About this activity
Free cancellation: Cancel up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later : Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration : 6 days
tour guide : English, French, Arabic, Spanish
Meeting point : your hotel or riad in Marrakech, otherwise we meet at the nearest common point if your hotel is not accessible by car.
Pickup included : Be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech. Pickup times vary depending on the season. Please be ready 10 minutes prior to the arranged time. If you are late and miss your hotel transfer, it will be considered a no-show You will be contacted by SMS and/or email the day before with your exact pickup details. If you do not have a phone or internet access, please contact the activity provider the day before your activity to confirm your pick up .
Experience
Highlights
- Discover the gates of the Sahara Desert at Ouarzazate
- staying in a traditional riad.
- Ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes on a camel
- Spend the night at a Bedouin camp
- See the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
- Drive across the High Atlas Mountains
- exploring the historic sites and markets of the old medina
Full description
Discover the edge of the Sahara Desert on a five-day budget tour from Marrakech,
and explore the dramatic landscapes of the Dades Valley and Kasbah of Ouarzazate.
Ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi by camel and sleep at a desert camp under the stars.
Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech
Upon your arrival at Marrakech Menara Airport, you’ll be met by our guide and transferred to your riad. You’ll have some time to rest and freshen up before exploring the vibrant city of Marrakech. You can visit the stunning Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, and Koutoubia Mosque. In the evening, you can experience the lively atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square of Marrakech, filled with street performers, food vendors, and local artisans.
Begin your journey by crossing the High Atlas Mountains past one Berber village after another to the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou. This village is famous for its kasbah and fortified village and has been used as a set for some famous Hollywood epics and magazine photo shoots. After some leisure time, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue your drive through Ouarzazate, known as the Gate of the Sahara. Continue to Boumalne Dades, admiring the scenic drive along the Dades Valley, where you can enjoy dinner and rest for the night at Kasbah Amazigh or Hotel Chems.
Day 3: Dades – Todgha Gorges – Merzouga
Following breakfast, depart your hotel and drive to Tinghir and its dramatic Todgha Gorges,
pausing for some free time to explore the canyons. Enjoy lunch at a local cafe and continue to Merzouga to meet your camel caravan. Experience the Erg Chebbi dunes on camelback and watch the sunset set. Reach your desert camp before nightfall and enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner under the stars. Local nomads will provide entertainment and show you how to play the traditional Tam Tam drums. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stop.
Day 4: Merzouga Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Following an early wake-up to watch the sunrise before breakfast (optional), a driver will be waiting to pick you up for the transfer back to Marrakech. Stop halfway for lunch at a local restaurant. Get dropped off at your original departure point or Djemaa El Fna around 8 PM.
Day 5: Free Day in Marrakech
The fifth day is a free day for you to explore Marrakech at your own pace. You can visit the souks, filled with handicrafts, spices, and textiles. You can also visit the Majorelle Garden, a botanical garden owned by Yves Saint Laurent, or the Bahia Palace, known for its stunning architecture and ornate decorations.
Day 6: Departure from Marrakech
On the final day of your tour, you’ll have some free time to explore Marrakech before being picked up at your riad and transferred to Marrakech Menara Airport for your departure flight. You’ll carry with you unforgettable memories of the beautiful landscapes, welcoming people, and rich culture of Morocco.
Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Round-trip transportation .
- Airport transfer
- Driver/guide
- Overnight at Riad Wazani Square & SPA or similar
- Overnight stay in a private, double, triple or family room
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Overnight stay at the Auberge Sahara desert camp or similar
- Overnight at Hotel Kasbah Amazigh or similar.
- Accommodation at hotel
- Accommodation at desert camp
- Dinner and breakfast (vegetarian option: available)
Not Includes
- Lunch and drinks
- Local guide in Kasbah Ait Ben Hddou (available for an extra charge 2€ pp)
- Tips and personal expenses
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- Wheelchair users
Important information
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- Passport or ID card
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
Daniela –
We had Houssain as driver. Excellent and super kind. The guides were also very nice and clear in their explanations. Memorable trip and for sure I’ll do it again next time I come back to Morocco. Love it!!
