Jemaa el-Fna square full of stalls at sunset, with the Koutoubia minaret

11 private tours

Merzouga tour from Marrakech

A Merzouga desert tour from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Choose how many days you want to give it, and whether you’d rather return to Marrakech or end your trip in Fes or Tangier.

The tours compared

DaysRouteEnds in
3 3 days from Marrakech to MerzougaTizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley · Todra Gorge Round trip from Marrakech View
3 3 days from Marrakech to FesTizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley · Todra Gorge Fes View
4 4 days from Marrakech to FesTizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley · Todra Gorge Fes View
4 4 days from Marrakech to MerzougaTizi n’Tichka pass · Telouet kasbah · Ait Ben Haddou · Draa Valley · Erg Chebbi dunes Round trip from Marrakech View
5 5 days from Marrakech to FesTizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Skoura palm grove · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley Fes View
5 5 days from Marrakech to MerzougaTizi n’Tichka pass · Telouet kasbah · Ait Ben Haddou · Draa Valley · Erg Chebbi dunes Round trip from Marrakech View
6 6 days from Marrakech to FesTizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley · Todra Gorge Fes View
7 7 days from Marrakech to MerzougaJemaa el-Fna square · Tizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley Round trip from Marrakech View
8 8 days from Marrakech to TangierTizi n’Tichka pass · Telouet kasbah · Ait Ben Haddou · Skoura palm grove · Valley of Roses Tangier View
8 8-day 4x4 desert expeditionJemaa el-Fna square · Tizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses · Dades Valley Round trip from Marrakech View
10 10 days from Marrakech to TangierJemaa el-Fna square · Essaouira · Tizi n’Tichka pass · Ait Ben Haddou · Valley of Roses Tangier View

How many days for a Marrakech desert tour

It’s about 560 kilometres from Marrakech to Merzouga, and the road crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass. With stops, each leg takes 10 to 12 hours.

We don’t do the trip in 2 days: it would mean two days of 10 to 12 hours in the car. That’s why the minimum is 3 days: you spend a night in the Dades Valley on the way out, with time to enjoy Ait Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorge without rushing. With 4 or 5 days you add a full day in the desert, or come back via Telouet and the Draa Valley, a route far fewer people take.

What you’ll see along the way

The road from Marrakech to the desert is the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs: the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres; Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO World Heritage mud-brick ksar; Ouarzazate and its film studios; the Skoura palm grove, the Valley of Roses and the Dades and Todra gorges. And at the end, the Erg Chebbi dunes.

Marrakech to Fes via the desert, without coming back

Not every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech has to come back the same way. If your trip continues north, several tours leave Marrakech, spend the night in the desert and finish in Fes, crossing the Middle Atlas via Midelt, the cedar forests and Ifrane. The 8- and 10-day tours carry on to Chefchaouen and Tangier.

What the tours from Marrakech include

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with a multilingual driver
  • Pick-up at your accommodation in Marrakech
  • Accommodation with breakfast every night
  • Dinner at the desert camp (on request on the 4x4 expedition)
  • Camel ride optional: the transfer to the camp can also be by 4x4
  • Not included: lunches, monument entrance fees and tips

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Marrakech to Merzouga?

Between 10 and 12 hours by road, stops included, for about 560 kilometres. That’s why tours of 3 days or more stay overnight halfway.

Can I go and come back in 2 days?

We don’t offer it: it would mean two days of 10 to 12 hours in the car, with hardly any time on the dunes. The minimum is the 3-day tour, with a night in the Dades Valley on the way out.

Can I do the desert tour without riding a camel?

Yes. The camel ride is optional: if you prefer, the whole route is done by 4x4, including the transfer to the camp.

Is it a good trip to do with kids?

Yes. As the tour is private, the stops and the pace of each day adapt to you, and the camel ride is optional. Tell us the children’s ages when you book and we’ll take them into account in the proposal.

Are there tours with an Italian-speaking guide?

Yes, we can arrange an Italian-speaking guide or driver, on request and subject to availability.

Is it better to return to Marrakech or finish in Fes?

It depends on your flight. If you’re flying out of Marrakech, returning via the Draa Valley is different from the way out. If your trip continues north, finishing in Fes saves you a day on the road.

Tassili Luxury Desert Camp at dusk, with the tents lit up
The tents of Tassili Luxury Desert Camp among the dunes

Where to sleep in the desert

A night in a private tent

If you want to stay longer in the desert, Tassili Luxury Desert Camp has ten tents with private bathrooms in Erg Znaigui, away from the main camp area.

  • Ten private tents
  • A private bathroom in every tent
  • In Erg Znaigui, away from the main camp area
See the tents
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