5 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech
Duration: 5 Days/4 Nights Distance: 1121 km
Start: Marrakech End: Marrakech
Type: Private Tour
Highlights at a Glance
- High Atlas Mountains – Scenic mountain passes & Berber villages
- Ait Ben Haddou – UNESCO World Heritage ksar & famous film location
- Ouarzazate – “Hollywood of Morocco” & Taourirt Kasbah
- Dades Valley – Dramatic gorges & winding mountain roads
- Todgha Gorges – Towering limestone cliffs & hiking paths
- Merzouga Sahara Desert – Erg Chebbi dunes, camel trek, nomad camp & desert sunset
- Draa Valley – Palm groves, kasbahs & traditional Berber life
- Rissani – Largest traditional souk in southern Morocco
Tour Program
Day 1 : Marrakech – High Atlas Mountains – Aït Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley
Distance: 323km Time on the road: 5h 30min
Your tour begins with a pick-up by your local guide from your Riad or any preferred location in Marrakech. From there, we head toward the Dades Valley, our destination for the first night.
Our adventure begins with a scenic drive through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass in the High Atlas Mountains. This winding mountain road offers breathtaking views of dramatic landscapes and traditional Berber villages. We’ll make our first stop at the highest point of the pass—an altitude of 2,260 meters—where you can take in the panoramic views and capture unforgettable photos.
Our first major stop is the famous Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful Kasbahs and fortified architecture. This iconic Ksar has been featured in many films and series, including Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and Gladiator. Your guide will lead you on a short walk across the river and up through the narrow alleys to the top of the hill for a stunning view of the Ounila Valley.
After lunch in the village, we continue to Ouarzazate, often called the “Hollywood of Africa” due to its film studios and cinematic landscapes. Here, you will also have the chance to visit the famous Atlas Film Studios, where many international movies and TV series such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed. We then pass through Kalaat M’Gouna, known as the “City of Roses,” famous for its annual Rose Festival held each April.
The day ends in the Dades Valley, where you’ll enjoy dinner and a peaceful night at your Riad.
Day 2 : Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Tinjdad – Sahara Desert
Distance: 253km Time on the road: 3h 45min
After enjoying a traditional Moroccan breakfast at your Riad in Dades, we begin our journey to one of Morocco’s most iconic destinations – Merzouga and the Sahara Desert.
We’ll travel along the famous Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, passing through the scenic Berber villages of the Dades Valley toward Tineghir. This area is known for its lush palm groves stretching over 15 kilometers, leading to the dramatic Todra Gorges, towering nearly 300 meters high. Here, you’ll have time to take a short walk through the canyon, surrounded by breathtaking rock formations and traditional Berber life.
After the visit, we continue our drive, with the option to stop for lunch in either Tinjdad or Touroug, depending on your preference and your hunger.
In the afternoon, we arrive at the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. Your camels will be waiting to take you on a magical ride across the golden dunes at sunset—a truly unforgettable desert experience. Meanwhile, your luggage will be transported to the camp in a 4×4 vehicle.
Upon arrival at your luxury desert camp, the staff will welcome you and show you to your private tent, where you can enjoy a shower and relax. In the evening, enjoy a delicious traditional Moroccan dinner followed by Berber music and drumming under the stars—a perfect end to an unforgettable day in the Moroccan Sahara.
Day 3 : Desert Sightseeing
Distance: 50km Time on the road: driving off road
After breakfast, your journey continues around the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes, one of Morocco’s most breathtaking desert landscapes. Here you will find the country’s highest sand dune, rising over 250 meters, once part of the legendary Paris-Dakar rally route that stretches towards the Algerian border.
We will follow a path that leads to a traditional nomad camp, where you will have the chance to discover the lifestyle and customs of desert nomads. After spending some time with them, we will stop at a scenic viewpoint offering a panoramic view of the entire Erg Chebbi desert.
The tour continues to the village of Khamlia, famous for its vibrant Gnawa music. Enjoy a cup of mint tea while listening to a live performance of these spiritual desert rhythms.
Afterwards, return for lunch at a local restaurant before heading to your hotel near the dunes. The afternoon is yours to relax, take a refreshing swim, or simply enjoy the tranquility of the Sahara. Dinner and overnight stay at your desert hotel.
Day 4 : Desert – Rissani – Alnif – Nkoub – Agdz – Ouarzazate
Distance: 350km Time on the road: 5h
Wake up early and head to the hotel terrace to admire the breathtaking sunrise over the Sahara Desert. Afterward, return to your room for a refreshing shower, enjoy breakfast, and prepare your luggage. Your driver will then be waiting to continue the journey toward Ouarzazate.
On the way, you will stop in Rissani, home to the largest traditional souk in southern Morocco, where locals trade spices, textiles, and livestock. The route continues through Alnif, Nkoub, and the scenic Draa Valley, famous for its endless palm groves and stunning landscapes. By evening, you will arrive in Ouarzazate, where you will check into your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Ouarzazate – Telouet – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech
Distance: 195km Time on the road: 3h 45min
On the final day of your 5-day tour, we will drive you back to Marrakech through the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, you will stop in Telouet, a traditional Berber village in the High Atlas, to visit the historic Kasbah El Glaoui. The journey then continues across scenic mountain landscapes before arriving in Marrakech, where your tour concludes.
Accommodations
| Category 1 | |
|---|---|
| Dades | Hotel Babylon Dades Gorges |
| Desert Night 1 | Sahara Desert Luxury Camp |
| Desert Night 2 | Riad Dar Hassan |
| Ouarzazate | Hotel Riad Amlal |
| Category 2 | |
|---|---|
| Dades | Riad Dades Paradise |
| Desert Night 1 | Caravanserai Luxury Desert Camp |
| Desert Night 2 | Riad Chebbi |
| Ouarzazate | Riad Dar Chamaa |
| Category 3 | |
|---|---|
| Dades | Eden Boutique Hotel |
| Desert Night 1 | Desert Luxury Camp |
| Desert Night 2 | Desert Luxury Camp |
| Ouarzazate | Hotel OZ Palace Ouarzazate |
*In case the listed hotel is fully booked, we will provide a similar option of the same category and inform you accordingly.
What’s included in our Morocco desert tours
- Included:
- Transport in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide (or request other preferred language)
- Dinners and breakfasts throughout the tour
- Camel ride experience in the Sahara Desert
- Overnight stay in a Merzouga desert camp
- Accommodation in carefully selected hotels and traditional riads
- Sandboarding
- Not Included:
- Lunches and beverages
- Personal expenses and optional activities
* Final price depends on the accommodation category selected and the group size
- Map for Marrakech Private tour
- Book this Tour now!
