The classic road from Marrakech to the dunes of Erg Chebbi: the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the gorges and a night in a desert camp.
If you only have three days, this is the trip to take. We cross the High Atlas, follow the road of the kasbahs and arrive in Merzouga in time to ride into the dunes at sunset.
You sleep in a camp among the highest dunes in Morocco and return to Marrakech by a different road, through the Draa valley and its palm groves.
This is the most popular desert trip from Marrakech, and for good reason: in only three days you cross the High Atlas, see the most famous kasbah of Morocco, walk in the Todra gorges and sleep among the great dunes of Erg Chebbi, not in the smaller dunes near Marrakech.
The drives are long but varied, with regular stops for photos, tea and lunch. Because the tour is private, you choose the departure time, the type of hotel and the desert camp, from a simple nomad tent to a luxury tent with private bathroom.
Tour highlights
Crossing the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass
The UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
A walk in the Todra gorges
Camel ride at sunset in Erg Chebbi
A night in a desert camp under the stars
Sunrise over the Sahara dunes
The route
1Marrakech
2Ait Ben Haddou
3Dades
4Todra
5Merzouga
Day by day
Day1
Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades
Pick-up at your riad and drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m). Visit the earthen ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then continue through Ouarzazate and the Rose Valley to the Dades gorges for the night.
Leaving Marrakech, the road climbs the High Atlas through Berber villages and walnut trees to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at over 2,200 metres. On the other side you visit Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified ksar of earth that has appeared in many films, then pass Ouarzazate, the Skoura palm grove and the Rose Valley before reaching the Dades valley for the night.
Day2
Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga
Morning walk in the Todra gorges, then on through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga. Camel ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset, dinner and music in the desert camp.
In the morning you drive to Tinghir and walk into the Todra gorges, where the river runs between vertical red cliffs that rise hundreds of metres high. The road then crosses the plateau of the ksour, with Tinejdad, Erfoud and the palm groves of the Tafilalet, until the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon at Merzouga.
Day3
Merzouga – Draa Valley – Marrakech
Sunrise over the dunes and breakfast. Return to Marrakech via Alnif, N'Kob and the Draa valley, with stops for lunch and photos.
After sunrise in the dunes, a long and varied drive west across southern Morocco: Rissani, the lunar landscapes of Alnif and N'Kob, the Draa valley and Ouarzazate. In the afternoon you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass and arrive in Marrakech in the evening.
Included
Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, riad or the airport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
Professional driver who speaks several languages
Fuel, tolls and parking
Nights in hand-picked hotels, riads or kasbahs
Breakfast and dinner every night
Camel ride into the dunes at sunset
Night in a desert camp
Not included
Lunches
Drinks
Entrance fees to monuments
Local city guides (on request)
Tips and personal expenses
Good to know
This is a private tour: only your group travels in the vehicle. You can add days, change cities or choose the level of the hotels.
The price depends on the number of travellers and the hotels you choose. Ask us and we will send you the exact price.
Frequently asked questions
Are the tours private?
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, with your own driver. We do not run shared tours.
How much does a tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the level of accommodation. Send us your dates and we will reply with a clear price.
Can I change the itinerary?
Of course. You can add days, start or finish in another city, or choose different hotels. Every tour can be adapted.
What is the desert camp like?
Our camps in Merzouga have tents with real beds, dinner and breakfast. Luxury tents with private bathroom are available on request.
When is the best time to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. Winter days are sunny but desert nights are cold; summer is very hot in the south.
