Hotel in Tinghir
Hotel · Tinghir · 1 night
Dinner and breakfast included.
3-Day Sahara Desert Trip from Marrakech to Merzouga
Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes and back in 3 days: High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and a night in a luxury desert camp
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Morocco
- Starts in Marrakech
From
200€
Overview
In short: a 3-day, 2-night trip from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, in the Sahara, and back. We pick you up at your hotel in Marrakech, cross the High Atlas, visit Aït Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorge, ride camels into the dunes for sunset and sleep in a luxury desert camp with air conditioning and private bathrooms. On day 3 we drive back to Marrakech and drop you at your hotel. Flights are not included: the trip starts and ends in Marrakech.
Price: 200€ per person.
Quick facts
- Starts and ends: your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- Length: 3 days, 2 nights
- Route: Marrakech, High Atlas (Tizi n'Tichka), Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Erg Chebbi dunes (Merzouga), Marrakech
- Where you sleep: 1 night in a hotel in Tinghir, 1 night in a luxury desert camp
- Group size: up to 18 people, in our minibus
- Pick-up: between 07:00 and 08:00 at your hotel
- Departures: every day, book until 15:00 (Morocco time) the day before
- Good for: solo travelers, friends and couples who want the desert without organising the transport
The Sahara is far from Marrakech, and the road is half the trip. You climb over the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, walk through the mud-brick alleys of Aït Ben Haddou, pass Ouarzazate and sleep in Tinghir. The next day is the Todra Gorge in the morning and the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga by late afternoon: a camel ride at sunset, dinner, a bonfire with live Berber music and a night under more stars than you have probably ever seen.
Want a slower way back? The 4-day trip follows the same route and adds a night in Ouarzazate after the desert.
A night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Camel ride at sunset, dinner, a bonfire with live Berber music and a luxury tent with air conditioning and its own bathroom.
Aït Ben Haddou
A guided walk through the UNESCO-listed fortified village on the old caravan route.
The High Atlas
The Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, with a stop for the view.
Todra Gorge
A walk between the towering walls of the canyon.
Door to door from Marrakech
We pick you up at your hotel or riad and bring you back to it.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Day 1: Marrakech, the High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou and Tinghir
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Pick-up at your hotel or riad in Marrakech Marrakech
Between 07:00 and 08:00. We confirm your exact time the day before, depending on where everyone in the group is staying.
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Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass High Atlas
A mountain road with wide views, and a stop for photos at the top of the pass.
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Guided visit of Aït Ben Haddou Aït Ben Haddou
A walk with a guide through the fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Drive on through Ouarzazate, the door of the desert, to Tinghir Ouarzazate
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Dinner at the hotel Tinghir
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Night in a hotel in Tinghir Tinghir
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Day 2 Day 2: Todra Gorge and the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga
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Breakfast at the hotel Tinghir
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Todra Gorge Todra Gorge
Time to walk between the high rock walls of the Todra canyon.
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Drive to Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes Merzouga
The road passes kasbahs and palm groves on the way to the desert.
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Camel ride into the dunes Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
About 45 minutes on a camel, timed to reach the dunes before sunset.
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Sandboarding Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
Boards are at the camp for anyone who wants to ride the dunes.
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Dinner at the camp Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
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Bonfire and live Berber music Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
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Night in a luxury desert camp Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
A luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Each tent has real beds, air conditioning and its own full bathroom with shower and toilet. There is no wifi in the camp, and that is part of the magic.
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Day 3 Day 3: Sunrise in the dunes and back to Marrakech
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Sunrise from the top of a dune Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
An early start that is worth it.
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Breakfast at the camp Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
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Drive back to Marrakech
A full day on the road, around 8 hours of driving plus stops. Arrival in Marrakech is usually between 20:00 and 21:00.
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Drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech Marrakech
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What's included
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- All transport during the trip in our minibus
- 1 night in a hotel in Tinghir, with dinner and breakfast
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes (Merzouga), in a tent with beds, air conditioning and a private bathroom, with dinner and breakfast
- Guided visit of Aït Ben Haddou
- Stop at the Todra Gorge
- Camel ride in the dunes (one camel per person)
- Sandboarding
- Bonfire and live Berber music at the camp
- Local Moroccan guide
- All taxes
Not included
- Flights to and from Morocco
- Your accommodation in Marrakech before and after the trip (an extra night can be added when you book)
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance tickets to monuments
- Optional quad (ATV) ride in the dunes, booked and paid in cash on the spot
- Tips
- Travel insurance (it can be added when you book)
Where you will stay
Luxury desert camp
Desert camp · Erg Chebbi, Merzouga · 1 night
A luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Each tent has real beds, air conditioning and its own full bathroom with shower and toilet. There is no wifi in the camp, and that is part of the magic. Dinner and breakfast included.
