Morocco Desert Tours to the Sahara
Private 3 and 4 day Sahara desert tours from Marrakech and Fes, with a camel ride at sunset and a night in a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga.
A night in the Sahara is the moment most visitors remember from Morocco. Our desert tours are private: your own vehicle and driver, your own pace, and a luxury tent in the high dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga — the classic golden sand sea, not the smaller dunes of Zagora used by many short budget trips.
You can start in Marrakech or Fes, come back to the same city or cross the country from one to the other. Every route passes the kasbahs of the south, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, and every tour includes the camel ride to camp at sunset.
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Our Sahara desert tours
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.
3 Days3 Days Sahara Desert Tour: Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga
A private 3-day desert crossing from Fes to Marrakech: Ifrane and the Ziz Valley, a camel ride and luxury camp in Merzouga, the Todra Gorges, Dades, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou.
8 Days8 Days: Casablanca to Marrakech Imperial Cities & Sahara Tour
A private, driver-guided week through Rabat, Fes, the Sahara dunes at Merzouga and Marrakech — Morocco's essentials in eight days, starting and built around Casablanca.
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.
Compare at a glance
| Tour | Start → end | Nights in the desert | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 day desert tour from Marrakech | Marrakech → Marrakech | 1 | Round trip from Marrakech |
| 3 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour | Marrakech → Fes | 1 | Continuing north to Fes |
| 4 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour | Marrakech → Fes | 2 | More time in the dunes |
| 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour | Fes → Marrakech | 1 | Starting in Fes |
Which Morocco desert tour should you choose?
Staying in Marrakech? The 3 day round trip to Merzouga is the most popular choice. Visiting both Marrakech and Fes? Take a one-way desert crossing and avoid driving the same road twice. Want more than one night in the dunes? The 4 day tour adds a full 4x4 day around Erg Chebbi, Khamlia and Rissani.
Not sure? Send us your dates and we suggest the best route for your trip.
Merzouga or Zagora?
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) has dunes up to about 150 metres high and is the real Sahara experience; it needs at least 3 days from Marrakech. Zagora is closer but has small dunes. We focus on Merzouga — read Merzouga vs Zagora: which Sahara desert?
What a night in the desert is like
You arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and ride a dromedary for 45–60 minutes into the dunes to watch the sunset. At the luxury camp you have a private tent with real beds and an en-suite bathroom, dinner under the stars and Berber music around the fire, then sunrise over the dunes before breakfast. More in camel trekking in Merzouga: what to expect.
Best time for a Sahara desert tour
October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cold nights (bring a warm layer from November to March). Summer tours run with early starts and the camel ride at sunset. See the best time to visit the Sahara Desert and our Sahara packing list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel guides for this trip
- Merzouga vs Zagora: Which Sahara Desert Gateway Should You Choose?
- What to Pack for a Sahara Desert Camel Trek and Overnight Camp
- Christmas and New Year in the Sahara Desert, Morocco
- Sahara Desert Tour in Summer: Is It Too Hot?
- How Much Does a Sahara Desert Tour Cost? What Changes the Price
- Sahara Desert Facts: Where It Is, How Big It Is and How to See It from Morocco