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Marrakech to Essaouira tour 5 days – overview:
The desert to the sea combining the most expansive Saharan dunes in Morocco with Essaouira, a tourist favourite on the Atlantic Coast is not an everyday desert trip. After an incredibly scenic drive over the Atlas Mountains, you will visit several Kasbahs: the palatial residence Telouet, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Aït ben Haddou, and Tamnougalt, the oldest in the Dra’a Valley. Smaller Kasbahs line the route south.
Moroccan artisan skills are on display at the green pottery co-operative in Tamegroute and the ancient Qoranic library with its magnificent calligraphy. Berber rug and carpet workshops showcase this ancient traditional craft passed from mother to daughter in Taznakht. A total of 150 km in the Sahara reveals examples of different features of the desert. The Souss region astounds with its thousands of argan trees, endemic to Morocco.
A camel ride to the top of the dunes (300m) at sunset precedes dinner, drumming and firelight under the stars at a luxury desert camp setting – straight out of 1001 nights. Essaouira’s Medina has enticingly colourful streets and a seaport filled with blue fishing vessels.
5-day Tour from Marrakech to Essaouira – highlights:
- Admiring the grandeur of Morocco’s famous Kasbahs: Kasbah Telouet, Ksar Aït ben Haddou & Tamnougalt
- Exploring varying the rich landscape of southern Morocco such as its valleys and oases,
- Learning about traditional crafts; the green pottery workshops in Tamegroute and Berber rug-making in Taznakht
- Enjoying a camel ride to see the spectacular sunset, and experiencing sandboarding
- Enjoying dinners under the stars and evenings of nomad music and drumming around a campfire
- A magical night in your private tents in a nomad luxury camp nestled among the big dunes
- Touring Essaouira’s Medina, visiting argan oil co-operatives, and unwinding on the beach
What is included in this tour from Marrakech to Essaouira:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; 4×4 Toyota Prado TX and fuel
- Pick-up from and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Experienced local English/French/Spanish/Italian-speaking Berber and nomad driver/guide
- Accommodation in air-conditioned rooms/suites with private bathroom
- Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chegaga with a private toilet and shower
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner ( except lunch and dinner in Essaouira ) – with vegetarian and vegan options available
- A camel ride with a guide. And if you wish to do some sandboarding, just speak to the camp staff!
- Luggage service to the camp and all accommodation
- Berber drumming and music
- Free time to explore sites such as Ait Ben Haddou, and the Ounila Valley, for walks, photos, and tea/coffee breaks
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop when and where you wish
- Entrance fees and local guides
- Tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert
What is not included:
- Lunch and dinner in Essaouira
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
Good to know about desert trips from Marrakech to Essaouira:
- This Marrakech to Essaouira tour – 5 days 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 Chegaga 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
- During the past couple of summers, the Erg Chegaga dunes have experienced extremely high temperatures and most of the camps closed down during this period. So, we would recommend changing the destination to Merzouga at this time of year and adjusting the itinerary accordingly.
Prices per person
| No Days | Meals |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive | |
| Total price | |
| 2 Persons |
|---|
| 675 € * |
| 1350 € * |
| 3 Persons |
|---|
| 645 € * |
| 1935 € * |
| 4 Persons |
|---|
| 615 € * |
| 2460 € * |
| 5 Persons |
|---|
| 595 € * |
| 2975 € * |
| 6 Persons |
|---|
| 595 € * |
| 3570 € * |
Marrakech to Essaouira tour – itinerary:
1st day: Marrakech – Ouarzazate
At the start of the tour, panoramic viewpoints in the High Atlas Mountains allow for wonderful photos. The first scheduled stop is at Kasbah Telouet, a palatial residence and headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe, whose wealth came in part from the salt mines just outside the village.
Unfortunately, the whole Kasbah is now closed due to the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023. Nevertheless, it is still worth visiting the exterior with a local guide to discover its rich history.
We pass by the Ounila Valley‘s green fields and gardens running parallel down below the road. It is full of surprises at the tones of the rock and soil, numerous Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs. Here olives, almonds and fruit trees are the main crops.
This stunning road leads to the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco and one of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites. The architectural style is well preserved and the earthen constructions are perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions and in harmony with the natural and social environment. Probably originating in the 17th century, it is also famous as the backdrop to many Hollywood blockbuster films.
