Overview
Our 5 day Morocco desert tour from Marrakech takes you through the most iconic landscapes of southern Morocco, from the High Atlas Mountains to the golden dunes of Merzouga. This 5 day Marrakech desert tour blends ancient kasbahs, Berber villages and a night in a luxury camp in the Sahara, all on one private journey.
Why 5 days? A 5 days desert tour from Marrakech is our favourite rhythm for the Sahara: enough time to enjoy every stop without rushing, to spend a full day around Merzouga and to meet local families. Compared with a 3-day trip, this Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour is slower, calmer and more authentic.
Whether you are looking for a private Sahara desert tour from Marrakech or one of the best Morocco desert tours for couples, families and friends, this 5-day Morocco desert tour is fully private and can be adapted to your wishes.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m)
- Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleep in a luxury desert camp
- Walk between the walls of the Todra Gorge and through the Dades Valley
- Visit Khamlia village and its Gnawa musicians, and the Rissani market
- Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, film set of Gladiator
- Try a clay pottery workshop and wear traditional Amazigh clothes with henna
Itinerary · Day by Day
DAY1Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka Pass – Skoura Oasis – Roses Valley – Dades Valley
Your desert tour begins in the morning as we drive across the High Atlas Mountains by the scenic Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m), with Berber villages and wide panoramic viewpoints on the way.
We pass Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa, then continue to the Skoura Oasis and its palm groves, on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, with a visit of Kasbah Amridil.
Stop at a family clay pottery workshop and try shaping your own piece, then enjoy the Roses Valley near Kelaat M'Gouna, famous for its Damask roses, rosewater and local cooperatives.
Arrive in the Dades Valley, surrounded by beautiful rock formations, for dinner and the night.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY2Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga (Sahara Desert)
After breakfast we drive to the Todra Gorge for a relaxing walk between its high canyon walls and its clear river.
In a Berber village you can try traditional Amazigh clothes for photos and enjoy a free henna tattoo.
Through Erfoud, the town of fossils and dates, we reach Merzouga, the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride a camel into the Sahara to watch the sunset over the dunes, then enjoy dinner, drums around the campfire and the starry sky.
Sahara Eden Camp, or similar
Private tent with a comfortable bed and a private bathroom with a hot shower. Dinner and breakfast included, with Berber music around the campfire under the stars. We never use basic camps or shared bathrooms.
DAY3Merzouga – Hassi Labied Oasis – Khamlia Gnawa Music – Rissani Market
Wake up early for the sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast in the desert.
Visit the Hassi Labied oasis and its traditional irrigation, then Khamlia village, home of the Gnawa musicians and their spiritual African rhythms.
Explore the Rissani market, one of the largest in southern Morocco, where caravans once traded gold, spices and leather, and the old ksars around it. Free afternoon by the pool at your hotel near the dunes.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY4Merzouga – Alnif – N'Kob – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate
A scenic road through Alnif and N'Kob, with landscapes that look like an African safari.
Then the Draa Valley, the longest valley in Morocco, with endless palm groves and old kasbahs, and a stop at Ait Saoun for the mountain views.
Arrive in Ouarzazate for a restful evening.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY5Ouarzazate – Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, film set of Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Walk through its narrow alleys and enjoy the view from the top.
Cross the High Atlas Mountains again and arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
End of the tour · drop-off at your riad, hotel or the airport
Gallery
Tour Map
Route: Marrakech – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga (Sahara) – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Accommodations
Choose one category for your whole trip. The desert camp is always luxury. These are our usual choices; if one is fully booked we arrange a similar hotel of the same category.
| Night | Standard | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 Dades Valley | Riad Gabsi | Riad Paradise or Dar Blues | Eden Boutique Hotel |
| Night 2 Sahara (erg chebbi) | Sahara Eden Camp, or similar · luxury desert camp only | ||
| Night 3 Merzouga | Hotel Ksar Merzouga | Riad Azawad | Riad Serai Boutique Hotel |
| Night 4 Ouarzazate | Hotel Riad Amlal | Palm View Palace | Oz Palace Ouarzazate |
Price
The “from” price is for a private group of 17 people or more in standard accommodation. The final price depends on your group size, travel dates and the hotel category you choose. Ask us for a free quote.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or deluxe van for 5 days
- English or Spanish speaking local driver-guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at your riad, hotel or the airport
- 4 nights: 3 in hotels or riads of your category + 1 in a luxury desert camp
- Breakfast and dinner every day (vegetarian and vegan options)
- Camel ride in the dunes (one camel per person) and sandboarding
- Traditional clothes and henna in a Berber village
- Stops for photos and breaks whenever you want
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Personal expenses
Booking
If you’re looking to book or personalize this tour itinerary, let us know your ideas and preferences. We’ll craft an experience uniquely tailored to your vision. Our goal is to help you create the perfect Moroccan adventure. Don’t hesitate to contact us by email for more details.
If we haven’t replied to your message, please contact us on WhatsApp at +212 647-064454. We’ll be happy to help you!
Before You Go
- Bring layers: desert nights can be cold, even in summer (and very cold from November to February).
- Pack sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a scarf to protect you from sun and sand.
- Comfortable shoes for the gorges and the kasbahs; sandals are fine in the dunes.
- Bring a small bag for the desert night; your big luggage stays safe in the car.
- Have some cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and small shopping; card payment is rare in villages.
- Roads in the mountains are winding: tell us if you get car sick, we will stop more often.
- Mobile network works in most places; Wi-Fi is available in hotels and in our desert camp.
Reviews
FAQs
Is this tour private?
Yes. The car, the driver and the guide are only for you and your group. We never mix travelers from different bookings.
Are hotels included?
Yes, all nights are included: 3 nights in hotels or riads in the category you choose (standard, mid-range or luxury) and 1 night in a luxury desert camp.
Are meals included?
Breakfast and dinner are included every day. Lunches and drinks are not included, so you can choose where and what to eat.
Is the airport transfer included?
Yes. We pick you up and drop you off at your riad, hotel or Marrakech airport.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Of course. You can add a night, change the hotels or add experiences like a nomad family visit or a romantic dinner in the dunes. Tell us your wishes.
What kind of vehicle is used?
A private air-conditioned 4×4 or deluxe van, depending on the size of your group.
What is the best time for this tour?
The tour runs all year. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant. Summer is hot during the day but beautiful at night; winter nights in the desert are cold.
