Riads, kasbahs and hotels
Traditional houses with private room and bathroom, in the medinas or overlooking the valley.
- Private room
- Dinner and breakfast
4 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
4 days from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert
The same wonders as the three-day tour, but with the return split into two stages and no rush.
From €200 per person Book now
Highlights
- Ait Benhaddou
- “Monkey fingers” of the Dades
- Todra Gorges
- Camel trekking
- Night with a nomad family
- Saharan sky
- Ouarzazate
- Oases of the south
- Private tour
Trip overview
Four days let you do the trip to Merzouga the way we like it: with time. The outward journey follows the classic route via Ait Benhaddou, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorges, but the return is spread over two days, with a night in Ouarzazate. That means fewer hours in the car at a stretch and more stops at the palm groves and kasbahs along the way.
It is also the tour we most recommend to those travelling with children or older people, and to photography lovers: the best light in the south comes early and late in the day, and here there is room to make the most of it.
Ideal for: families, couples and anyone who prefers a gentle pace, with balanced stages and time to stop.
- Duration
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Home
- Marrakech
- End
- Marrakech
- Type
- Private
- Departures
- Every day
- Language
- English / Spanish
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day1
Marrakech → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
We leave at 8 am on the High Atlas road, through winding valleys and Berber villages. We take a coffee break at a viewpoint and visit Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah in Morocco. After Ouarzazate the road runs past palm groves and mud-brick fortresses to the Dades Valley.
- Coffee with a view of the Atlas
- Visit to Ait Benhaddou
- Ouarzazate
- Sunset in the Dades Valley
-
Day2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorges → Merzouga
We drive down the valley, stopping at the eroded rocks known here as “monkey fingers” and at the 19th-century kasbah of Ait Youl. In the Todra, mud-brick villages overlook the palm grove before the canyon narrows. We have lunch in Rissani and reach Merzouga, where we are welcomed with tea and a scarf for your turban. The caravan heads into the sea of sand and we spend the night in a traditional tent.
- Rock formations of the Dades
- Ait Youl Kasbah
- Todra Gorges
- Rissani souk
- Guided camel trek
-
Day3
Merzouga → El Jorf → Ouarzazate
We have breakfast at the camp and ride back, watching the light change on the dunes as the morning goes on. After a shower at the hotel we take the road through Erfoud and El Jorf, lined with the wells of the old khettaras, the underground channels that carried water to the oases. We reach Ouarzazate in the afternoon.
- Breakfast among the dunes
- Camel ride back
- Khettaras of El Jorf
- Tinghir and Boumalne from the road
- Free afternoon in Ouarzazate
-
Day4
Ouarzazate → High Atlas → Marrakech
The last stage, short and spectacular. We leave behind the almost lunar landscapes of Ouarzazate — a regular film location — and climb to the Tizi n’Tichka. The road zigzags down to the plain, and by early afternoon we are back in the Red City.
- Taourirt Kasbah from the outside
- Villages of the High Atlas
- Tizi n’Tichka (2,260 m)
Timings and the order of visits may be adjusted according to the season, road conditions and your preferences.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English- or Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Accommodation every night
- Dinners and breakfasts
- One camel per person in the desert
- Night in a camp with private tent
- Turban and sandboarding in the dunes
- Photo stops whenever you like
What’s not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
We choose small places with character, where a home-cooked dinner is part of the experience. In the desert you can choose between two types of camp.
Standard camp
Private tent with beds, blankets and shared bathrooms. The simplest and most authentic option.
- Private tent
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
Luxury camp
Spacious tents with a large bed, private bathroom and shower, electricity and dinner served at the table.
- Private bathroom
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
A tip from our team
As you reach Marrakech early on day four, you can spend the afternoon on Jemaa el-Fna or even catch an evening flight without any stress.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
It is completely private: the vehicle, the driver and the itinerary are just for you and your companions. You will not share the trip with strangers, so we can stop wherever you like and adapt the timings.
Can I change the itinerary of “4 days from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert”?
Yes. What you see is our standard proposal. We can add a night, change the start or end point, include a guided visit or adjust the stages to your flights. Tell us what you need and we will send you a tailor-made version.
What is the difference between the standard and the luxury camp?
In both you have a private tent, dinner, breakfast and an evening of drums by the campfire. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with shower inside the tent and more refined décor; in the standard camp bathrooms are shared and you shower in the morning at the hotel in the village.
How long is the camel trek?
About an hour and a half each way, at a gentle pace and accompanied by a camel handler. We set off a couple of hours before sunset to arrive in good light. If anyone cannot or would rather not ride, let us know and we will find an alternative.
How do I book and how do I pay?
Send us the form or write to us and we will confirm availability and the final price within 24 hours. We accept online payment (Visa, MasterCard and PayPal), as well as cash or card in person.
When is the best time of year for this tour?
You can travel all year round. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) have the mildest temperatures. In winter the days are sunny but desert nights are cold, and in summer it is best to start early and make the most of the vehicle’s air conditioning.
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