A further 30 kilometres later, you stop for the night in a riad in Ouarzazate.
2nd day: Ouarzazate – Erg Chegaga dunes
After breakfast, you drive over the Tizi-n-Tinfifte pass to the head of the Dra’a Valley at Agdz where you visit Kasbah Tamnougalt. The old Jewish quarter is slowly disintegrating as the owners left to populate the State of Israel after its inception. Other buildings are still inhabited, in spite of their thoroughly Biblical appearance.
The main road meanders down the Dra’a Valley to the largest town in the region, Zagora with a stop for lunch. In Tamegroute you can visit the famous potteries run by four families, and well-known for their unique green glaze. A Quranic library with exquisite ancient handwritten Arabic scripts and Qurans is another place worth visiting.
The 4×4 takes us to the Erg Chegaga dunes, travelling some 60 km off-road. This route passes different features of the desert: ‘erg’ (sand dunes) and ‘hammada’ (rocky desert), and the Sacred Oasis. The Chegaga dunes are remote and far from human habitation. Here the desert’s tranquillity and extent of the dunes are breathtaking.
A luxury camp provides the evening meal and a night’s repose in a beautiful tent equipped with a private bathroom, king-sized beds, and lovely beautiful Moroccan furnishings.
In the summer months from mid June to early September, it can get very hot in Chegaga and so we advise you to take the trip to Erg Chebbi outside Merzouga instead.
3rd day: Erg Chegaga dunes – Taroudant
Rising early, you can witness a breathtaking sunrise, where the colours of the dunes and the interplay of shadows create an unforgettable spectacle. You will also have the opportunity to explore the dunes and savour the tranquillity of this magical place.
After breakfast, we drive another 90 km across the stunning Sahara Desert, traversing flat, stony ground. Our first stop is at the salt flats and dried-up Iriqui Lake, where you can hunt for fossils – some lying loosely around, others embedded in the rocks.
From the edge of the desert at Foum Zguid, we head north to Taznakht, renowned for its Berber gelims and traditional carpet making. Here, we will have lunch. After crossing the Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n-Tighatine passes, we arrive in Taliouine, the heart of the saffron-growing region.
After lunch, we will visit a local government-run museum dedicated to saffron agriculture. As you enter, you will be greeted by the delightful scent of saffron. We then continue our journey to Taroudant, where we will spend the night in a riad.
4th day: Taroudant – Essaouira
In the morning, you will visit the Taroudant Medina, renowned for its massive ramparts and stunning architecture. You can explore the souks, brimming with silver jewellery, colourful Moroccan ceramics, and mosaics.
Heading west, you will travel to Agadir, following the Souss River Valley, which is lined with thousands of argan trees, native to Morocco. Argan oil, prized for its high nutritional value and cosmetic benefits for skin and hair, is produced here. The leaves and post-extraction byproducts are also valuable as animal fodder.
The journey continues up the coast, passing through Taghazout, a surfer’s paradise, and along the Anti-Atlas Mountains, offering beautiful views of the Atlantic coast. On arriving in Essaouira, you can explore the town, the Skala, the medina and all its innumerable shops as well as the seafront with its fresh fish restaurants.
You will spend the night in a charming riad at the heart of the medina.
5th day: Essaouira – Marrakech
Once known as Mogador to the Portuguese, this delightful town boasts a long promenade perfect for walks and a wide, sandy beach. Explore the medina’s markets and winding streets filled with handicraft shops.
At the seafront, you can select freshly caught fish to be prepared on the spot. After lunch, continue exploring the medina, take a beach walk, or relax in a café overlooking the ocean. Essaouira is a favourite for its surfing and beach, offering a perfect spot to unwind.
In the afternoon, drive back to Marrakech. Pass hilly slopes where almost every tree is an argan. Stop to photograph the rare sight of goats climbing into the argan branches to eat the leaves and nuts – a true phenomenon, not an urban myth!
Visit a women’s cooperative to see argan oil production. Taste argan oil with Moroccan bread and mint tea – a culinary treat.
Continue through the Haouz plains and the villages of the Chichaoua region, stopping for a tea or coffee break with views of the countryside. Upon arriving in Marrakech, your driver will be happy to transfer you to your riad or to the airport to catch your flight.
Map of Marrakech to Essaouira tour – 5 days:
