Marrakech Desert Tours to the Sahara
From Marrakech over the High Atlas to the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, a camel ride at sunset and a night under the stars in Merzouga.
A desert tour from Marrakech is the trip most visitors remember best. The road crosses the High Atlas at the Tizi n'Tichka pass, passes the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and the palm valleys of the south, and ends in the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, where you ride a camel to your camp for the night.
All our Marrakech desert tours are private: your own driver and vehicle, comfortable hotels and a desert camp with private bathroom, and you can stop for photos whenever you want.
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Desert tours starting in Marrakech
From Marrakech: 2-Day Zagora Desert Tour with Camel Ride & Camp
The shortest desert trip from Marrakech: over the Atlas, through Ait Ben Haddou and the Draa Valley to Zagora, with a camel ride and a night in a desert camp.
3 Days3 Days Sahara Desert Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga & Back
A private 3-day round trip from Marrakech to the Merzouga dunes: Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorges, a sunset camel ride and a night in a luxury desert camp.
3 Days3 Days Sahara Desert Tour: Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
A private 3-day desert crossing from Marrakech to Fes: Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, the Todra Gorges, a sunset camel ride and luxury camp in Merzouga, then the Ziz Valley and Ifrane.
4 Days4 Days Sahara Desert Tour: Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
A private 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes with two nights in Merzouga: Ait Ben Haddou, Dades, the Todra Gorges, a camel ride, and a full day exploring Erg Chebbi by 4WD.
Compare at a glance
| Length | Route | Desert |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Zagora – Marrakech (on request) | Zagora (small dunes) |
| 3 days | Marrakech – Merzouga – Marrakech | Erg Chebbi, Merzouga |
| 3 days | Marrakech – Merzouga – Fes | Erg Chebbi, Merzouga |
| 4 days | Marrakech – Merzouga – Fes, slower pace | Erg Chebbi, Merzouga |
2 days or 3 days from Marrakech?
A 2-day trip only reaches Zagora, where the dunes are small. To see the real Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi you need at least 3 days, because Merzouga is about 9 hours' drive from Marrakech. Read our comparison: Merzouga vs Zagora.
What you see on the way
- Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas
- Ait Ben Haddou kasbah (UNESCO)
- Ouarzazate, the "door of the desert"
- Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
- Camel ride and sunset in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Best time for a desert tour
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. Winter days are sunny but desert nights are cold; summer is very hot in the afternoon. See the best time to visit the Sahara.
Compare our desert tours from Marrakech
| Tour | Nights | Ends in | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days: Marrakech – Merzouga – Marrakech | 2 (Dades Valley, desert camp) | Marrakech | fly home from Marrakech |
| 3 days: Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara | 2 (Dades Valley, desert camp) | Fes | continue north to Fes, Chefchaouen or Tangier |
| 4 days: Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara | 3, including the desert camp | Fes | want shorter driving days |
| 8 days: Casablanca, Fes, Sahara, Marrakech | 7 | Marrakech | have a week and want the imperial cities too |
Every tour is private, so the start date, the pace and the end city can change. Tell us your flights and we build the route around them.
Driving times on the desert route
Approximate times with photo stops, so you can judge how long each day feels:
- Marrakech → Ait Ben Haddou (over the Tizi n’Tichka pass): about 4 hours
- Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley: about 3 hours
- Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga: about 5 hours
- Merzouga → Fes (via Midelt and the cedar forest): about 8 hours
- Merzouga → Marrakech: about 9 to 10 hours
The last day is the longest, which is why many travellers choose to end in Fes or add a fourth day.
Flying in from the US, the UK or Europe
Marrakech Menara airport has direct flights from London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and many other European cities, so a desert tour fits well into a one-week trip. From the United States and Canada, most travellers connect through Casablanca or a European hub. Your driver can pick you up at the airport or at your riad on the morning of the tour.
Country guides: from the United States, from the UK, from Spain, from France, from Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel guides for this trip
- Marrakech to Merzouga: Distance, Route and the 5 Ways to Get There
- Lalla Takerkoust Lake and the Agafay Desert in One Afternoon
- Agafay Desert: What It Is, What to Do and How It Compares to the Sahara
- Ouarzazate: Film Studios, Kasbahs and the Gateway to the Sahara
- Ait Benhaddou: Why This Kasbah Is Worth the Detour From Ouarzazate
- The Rose Valley of Morocco: Kelaat M'Gouna, Rosewater and the May Festival