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Marrakech desert tour of 5 days – overview:
The “Desert Majesty Tour” is, without question, the best on offer for a leisurely-paced exploration of some of the most popular, varied and fascinating landscapes in southeastern Morocco. You will discover beautiful valleys and incredible rock formations in the gorges. The views from the High Atlas Mountains are breathtaking and the red dunes in the Erg Chebbi are unforgettable. Tour the dunes from atop a reliable camel for an authentic way to experience the magnificent Sahara Desert.
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of historical and important monuments; including Ksar Aït ben Haddou and Kasbah Amredhil, as well as the traditional crafts of this extraordinary country. Each day will uncover the hidden gems of the great south and will provide a little more insight into the daily lives of Moroccan Berbers (Amazigh) and nomads.
Book your trip now to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Sahara Desert and the authentic charm of southern Morocco. Your journey starts here!
5-day Sahara desert from Marrakech – highlights:
- Enjoying breath-taking panoramas over the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi-n-Tichka pass
- Visiting the ancient Kasbah Telouet, Ksar Aït ben Haddou and the restored Kasbah Amredhil
- Stopping in Kelâat M’Gouna and purchasing cosmetic rose products, should that appeal to you
- Walking by the river in the Dades Valley, or even hiking with a local guide for two hours
- Riding camels to the high dunes of Erg Chebbi and watching the spectacle of the sunset
- Sharing an evening of Berber and nomad music including drumming around a campfire
- Sleeping in a luxurious and comfortable desert camp in Merzouga with a private bathroom
What is included on this private 5 day Marrakech desert tour:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; 4×4 Toyota Prado TX or deluxe van and fuel
- Pick-up from and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Experienced local English/French/Spanish/Italian-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation in air-conditioned rooms / suites with private bathroom
- All meals with a vegetarian and vegan option if requested in advance
- Sleeping in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom and traditional furnishings
- A camel ride with a guide. If you wish for sand-boarding, just speak to the camp staff
- The option to go to and return from the camp by 4×4
- Luggage service to the camp and all accommodation
- Berber drumming and music round a campfire after dinner
- Free time to explore the sites, for walks, photos, and tea/coffee breaks
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop when and wherever you wish
- Entrance fees and a local guide at each of the named sites
- Tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert camp
What is not included:
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
Good to know about Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour 5 days:
- This 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour can be customised to be more personal and special
- You can always consult your driver about skipping some spots to spend more time elsewhere
- Activities such as a full day’s trekking in the Erg Chebbi Dunes can be added to this tour
- Here is a downloadable packing list to help plan for your Moroccan desert tour
- We require a 30% deposit of the total price to book the car, while the balance is payable to us in the office in Ouarzazate
- We accept payment through PayPal, bank transfers in Europe, by credit card, or cash (USD, Euro, GBP or MAD)
- We offer a 25% discount for children under 12, and one child under 3 per family travels free of charge
- These prices are liable to fluctuation according to the current exchange rate
- Our prices can be subject to an increase over the busy season, and, in particular, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period
Prices per person
| No Days | Meals |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive | |
| Total price | |
| 2 Persons |
|---|
| 645 € * |
| 1290 € * |
| 3 Persons |
|---|
| 615 € * |
| 1845 € * |
| 4 Persons |
|---|
| 585 € * |
| 2340 € * |
| 5 Persons |
|---|
| 545 € * |
| 2725 € * |
| 6 Persons |
|---|
| 545 € * |
| 3270 € * |
The Sahara Desert from Marrakech tour – itinerary:
Day 1: Marrakech – Skoura Oasis
At 08.30, your adventure towards the High Atlas begins. On the legendary N9, your guide will take you from the vast plains around Marrakech up to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, the highest (2,260m) and most important mountain pass in Africa. You are afforded incredible views of the beautiful and contrasting mountain region.
Your first destination will be the village of Telouet, steeped in history, where the largest Kasbah in the country, that of the Berber noblemen, the El Glaoui, once stood. From here, the entire region was administered and controlled. A customs station set up by the prince at the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass provided a regular income and prosperity.
Sadly, the entire Kasbah is currently closed due to the destruction caused by the earthquake that hit Morocco in September 2023. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy the exterior with a local guide to uncover its fascinating history.
Your journey then takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasbah Ait ben Haddou, the most famous Kasbah in the country. You will visit this impressive and historical landmark of Morocco. Built in the 17th century, the mud-brick city has often been used as a backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters.
After lunch, the journey continues to Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Dra’a Valley and the Sahara. You are offered refreshments in our office, and you can settle all outstanding payments.
We drive on a short way to Skoura, one of the most beautiful and flourishing oases in Morocco. Here you will spend your first night in this natural beauty.