Olive –
I recently went on the Tour for 5 days from Marrakech and it was absolutely incredible! The tour was well-organized, and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The accommodations exceeded my expectations, and the desert experience was simply breathtaking. Highly recommended!
Lula –
everything was seamless. The accommodations were luxurious, the food was delicious, and the desert experience was magical. The tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable, making the trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommended for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Zahraa –
Overall very good experience and good value for money Most of all it was travelling. I would say 80% travelling and 20% actual sight seeing, so be prepared for road trips most of the time. Stays were really good. Hotels for lunch is a little expensive and sometimes very less options for vegetarian but not to complain they did have veg and vegan options available every place they stopped. Breakfast was ok ish and was vegetarian. People are very nice, driver was really good and very controlled driving seems like very much experience. Never crossed speed limits hence we felt a bit longer trip than it should have been, but again who is to judge. Sahara camping was good, sad we missed sun rise and sun set due to cloudy weather. Camel riding was good but feel sad for the animal.
Sebastian –
The Tour was a delightful experience. The tour guides were knowledgeable and created a pleasant atmosphere throughout the trip.
Martha –
Nadia –
I can’t say enough good things about Tour. From the moment we were picked up in Marrakech until the end of the tour, everything was seamless. The accommodations were luxurious, the food was delicious, and the desert experience was magical. The tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable, making the trip even more enjoyable. Highly recommended
Neal –
Rose –
the desert camp was an absolute dream.
Louisa –
An unforgettable experience!
Ava –
Kyla –
The tour guides were knowledgeable and went out of their way to ensure we had an incredible experience. The accommodations were luxurious and provided a welcome respite after a day of exploring. The highlight was definitely the overnight stay in the desert, watching the sunset and waking up to a beautiful sunrise. Highly recommended!
Juan –
Wendy –
Helen –
Robert –
The tour was well organized, and the guides were friendly and attentive. The accommodations were beyond my expectations, providing a comfortable and luxurious stay. The camel trek into the desert was a unique experience, and spending a night under the stars was truly magical. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Marrakech.
Annie –
The desert experience was unforgettable, from riding camels to watching the sunset over the dunes. I would go on this tour again in a heartbeat!
John –
Edmund –
Yasmine –
Safa –
The desert camp experience was magical, but I would have liked more activities during the evenings. Overall, a great tour with a few minor areas for improvement.
Martin –
The desert camp was a highlight, offering a serene and picturesque setting. Overall, a solid tour with a few minor glitches.
julia –
Gilbert –
copper –
Charlotte –
The accommodations were comfortable, although there were a few instances of noise disturbance during the night. The desert experience was unforgettable, and the camel trek was a lot of fun.
Samantha –
The staff are nice and accomodation, picks you up and drops you off at your hotel. All accommodation we stayed at was good too. If you want to see the sahara and dont want to drive this is a good option for you.
Gary –
Xavier –
Erich –
Gabriela –
Fantastic experience, the things you see are wonderful and the organization impeccable, expectations greatly exceeded. Greetings and thanks to Omar who accompanied us and made himself available. We are waiting for you in Bologna: Davide & Gabriela!
Ollie –
Santiago –
Susie –
Maddie –
Vanessa –
Ross –
Madeleine –
Brilliant excursion, which exceeded my expectations. The places visited were beautiful and the desert was extraordinary.
Wendy –
Ella –
Linda –
Amazing experience! Our driver Houssin was a really friendly down to earth guy!
Howard –
An incredible experience! Thank you very much to our driver and to the various guides and hosts during these days. Thank you for this unforgettable moment.
Dan –
Alesha –
Beautiful adventure and magnificent places! The desert is the ultimate pearl. Our driver was super nice and available for any request. Advised!
Christina –
The tour was very well organized and I really enjoyed it. Due to the impressions and breaks, the long route was very entertaining. The food in the restaurants was consistently good. The whole tour was a highlight of my Morocco trip.