5-day desert adventure from Marrakech to Merzouga, crossing the High Atlas Mountains, visiting ancient kasbahs, exploring valleys and gorges, and experiencing the magic of the Sahara Desert. This itinerary offers the perfect mix of culture, nature, and adventure.
5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Sahara Desert
5-day desert adventure from Marrakech to Merzouga, crossing the High Atlas Mountains, visiting ancient kasbahs, exploring valleys and gorges, and experiencing the magic of the Sahara Desert. This itinerary offers the perfect mix of culture, nature, and adventure.
5 days Trip Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass.
- Explore the UNESCO-listed Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a famous film location
- Visit Ouarzazate, the "Hollywood of Africa".
- Discover the Skoura Oasis, Valley of Roses, and Dades Valley.
- Walk through the dramatic Todra Gorge with its towering cliffs.
- Ride a camel across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- Spend a magical night in a luxury desert camp under the stars.
- Enjoy Berber music and traditional cuisine around a desert campfire.
- Visit nomadic families and explore Khamlia Village (Gnawa music).
- Admire the lush landscapes of the Draa Valley on the return to Marrakech.
Morocco Desert Tour in 5 Days From Marrakech
This 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour is perfect for travelers who want to explore Morocco at a relaxed pace, combining cultural visits, breathtaking landscapes, and the unforgettable experience of the Sahara Desert.
Your adventure begins with a morning departure from Marrakech, heading through the winding roads of the High Atlas Mountains and crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Along the way, you’ll pass through Berber villages and enjoy panoramic views before reaching the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, famous for its traditional architecture and movie history. After lunch, the journey continues to Ouarzazate, often called the “Hollywood of Africa,” and then through the Valley of Roses before arriving in the scenic Dades Valley for dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast, the tour continues through the breathtaking landscapes of the Dades Valley until reaching the spectacular Todra Gorges, a paradise for rock climbers with towering cliffs rising to 300 meters. You’ll enjoy some time walking through the gorge before driving toward the desert towns of Erfoud and Rissani. In the afternoon, you arrive at Merzouga, where your camel caravan awaits. Riding across the golden Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, you’ll reach your luxury desert camp. The evening includes a traditional dinner, live Berber music, and an overnight stay under the starlit Sahara sky.
The day begins with a magical sunrise over the dunes, followed by breakfast at the camp. You will then set out to explore the region around Merzouga, visiting the village of Khamlia, where you can experience traditional Gnawa music, and meeting nomadic families who still live in the desert. The excursion also includes discovering palm groves, ancient oases, and fossil sites. For those seeking adventure, sandboarding or quad biking are optional activities. In the evening, you’ll return to a comfortable hotel or riad near the dunes for a relaxing overnight stay.
After breakfast, you leave Merzouga and drive across the dramatic Anti-Atlas Mountains. The route passes through Alnif and the stunning Draa Valley, one of the largest palm groves in Morocco, stretching for miles along the river. Along the way, you’ll encounter traditional Berber villages and kasbahs that showcase the region’s history and culture. By evening, you arrive in Ouarzazate, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in a charming riad or hotel.
On the final day of your Morocco desert tour, you’ll visit the impressive Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate before beginning the return journey to Marrakech. Crossing once more over the High Atlas Mountains, you’ll stop at scenic viewpoints and traditional villages before descending into the plains of Marrakech. You arrive in the city by late afternoon, bringing your 5-day Sahara adventure to an end with unforgettable memories of Morocco’s desert landscapes and cultural treasures.
5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Sahara Desert
Inclusions
- Private comfortable vehicle with driver/guide.
- 3 nights in hotels/riads with dinner & breakfast.
- 1 night in luxury desert camp (with dinner & breakfast).
- Camel trekking in Merzouga.
- Pick-up & drop-off in Marrakech.
Exclusions
- Lunches during the trip
- Drinks (bottled water, soft drinks, etc.)
- Entrance fees to historical sites and monuments
- Optional local guide services at kasbahs or gorges
- Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, etc.)
- Travel insurance (recommended before departure)
- Tips for driver, guide, camel handlers, or camp staff
FAQs about the 5 Days Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech
The tour includes private transportation with an English-speaking driver/guide, 3 nights in comfortable hotels or riads with dinner and breakfast, 1 night in a luxury desert camp, camel trekking in Merzouga, and pick-up/drop-off in Marrakech.
Lunches, drinks, entrance fees to monuments, personal expenses, and tips are not included in the package. Optional activities such as quad biking or sandboarding are also at an extra cost.
The camel trek usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours each way (sunset and sunrise rides), depending on the camp location in the dunes. Travelers who prefer not to ride camels can request a 4×4 transfer to the camp
You will stay in carefully selected riads or hotels in Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, and near Merzouga. In the desert, you’ll spend one unforgettable night in a luxury or standard nomadic-style camp with private tents, depending on your preference.
Yes, the tour is family-friendly. Children often enjoy the camel ride and the desert camp experience. Special arrangements can be made for younger kids, including shorter camel rides
Absolutely. The 5-day tour can be adjusted to fit your needs, such as ending in Fes instead of Marrakech, adding extra nights in the desert, or including additional activities like quad biking.
Comfortable clothing, a light jacket for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and walking shoes are recommended. During winter, nights can be cold, so warm clothing is essential.
The Morocco desert is beautiful year-round, but spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable seasons. Summers can be very hot in the Sahara, while winter nights are cold but magical.