Day 2: Skoura Oasis – Dades Gorges
In the oasis of Skoura, there are numerous old Kasbahs, most of which are unfortunately now only in ruins. In the morning, you can visit the fascinating Kasbah Amredhil. It has been beautifully restored and gives a good impression of life in such housing. It is made entirely of mud, an excellent building material that is warm in winter and cool in summer due to the thickness of the walls.
After Skoura, you will drive through the beautiful Valley of Roses to Kelâat M’Gouna. Your visit to this oasis town, the centre of rose flower processing, is a dreamlike experience. This rose cultivation area consists of more than 4000 km of rose hedges and provides for about 400 tons of rose blossom harvest per year. Besides many high-quality cosmetic products, however, the harvest is mainly used for processing into rose water. All these products are appreciated and extremely popular throughout Morocco. Every year in May, the traditional Rose Festival takes place here, where crafts and goods are presented and offered for sale.
To get closer to the unusual landscape, you leave the paved road and continue across open terrain. Everywhere you will see small caves in the rocks, some of which are still inhabited by Berber nomads. You have an opportunity to share a glass of tea with one of these hospitable nomadic families.
You continue to the Dades Gorges, where you will have lunch and later spend the night in a riad.
The rest of the day remains at your disposal. You can take a walk into the lush beauty of the valley, or simply relax and let the impressions you have gained so far take effect on you.
However, if you wish, you can spend the night with a Berber family. For a more unusual overnight stay in the cave of a nomadic family, a walk of about 2 hours would be required. Both alternatives offer a lasting as well as fascinating insight into the lives of these people.
Day 3: Dades Gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast, a one-hour drive takes you to the majestic Toudgha Gorges, the Toudgha Valley. The scenic highlight, the Toudgha Gorges, was created by the regionally most important and eponymous river, the Oued Toudgha, on its journey into the last mountain ranges of the High Atlas. Here, you can take a walk between the massive canyon.
Between Tinjdad and Erfoud, you can stop to go down into “Khettara”, a fascinating underground water channel deep below the earth, always cool and preventing the evaporation of water. In Erfoud itself, you can stop at the local fossil workshops to see the workings of thousands of fossils made into all sorts of artefacts. There is no obligation to buy anything, but the number of fossils still on display are astounding!
Via the oasis of Tafilalet, which is famous for its annual date festival, and the small town of Rissani, the original home of the current Moroccan dynasty, you will reach your destination for the day, Merzouga. Here the sand dunes alongside the road indicate the beginning of the mighty Sahara Desert.
At the edge of the desert, you will be met by camels to ride to the camp for the night. On arrival, you will be welcomed with a glass of tea and biscuits, before you climb to the top of the nearest dunes to admire the slow setting of the sun.
Your tent in the camp has a private bathroom, king-sized beds, beautiful Moroccan furnishings and lamps tastefully arranged to enhance your enjoyment of the silence and beauty of the dunes.
Day 4: Merzouga – Zagora
As an early riser, you can experience a fascinating and unique spectacle of light and shadow, colour and change in the heart of the red dunes during sunrise; a moving and lasting experience.
After breakfast, we head west along the length of the Saghro Mountains and past the small and tranquil village of Tazzarine (one location of the film “Babel”), straight into the beautiful Dra’a Valley. There are extensive palm oases all along the Dra’a River. The entire region is extremely fertile, producing dates and figs, oranges, pomegranates and apricots.
At the end of the day passing through many small villages and kasbahs, you reach the oasis of Zagora, the day’s destination. This town of 40,000 inhabitants is still the centre of agricultural production. In spring, onions, beans, barley, cabbage and other vegetables are grown on small plots of land. Watermelons are grown locally in large quantities and many are exported.
Here you will spend the night in a beautiful riad among the palm groves of the Dra’a Valley.
Day 5: Zagora – Marrakech
After breakfast, your journey takes you along the ancient route of the caravans, which used to come up from the Sahara to the village of Tamnougalt. This village is well known to film lovers, especially through Bernardo Bertolucci’s drama “Sky over the Desert”.
You will visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, the largest in the Dra’a Valley and the oldest in the region. Partly dilapidated, partly still inhabited, this kasbah also served as the setting for several blockbusters such as “Babel”.
Architecturally, this kasbah is a special feature of the area. Different building elements of the Moors, Romans and Berbers merge into one overall structure. Thanks to an ingenious system of corridors and openings, the climate inside the Kasbah is very balanced.
Just outside Ouarzazate, you can visit the Film Studios, a cinematic wonderland renowned for preserving and reconfiguring its sets. This allows production studios a variety of options and offers tourists the unique thrill of exploring locations where many iconic films and series, including “Gladiator,” “the Kingdom of Heaven and “Game of Thrones,” were shot.
Towards the end of the afternoon, you will cross the Atlas Mountains to arrive back at the starting point of your journey in Marrakech. Your driver will transfer you to your hotel marking the end of your adventure.