Getting around
- Bus Marrakech → Merzouga → Marrakech
Our minibus with a driver, for up to 18 people, from your hotel in Marrakech and back.
Optional extras
Add them while booking.
Extra night in Marrakech after the desert: 3-star hotel, double room for two
We book your night in a 3-star hotel in Marrakech when you come back from the desert, in a private double room for two travelers in the same booking. One price per room.
+80€ per room (2 people)
Extra night in Marrakech after the desert: 3-star hotel, single room
We book your night in a 3-star hotel in Marrakech when you come back from the desert, in a room for you alone.
+60€ per person
Extra night in Marrakech after the desert: 4-star hotel, double room for two
We book your night in a 4-star hotel in Marrakech when you come back from the desert, in a private double room for two travelers in the same booking. One price per room.
+120€ per room (2 people)
Extra night in Marrakech after the desert: 4-star hotel, single room
We book your night in a 4-star hotel in Marrakech when you come back from the desert, in a room for you alone.
+100€ per person
Private room upgrade for the whole route (3-day trip): single room
Your own room or tent for both nights of the trip, instead of a shared triple or quad room. Subject to availability, confirmed after booking.
+55€ per person
Private room upgrade for the whole route (3-day trip): double room for two
A private double room or tent for two travelers in the same booking, for both nights of the trip, instead of a shared triple or quad room. One price per room. Subject to availability, confirmed after booking.
+80€ per room (2 people)
Dates & prices
You pick the date
This trip runs on the dates you choose. Book until 15:00 the day before (Morocco time).
From 200€ per person
Want to leave sooner? Message us on WhatsApp and we will check if there is space, with no commitment. Last-minute bookings can carry a small supplement. Ask on WhatsApp
Good to know
What to bring
- Passport
- A small bag or backpack for the desert night
- Comfortable closed shoes
- A warm layer: desert nights can be cold, mostly from November to March
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or scarf
- Cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and tips
- A power bank
Important information
Bring your passport: hotels and camps register guests. Tell us where you are staying in Marrakech when you book so we can plan your pick-up. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check them before you travel.
FAQ
Where does the trip start and end?
It starts and ends in Marrakech. We pick you up at your hotel or riad on day 1 and drop you back there on the last day.
Are flights included?
No. The trip starts in Marrakech, so you book your own flights and arrive whenever suits you. We recommend being in Marrakech at least the night before the trip starts.
Is a hotel in Marrakech included?
No, the price covers the nights on the road: Tinghir and the desert camp. If you want us to arrange your night in Marrakech after the desert, you can add it when you book.
How long is the drive from Marrakech to the Sahara?
It is a long way, which is why the trip takes 3 days. The way out is split over two days with stops at the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Aït Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorge. The way back is one full day: around 8 hours of driving plus stops, arriving in Marrakech between 20:00 and 21:00.
What is the difference between the 3-day and the 4-day trip?
The route to the desert is the same. On the 3-day trip you drive from the desert back to Marrakech in one full day. On the 4-day trip you sleep in Ouarzazate on the way back, so the return is split into two shorter days.
What is the desert camp like?
A luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Each tent has real beds, air conditioning and its own full bathroom with shower and toilet. There is no wifi in the camp, and that is part of the magic.
Can I join on my own?
Yes. Lots of people book on their own, and you are just as welcome with friends.
Is there wifi or phone signal in the desert?
There is no wifi in the camp. Download what you need before you leave Tinghir.
What should I pack?
A small bag for the desert night, closed shoes, a warm layer for the evening, sun protection and some cash in dirhams. See our Sahara packing list for the full list.
Do I need a visa for Morocco?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Check our Morocco visa guide and your own government's advice before you travel.
When is the best time to go?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer is very hot in the desert and winter nights are cold. See the best time to visit Marrakech and the Sahara.
Can I do a quad (ATV) ride in the dunes?
Yes. It is optional and not included in the price. You book it during the trip and pay in cash on the spot, because the price can change.
Which desert do we go to?
The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, the biggest sand dunes in Morocco and the classic Sahara landscape.
What time is the pick-up?
Between 07:00 and 08:00 at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. We confirm your exact time the day before, as it depends on where everyone in the group is staying.
How big is the group?
Up to 18 people, which is the size of our minibus.
Which days does the trip leave?
Any day of the week. You choose your start date in the calendar.
How late can I book?
Until 15:00 (Morocco time) the day before you want to leave. If that time has passed, message us on WhatsApp and we will check if there is space, with no commitment. Last-minute bookings may have a supplement of 20€ per person.
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4-Day Sahara Desert Trip from Marrakech to Merzouga
Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes and back in 4 days: High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and a night in a luxury desert camp, with a night in Ouarzazate on the return
From
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