combining desert adventure with some of southern Morocco's most iconic landscapes.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Todgha Gorge, Rissani, Aït Benhaddou, Skoura, Dadès Gorges

Languages English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Marrakech to Dades Valley

Depart from Marrakech at 8:00 A.M., cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi NTichka at an altitude of 2,260 meters.
Stop to enjoy incredible panoramic views, visit Argan oil cooperatives, and have the chance to discover the manufacturing process as well as the innumerable health benefits of using this product.
Continue southbound, make a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou. This fortified village is home to numerous classics such as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones.
Enjoy some local food such as tajines or couscous.
Continue the journey to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco, and visit the local Kasbah of Taourit.
Proceed east, and make several stops en-route to the Dades Valley with the Moroccan guide. These include the Palm Groves of Skoura; K’laat M’Gouna, the Valley of Roses; Dades Gorges of Boumalne, one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
End the tour for the night where dinner and housing accommodations will be provided.

Day 02

Dades Valley to Merzouga

Depart to the Todra Gorges through Kasbah-filled roads.
Arrive at one of the most spectacular rock enclaves in the south. Situated on the east side of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, this canyon is more than 500 feet tall providing rock-climbing enthusiasts to experience the natural forces that once carved this region.
After a complimentary lunch, resume the trek to the Saharan desert of Merzouga through the village of Rissani.
Depart on a one-hour trip caravan of dromedary camels.
Stop to enjoy a magical sunset on the desert dunes before retiring in the abode of luxury tents.
Have the opportunity to drink traditional ‘Moroccan Whiskey’ – tea with mint and sugar.
Visit the nearby dunes and enjoy local music, dance, and the starry night.

Day 03

Merzouga to Marrakech

Experience the sunrise, overlooking the great Saharan dunes, on camels with a local Moroccan breakfast.
Proceed with the journey back through the Draa Valley near Adgez, which is home to one of the biggest palm groves in Northern Africa. In addition, the river that runs along this beautiful valley is the longest river in Morocco which crosses over to Mauritania.
Cross the Anti Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate, and have lunch.
In the afternoon, end the tour in Marrakech, and enjoy free time to visit the infamous Jamaa el Fna; witness the magical incantations of snake charmers and henna tattoo artists.

The route