3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Marrakech Explore the Sahara Dunes

After breakfast, your English-speaking driver-guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech. You’ll head southeast across the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m), offering breathtaking views over Berber villages like Imouzzar and Taddart.

We continue through the picturesque Telouet Valley, stopping for a short visit to the abandoned Kasbah of Pacha Glaoui, a historical gem of Moroccan architecture. From there, we follow the stunning Ounila Valley to reach the legendary Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This fortified ksar is one of the most iconic filming locations in Morocco. Over 40 famous movies and series have been shot here, including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Kundun, and Alexander. After lunch, we explore the site and admire its 17th-century earthen architecture, once an important trading post on the ancient trans-Saharan route from Timbuktu to Marrakech.

We then continue to Ouarzazate, with an optional visit to the Atlas Film Studios, often referred to as the “Hollywood of Africa.” The journey continues through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, passing Skoura, Kelaat M’Gouna (famous for its rose festival), and Boumalne Dades. Arrival in the Dades Gorges for overnight in a traditional guesthouse.

After breakfast, we drive toward the spectacular Todra Gorges, known for their towering limestone cliffs and popularity among rock climbers. Enjoy a walk through the palm groves and explore the canyon, then continue along the desert road via Tinghir, Tinjdad, and Erfoud.

Optional stop at a fossil and marble workshop in Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara. Next, we visit Rissani, a historic market town and the former capital of the Tafilalt region. Here, you’ll visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of Morocco’s Alaouite dynasty (1631).

In the afternoon, we arrive at Merzouga, where the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi rise dramatically from the desert floor. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan mint tea, then meet your camel guide for a 1.5-hour camel trek into the heart of the Sahara. Witness a stunning desert sunset on the way to your Berber-style desert camp, where you’ll enjoy dinner under the stars and overnight in a nomadic tent.

Wake up early to witness the sunrise over the dunes—an unforgettable moment. After breakfast, ride your camel back by a different route to the edge of the dunes, where your driver awaits.

We then travel through the rugged desert landscapes via Alnif and Tazzarine, before joining the majestic Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest palm valley dotted with ancient kasbahs and oases. Arrive in Ouarzazate for a short break, then continue back to Marrakech via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, arriving in the evening.