4-Day Sahara Desert Trip from Marrakech to Merzouga

Overview

In short: a 4-day, 3-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 the way back you sleep in Ouarzazate, so the return is split into two easier days. Flights are not included: the trip starts and ends in Marrakech.

Price: 250€ per person.

Quick facts

Starts and ends: your hotel or riad in Marrakech
Length: 4 days, 3 nights
Route: Marrakech, High Atlas (Tizi n'Tichka), Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Erg Chebbi dunes (Merzouga), Ouarzazate, Marrakech
Where you sleep: 1 night in a hotel in Tinghir, 1 night in a luxury desert camp, 1 night in a hotel in Ouarzazate
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.

If you prefer a slower way back, this 4-day version adds a night in Ouarzazate after the desert. If you are short on time, the 3-day trip follows the same route and drives back in one day.

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.

An easier way back

A night in Ouarzazate breaks the return into two shorter days.

The fortified village of Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Camel caravan silhouette at sunset in the Moroccan desert

Group of travelers riding camels across the Sahara dunes at sunset

Itinerary

Day 1 Day 1: Marrakech, the High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou and Tinghir
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drive on through Ouarzazate, the door of the desert, to Tinghir Ouarzazate
- Dinner at the hotel Tinghir
- Night in a hotel in Tinghir Tinghir
Day 2 Day 2: Todra Gorge and the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga
- Breakfast at the hotel Tinghir
- Todra Gorge Todra Gorge
  Time to walk between the high rock walls of the Todra canyon.
- 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.
- Camel ride into the dunes Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
  About 45 minutes on a camel, timed to reach the dunes before sunset.
- Sandboarding Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
  Boards are at the camp for anyone who wants to ride the dunes.
- Dinner at the camp Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
- Bonfire and live Berber music Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
- 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.
Day 3 Day 3: Sunrise in the dunes and on to Ouarzazate
- Sunrise from the top of a dune Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
  An early start that is worth it.
- Breakfast at the camp Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
- Drive to Ouarzazate
  The return is split in two, so this is a shorter day on the road than on the 3-day trip.
- Dinner at the hotel Ouarzazate
- Night in a hotel in Ouarzazate Ouarzazate
Day 4 Day 4: Back over the High Atlas to Marrakech
- Breakfast at the hotel Ouarzazate
- Drive over the High Atlas to Marrakech High Atlas
- Drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech Marrakech

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
1 night in a hotel in Ouarzazate, 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

Hotel in Tinghir

Hotel · Tinghir · 1 night

Dinner and breakfast included.

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. Standard tickets share a tent for 4 or 5 travelers, never mixed genders. Luxury tickets sleep in a premium private double tent.

Hotel in Ouarzazate

Hotel · Ouarzazate · 1 night

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 (4-day trip): single room

Your own room or tent for all three nights of the trip, instead of a shared triple or quad room. Subject to availability, confirmed after booking.

+80€ per person

Private room upgrade for the whole route (4-day trip): double room for two

A private double room or tent for two travelers in the same booking, for all three nights of the trip, instead of a shared triple or quad room. One price per room. Subject to availability, confirmed after booking.

+120€ 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 250€ 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, plus Ouarzazate. 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 4 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 split too, with a night in Ouarzazate, so no single day is as long as the return on the 3-day trip.

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.