3 Days Marrakech Desert Tour

Your 3-day private desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga begins with a pickup from your preferred location. Your knowledgeable local driver/guide will welcome you and lead the way as you cross the High Atlas Mountains toward the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah.

After about an hour, we will reach traditional Berber villages nestled into the mountainside. Here, we will stop to learn about local Berber life and enjoy the spectacular views along the winding roads of the Tichka Pass, which stands at 2,260 meters (7,414 feet). You will also have the chance to visit a local women’s cooperative to see how Argan oil is produced for both food and cosmetics.

By midday, we will arrive at the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou. You will explore both the interior and exterior of this historic Kasbah, which was built in the 11th century as a key stop for trading caravans. Today, it is a famous filming location for movies and shows like Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Indiana Jones.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant with a view of the Kasbah or in nearby Ouarzazate. Afterward, we continue to Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Africa" because of its massive film studios. You may choose to visit Atlas Studios to see where many famous scenes were filmed.

Next, we travel along the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs" toward Boumalne Dades. Along the way, we will stop in the Rose Valley in Kalaat M’gouna, home to the famous Rose Festival held every May. You can visit a women’s rose cooperative to learn about traditional distillation techniques and browse local rose products.

Finally, we will arrive at your hotel overlooking the valley in the late afternoon. Relax, unwind, and enjoy a delicious dinner followed by a restful night.

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we will leave Dades valley and set off on an amazing journey that spans roughly 4 hours. First, we will arrive in the mesmerizing Todra Valley, known for the lush Todra Palmeraie Gorge. Continue along the valley to reach the dramatic Gorges of Todra while making frequent stops for photos, a haven for rock climbers and nature lovers. Your driver/guide will suggest taking a leisurely walk beneath the 300-meter cliffs. Every corner will leave you in awe. If time permits and based on your interests, you will visit a women weaving Berber carpets association.

After a traditional lunch, the drive continues to Merzouga desert via some Berber villages and a Palmeraie oasis of Tafilalt. An optional stop will be made in a Berber family shop, where you will dress traditionally and get a henna tattoo for photography. Free of charge, but possible to get the best scarf for your desert experience to protect you from the sand and sunburn.

Arrive at Merzouga desert in the late afternoon, where you will enjoy a peaceful camel ride over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, led by an experienced camel guide to explore and enjoy the sand sea of Erg Chebbi. The camel guide will make sure to stop in a high dune to watch what may be the best sunset of your lifetime. After the twilight, you’ll get to your featured camp, where you’ll spend your dreamy night. Your luxury Berber tent is equipped with flush toilets and hot showers. Dinner will be served at the camp, followed by live local music around a bonfire.

Today, rise early to watch a beautiful, stunning sunrise where you will see the sunshine cover the small golden sand dunes of Merzouga and the rocky, barren Sahara Desert. After your breakfast at the camp, you will trek back by camel, or if you feel you’ve had enough of riding the camels, you have the option for a 4WD vehicle drive back from the camp.

You will then head on the road back to Marrakech through tranquil oases, vast deserts, and the beautiful Atlas Mountains. Lunch will be whenever you feel the time is right for it, probably in Ouarzazate city. The drive continueS to Marrakech with dramatic scenery crossing the high Atlas Mountains through the magnificent road Tizi n’Tichka Pass again. Expect to Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon. Your driver/guide will make sure to drop you off at your preferred convenient location.