Merzouga dunes at dusk with a small caravan

5 Days Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech: Merzouga & Zagora

5 days from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert

  • Private tour
  • 5 days / 4 nights
  • Marrakech → Marrakech

Five days in a loop around the deep south: Erg Chebbi, nomadic life, Zagora and the six palm groves of the Draa.

From €300 per person Book now

Highlights

  • Ait Benhaddou
  • Dades Valley
  • Todra Gorges
  • 4x4 excursion around the dunes
  • Gnawa music
  • Camel trekking
  • Night in a desert camp
  • Draa Valley
  • Zagora
  • Private tour

Trip overview

This is the most complete tour of the south starting and ending in Marrakech. It traces a great loop with no road repeated: down to Merzouga via the Dades and the Todra, and back via Zagora and the Draa Valley. In between, a full day in Erg Chebbi with a 4x4 excursion and a night in the camp.

With five days the stages get shorter and the trip gains depth. There is time to step inside a kasbah, chat with a nomad family or lose yourself for a while in a palm grove. It is the choice for those who really want to get to know pre-Saharan Morocco.

Ideal for: curious travellers, photographers and anyone who wants to explore the south in depth without early starts or marathon stages.

Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Home
Marrakech
End
Marrakech
Type
Private
Departures
Every day
Language
English / Spanish

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day1

    Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Benhaddou → Dades Valley

    We collect you wherever you are staying and climb to the Tizi n’Tichka, with stops to photograph the mountains and the hamlets clinging to the slopes. We visit Ait Benhaddou and continue via Ouarzazate and Kelaat M’Gouna to the Dades Valley, where we spend the first night.

    • High Atlas viewpoints
    • Ksar of Ait Benhaddou
    • Ouarzazate
    • Kelaat M’Gouna
    • Hotel or kasbah in the Dades Valley
    • Dinner
    • 6–7 h drive with stops
    Ksar of Ait Benhaddou on its hill
  2. Day2

    Dades Valley → Tinghir → Todra Gorges → Erfoud → Merzouga

    We set off for Tinghir, stopping at the viewpoint over the palm grove, and follow the river to the Todra Gorges. We walk through the canyon and have lunch right there. The afternoon takes us via Erfoud, famous for its fossils and dates, to the first dunes of Merzouga.

    • Tinghir viewpoint
    • Walk through the Todra
    • Fossil workshops in Erfoud
    • Arrival at Erg Chebbi
    • Hotel or riad in Merzouga
    • Breakfast and dinner
    • About 5 h drive
    Tiny caravan among the Merzouga dunes
  3. Day3

    4x4 tour around Erg Chebbi and night in the camp

    At around 8 am we set off by 4x4 to circle the dunes: the Merzouga oasis, the nomad settlements and Khamlia, where the descendants of sub-Saharan slaves keep their music alive. After lunch there is time to rest before the camel trek. We dine and sleep in the camp, under the stars.

    • Desert tracks around Erg Chebbi
    • Nomad families
    • Gnawa music in Khamlia
    • Sunset caravan
    • Night in a desert tent
    • Camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi
    • Breakfast and dinner
    Campfire burning among the dunes under the night sky
  4. Day4

    Merzouga → Rissani → Nkob → Zagora

    We have an early breakfast in the dunes and ride back to the hotel for a shower. Then the journey west begins: the Rissani oasis, the plains of Alnif and the Berber villages of Nkob, at the foot of the Saghro. In the afternoon we reach Zagora, on the banks of the Draa.

    • Sunrise at the camp
    • Rissani
    • Kasbahs of Nkob
    • Zagora palm grove
    • Local hotel in Zagora
    • Breakfast and dinner
    • About 6 h drive
    Close-up of a camel in front of the dunes
  5. Day5

    Zagora → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate → Marrakech

    On the last day we drive up the Draa Valley, a continuous oasis nearly two hundred kilometres long, dotted with kasbahs. We stop in Agdz and Ouarzazate and cross the Atlas one last time. Arrival in Marrakech in the late afternoon.

    • Palm groves and ksour of the Draa
    • Agdz
    • Ouarzazate
    • Tizi n’Tichka
    • Tour ends at your accommodation in Marrakech
    • Breakfast
    • About 7 h drive
    Mountain road crossing the High Atlas

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.

Travellers having tea on a kasbah terrace

Riads, kasbahs and hotels

Traditional houses with private room and bathroom, in the medinas or overlooking the valley.

  • Private room
  • Dinner and breakfast
Traditional tent lit up at night in the desert

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 with rugs and lanterns in Merzouga

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

What a night in the camp is like

A tip from our team

In Zagora you will see the famous sign “Timbuktu, 52 days”: a reminder of how long the caravans took to cross the Sahara. Ask your driver to stop for a photo.

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 “5 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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