Aït Ben Haddou
An earthen ksar on the old salt and gold caravan route, visited on day one.
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3 Days • Private Desert Morocco Tour
Our 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga leaves from your Marrakech hotel, crosses the High Atlas and the kasbah road, and brings you to a camel ride and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Duration
3 Days / 2 Nights
Departure
Marrakech
Tour Type
Private tour with driver
Destination
Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes
Transport
Private 4x4 or air-conditioned minivan
Availability
Daily, flexible start date
Overview
The 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is a private road trip for travelers who are short on time but still want to sleep in the Sahara. You leave Marrakech in the morning, climb over the High Atlas and spend the first night in the Dades Valley among kasbahs and red rock. The second day takes you through Todra Gorge and the date palm country of Tafilalet before a camel ride into Erg Chebbi and dinner at a desert camp. On the last day you drive back west through the Draa Valley. It suits couples, friends and families who are happy with full road days in exchange for a real night in the dunes.
Mountain passes, deep gorges and a night in the Sahara, all in three days.
What to expect
Drive over the High Atlas by Tizi n'Tichka
Walk through the clay ksar of Aït Ben Haddou
Stroll between the high walls of Todra Gorge
Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi at sunset
Watch sunrise over the dunes from camp
Day by day
1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Approx. distance: 330 km
Your driver collects you from your riad or hotel around 8:00 am. The road climbs through Berber villages and walnut trees to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at about 2,260 metres, where you can stop for photos.
On the far side you reach Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village of earth houses listed by UNESCO. Take time to walk up to the granary at the top, then have lunch nearby. In the afternoon you pass Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm grove and arrive in the Dades Valley for dinner and the night.
KEY STOPS: Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura
STAY: Hotel or kasbah guesthouse in the Dades Valley
MEALS: Dinner
2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga
Approx. distance: 290 km
After breakfast you follow the valley east to Tinghir and its long palm grove. At Todra Gorge you walk along the stream between rock walls that rise around 300 metres, a popular spot with local climbers.
The drive continues through Erfoud and Rissani, the old caravan town of the Tafilalet, before the first dunes of Erg Chebbi appear near Merzouga. In the late afternoon a camel handler leads you into the sand to watch the sunset. Dinner is served at camp, often with drums around the fire.
KEY STOPS: Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Erg Chebbi
STAY: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
3
Merzouga → Draa Valley → Marrakech
Approx. distance: 560 km
Wake early to see the sun rise over the dunes, then ride back to the edge of the desert for breakfast and a shower. The return takes a southern road through Alnif and Nkob, with views of the Jbel Saghro range.
After a lunch stop near the Draa Valley, you pass Ouarzazate and cross the High Atlas again. Expect to reach Marrakech in the evening, where your driver drops you at your accommodation.
KEY STOPS: Alnif, Nkob, Draa Valley, Tizi n'Tichka
STAY: Drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
MEALS: Breakfast
The route
An earthen ksar on the old salt and gold caravan route, visited on day one.
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Kasbahs, fig trees and red cliffs around your first overnight stop.
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A narrow limestone canyon near Tinghir that you explore on foot.
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The dune field where you ride a camel and spend the second night.
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Photography
Practical details
Pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or riad
Private vehicle, fuel and English-speaking driver
1 night in a Dades Valley hotel, 1 night in a desert camp
2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi
Lunches and drinks
Optional local guides at Aït Ben Haddou or Todra
Tips and personal expenses
Enquiry
Tell us your dates and group size and we will check availability for you. We can also change the camp level or add a night if you want a slower pace.
Good to know
How long is the drive each day?
Day one and day two are about six to seven hours with stops. The return to Marrakech is the longest, around nine to ten hours with breaks.
Is the trip private?
Yes. Only you and your travel companions ride in the vehicle, and the driver adapts stops to your interests.
What is the desert camp like?
You stay in a Berber-style tent camp in Erg Chebbi. Standard tents usually share bathrooms, while luxury tents have a private bathroom and proper beds.
Is the 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga suitable for children?
Yes, families join often. The long road days are the main challenge, so we plan more breaks and can add a night if needed.
Can I finish in Fes instead of Marrakech?
Yes. On day three we can drive north through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes instead of returning west.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer days in the desert are very hot, and winter nights at camp can drop close to freezing.
What should I pack?
Bring warm layers for the night, a scarf against sun and sand, sunscreen, and a small bag for the camp so your main luggage can stay in the car.
More journeys
Send us your travel dates and we will plan the desert trip around them. Questions about the route or the camp are always welcome.