5 Day Boutique Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Marrakech to Dades via Ouarzazate and Rose Valley: Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages & Road of 1000 Kasbahs
5 stops
1
High Atlas Mountains
The road from Marrakech winds through the breathtaking Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest in Morocco. Expect switchbacks, scenic stops, and endless views across the High Atlas Mountains. You’ll pass traditional Berber villages carved into the cliffs and see locals herding sheep along the roadside. There’s a reason they call this route the gateway to the Sahara, the landscapes shift dramatically with every turn, giving you a taste of the epic journey ahead.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is the cinematic heart of southern Morocco. We'll stop here for a photo op outside the massive Atlas Studios, where movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed. Just nearby is the striking Taourirt Kasbah, once a royal residence and still towering over the town in its clay-colored glory. Entrance to both is optional, and tickets can be purchased on site if you'd like to explore the inside of either. Otherwise, it's a scenic stop full of history and Hollywood magic.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
3
Skoura
As we drive through Skoura, the landscape turns green with palm trees, fruit orchards, and small villages. It’s one of Morocco’s oldest oases and still feels timeless. We’ll stop at the iconic Kasbah Amridil for a quick look at its mudbrick walls and palm-lined courtyard. This kasbah appears on the 50 dirham note and is one of the best-preserved in the country. Entrance is optional, with tickets available if you’d like to explore inside. Otherwise, the exterior alone is worth the stop.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
El Kelaa M'gouna
As the road winds toward the mountains, we enter the fragrant Rose Valley. Known for its spring rose harvest, this region turns pink with petals used in everything from skincare to rosewater. Depending on the season, you may see women drying roses on rooftops or visit a small distillery. Even if it’s not harvest time, it’s a beautiful drive lined with green fields, small villages, and views that feel straight out of a travel magazine.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
5
Dades Gorges
We finish the day in the dramatic Dades Valley, often called Morocco’s Grand Canyon. Towering red rock walls, curvy cliffside roads, and hidden kasbahs make this one of the country’s most scenic places. The evening light turns the canyon golden, and you’ll spend the night in a boutique guesthouse tucked between the hills. It’s quiet, cinematic, and a perfect way to ease into the rhythm of the desert.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todra Gorges, Berber Villages and Camel Trek into the Sahara Desert
4 stops
6
Boumalne Dades
We start the day with a drive through the upper Dades Valley, home to some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes in the Atlas Mountains. Think curvy roads carved into the cliffs, ancient kasbahs tucked into rock walls, and terraced gardens lining the riverbanks. It's one of those places that looks like a postcard even without a filter, and the perfect way to begin your descent into the Sahara.
Admission ticket free
7
Todra Gorge
Next, we head to the Todra Valley where you'll go on a short walk across the dramatic Todra Gorges, vertical limestone walls that rise up to 300 meters high. You’ll have time to take photos, explore the base of the gorge, or grab a mint tea from a local cafe. It’s a refreshing pause before the desert heat kicks in.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Along the way to Merzouga, we’ll stop at a small Berber village where you’ll have the chance to dress up in traditional desert outfits for a photo session that feels part fashion shoot, part cultural deep dive. A local henna artist will also be available to apply designs using natural henna, just like it's been done for generations. This experience is completely optional and included with your tour.. a fun, authentic way to capture the desert spirit before reaching the dunes.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
9
Merzouga
Once we reach Merzouga, you’ll hop on a camel and begin your ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi just as the sun starts to dip. It’s a surreal moment as the sky turns orange and the desert glows. You’ll arrive at your desert camp just in time to settle in and soak up the silence. Your bags will travel by 4x4 so you can enjoy the ride worry-free.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Explore Merzouga and Erg Chebbi: 4x4 Desert Tour, Nomads, Gnawa Music and Boutique Sahara Vibes
4 stops
10
Erg Chebbi
After breakfast, we switch gears from camels to 4x4 and head deeper into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. This off-road tour takes you through the black desert, fossil fields, and dry riverbeds that surround Merzouga. It’s a chance to see the full scale of the Sahara from new angles, with stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. The contrast between golden dunes and flat volcanic landscapes makes this one of the most photogenic drives of the trip.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Erg Chebbi
Along the way, we’ll stop to visit a nomadic Berber family living in traditional tents outside the dunes. You’ll get a warm welcome, a glass of tea, and a look at what life is like for those who call the desert home year-round. It’s a quiet and honest experience that adds depth to your Sahara journey. No performance, no pressure, just real people and real stories.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
12
We continue to the village of Khamlia, known for its Afro-Berber population and hypnotic Gnawa music. Here, you’ll be welcomed by local musicians who perform ancient spiritual rhythms using traditional instruments like the krakebs. It’s a soulful stop that connects the Sahara to West African roots. You can listen, dance, or simply soak in the energy with mint tea in hand.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
13
Khamlia
Back in Merzouga, you’ll be treated to a traditional Berber pizza lunch. Don’t let the name fool you, this is no mozzarella pie. It's a handmade, stuffed flatbread filled with spiced meat, herbs, and vegetables, slow-cooked in a clay oven. Served hot and shared family-style, it’s a filling and flavorful way to wrap up your desert exploration.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Merzouga to Draa Valley via Rissani Market, Volcanic Desert Tracks and Palm-Filled Southern Oases
4 stops
14
Merzouga
Early risers can catch the sun rising over Erg Chebbi’s golden dunes. It's quiet, surreal and absolutely worth the wake-up call. The first light of the day turns the sand shades of gold and pink while the rest of the world is still asleep. You’ll be back in time for breakfast, feeling like you’ve just lived inside a National Geographic cover.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
15
We stop in Rissani, a town that once served as a major caravan hub linking the Sahara to northern Morocco. If your travel day aligns with market day, you’ll get to explore a lively local souk where nomads and villagers come to trade everything from spices and dates to donkeys and sandals. Even off-market days offer great glimpses of daily life in this southern desert town.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
16
Alnif
Leaving the dunes behind, we drive through vast stretches of black volcanic rock and desert plateaus. The scenery is wide, empty and dramatic, the kind of place that makes you feel like you're driving across another planet. It’s one of the most underrated legs of the journey, and you’ll probably get some of your best road photos here.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
17
We arrive in the lush Draa Valley by late afternoon. After the arid emptiness of the desert, this place feels like an oasis in every sense. The valley is lined with date palms, ancient kasbahs and quiet villages. Depending on the time, you may go for a walk in the palm groves or just enjoy the peaceful views from your boutique kasbah stay.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Draa Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas Mountains: Scenic Finale to the Sahara Journey
3 stops
18
After breakfast, we start our return journey through the palm-filled Draa Valley. The morning light brings out the rich greens of the oasis and the reddish tones of surrounding kasbahs. It’s a calm and beautiful goodbye to the desert south, with optional stops for roadside photos or quick walks through date palm groves.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
19
Ait Ben Haddou
Midway through the drive, we stop at the famous Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient fortified village built from earth and straw. You’ll meet a local guide who’ll walk you through its maze-like alleys, rooftops, and old caravan trails. Used as a filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones, it's a dramatic blend of history, mudbrick magic, and killer photo ops.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
20
Tizi n Tichka
From Ait Ben Haddou, we return to Marrakech via the same scenic High Atlas route. The landscape transforms again as we climb through Tizi n’Tichka Pass, passing Berber villages, rocky peaks and endless sky. Expect a few well-timed scenic stops before we arrive in Marrakech by evening. Tour ends with drop-off at your riad or hotel.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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