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Offered languages
- English
- French
See the real Sahara in 3 days from Marrakech. This small-group desert tour crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visits the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, and walks into the Todra Gorges before reaching the golden Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga.
The highlight is your night in the desert: a camel ride across the dunes at sunset, dinner and Berber drums around the fire at camp, a private tent for the night, and a sunrise over the sand the next morning.
Why book with us: we are a local Marrakech team, your English- and French-speaking driver-guide stays with you for the whole trip, pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad are included, and 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and 2 nights of accommodation (Dades Valley hotel and Merzouga desert camp) are in the price. Travel in a shared air-conditioned minibus, or choose the private option to have your own vehicle and driver-guide.
What's Included
Dinner
Breakfast
Meeting and pickup
Pickup starts around 7:00 from your hotel, riad or apartment in Marrakech. Cars cannot enter most medina lanes, so if your riad is inside the medina we meet you at the nearest accessible gate or square, and your riad staff can walk you there. Please send us your accommodation name and address after booking. We confirm the exact pickup time by WhatsApp the evening before departure.
Itinerary
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1Tizi n Tichka
Cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 m the highest paved road pass in Morocco. We stop at a viewpoint for photos of the switchback road and the Berber villages below, with time to stretch your legs and grab a mint tea.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
Explore the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified village of earthen kasbahs and the backdrop of Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many other films. Walk across the river and up the narrow lanes to the granary at the top for a wide view over the valley. Lunch stop nearby (at your own cost).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
3Ouarzazate
Short stop in Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara known as the Hollywood of Africa. See the Taourirt Kasbah from outside and the film studios on the edge of town as we continue east along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Dades Gorges
Drive through the Valley of Roses and into the Dades Valley, lined with palm groves, kasbahs and red rock formations. Arrive in the late afternoon at your hotel in the valley for dinner and an overnight stay in a private room with ensuite bathroom.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Todra Gorge
Walk into the Todra Gorges, where limestone cliffs up to 300 m high close in around a narrow river canyon. Time to stroll along the riverbed, watch the climbers on the rock walls and take photos before heading east through Tinghir and Erfoud.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
6Erg Chebbi Dunes
Reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga in the late afternoon. Leave the vehicle and ride a camel, led by a local cameleer, across the sand to your desert camp in time for sunset from the top of a dune. Dinner, Berber drums around the campfire and a night under the Sahara stars.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7Merzouga
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, one of the highlights of the trip. Ride your camel back to the edge of the dunes near Merzouga village, have breakfast, then board the vehicle for the long drive back west to Marrakech.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Marrakech - High Atlas - Ait Benhaddou - Dades Valley
Dades Valley - Todra Gorges - Merzouga Sahara Camp
Merzouga Sunrise - Ouarzazate - Marrakech
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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