Private desert tour
3 Days Tour From Marrakech to Merzouga Desert
A private 3-day journey from Marrakech across the High Atlas to the Sahara. Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass, walk the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, follow the Dades Valley through the Todra Gorge, and spend a night in a desert camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi — camel trek at sunset, a sky full of stars, and sunrise over the sand.
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- From
- €375 per vehicle
- Starts
- Marrakech
- Ends
- Marrakech
A starting price for one comfortable 4x4 carrying up to 4 people — not per person. What you finally pay depends on your dates, the accommodation you choose and any changes you make to the route. The 4-day version costs one more day and removes the nine-hour drive home.
This is the classic Sahara run, and the shortest trip that still gets you a genuine night in the dunes rather than a rushed look at them. Three days is enough to cross the High Atlas, see the great earthen kasbahs of the south, and wake up at Erg Chebbi — but it does involve real driving, and we would rather you knew that up front than discovered it on day three. If you have a spare day, the 4-day version covers the same ground at a pace that lets you stop when something is worth stopping for.
Everything below is what actually happens, in the order it happens. The vehicle is yours, the guide is yours, and the timings move if you want them to.
Trip highlights
- Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m)
- Explore Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah
- Walk the Todra Gorge, canyon walls rising 300 metres
- Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Overnight in a desert camp under the stars
- Watch sunrise over the Sahara before returning
Day by day
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Day 1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Your driver-guide collects you from your riad in Marrakech at 8am. The road climbs the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, with Berber villages clinging to the slopes and a first stop for photographs at the summit. Descending south, you reach Aït Ben Haddou — the fortified earthen kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a backdrop for films from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator. After a guided walk through its ksar and lunch, continue to Ouarzazate, Morocco's film capital, and on through the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight in a traditional hotel among the gorges.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner Night: Hotel in Dades Valley
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Day 2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi camp
After breakfast, drive to the Todra Gorge, where canyon walls rise 300 metres on either side of a narrow river path — time to walk beneath them before the road east. Passing Tinejdad and Erfoud, the region of dates and fossils, the landscape flattens and reddens until the dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon. At the edge of the sand you leave the vehicle and mount your camel for a trek into the dunes as the light turns gold. You reach the desert camp in time for sunset from the crest of a dune. Dinner around the fire, Berber drumming, and a night under a sky thick with stars.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Night: Desert camp at Erg Chebbi
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Day 3
Sunrise over Erg Chebbi → return to Marrakech
Wake before dawn for sunrise over the dunes — the quietest, clearest light of the trip. Ride the camels back to the edge of the sand for breakfast and a shower at the auberge, then begin the return journey. The road retraces the Ziz Valley and its palm oasis, crosses the Atlas, and returns you to Marrakech by evening, dropped at your accommodation. It is a long day in the vehicle; we break it with stops and you set the pace.
Meals: Breakfast
What is and is not included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel and tolls
- English- or French-speaking driver-guide
- 1 night in a hotel (Dades Valley), half board
- 1 night in a desert camp (Erg Chebbi), half board
- Camel trek at sunset and sunrise
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
Not included
- Lunches (except day 1) and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips and personal expenses
- Local guide at Aït Ben Haddou (optional, around 150 MAD)
Good to know
Is this a private tour?
Yes. This is a private tour for your party only, with your own driver-guide and vehicle. You are not sharing with other travellers, and the pace and stops can be adjusted to suit you.
How much driving is there really?
Day 1 is around 7 hours on the road with stops, day 2 around 5, and day 3 is the long one at roughly 9 hours back to Marrakech. The roads are paved and in good condition throughout. If that sounds like a lot, the 4-day version of this tour splits the return over two days and is a noticeably gentler trip.
How cold does the desert get at night?
Nights in the Sahara are cool year-round and can drop close to freezing in winter (December to February). The camp provides thick blankets, and we recommend bringing a warm layer even in summer.
Can you accommodate dietary needs or children?
Yes. Vegetarian and other dietary needs are easily arranged with notice, and the tour is family-friendly — camel rides are gentle and short, and the vehicle is comfortable for children. Tell us the ages and we will adjust the camel arrangements.
What are the desert camps like?
Standard camps have private tents with real beds, shared bathroom blocks with hot showers, and a communal fire. Luxury camps add en-suite bathrooms and larger tents. We quote the standard camp by default; ask if you would like the luxury option priced.
What should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes, a warm layer for the evening, sun protection, a scarf for the dunes, and a small overnight bag for the camp — your main luggage stays in the vehicle at the auberge.
Worth reading before you go
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The Best Time to Visit the Moroccan Sahara
The short answer is October and April. The longer answer depends on whether you mind heat more than you mind cold, and…
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What to Pack for a Sahara Desert Tour
Your main luggage stays in the vehicle. What matters is the small bag that goes with you on the camel — and that is…
Ready to see the Sahara?
Send us your dates and we will tailor this 3 days / 2 nights tour to you — no obligation, and a real reply from a local team.
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