5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga

Your 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour begins with pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech. Leave the city and travel into the High Atlas Mountains along the scenic Tizi n'Tichka road.

Along the journey, enjoy mountain scenery, valleys and traditional villages before reaching Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco's best-known fortified villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Take time to explore the old ksar before continuing toward southern Morocco. The journey passes through changing landscapes and the Rose Valley, known for its villages, kasbahs and surrounding countryside.

Arrive in the Dades Valley later in the day and enjoy the dramatic rock formations and mountain scenery before spending the night in a local hotel or riad.

After breakfast in the Dades Valley, continue toward Tinghir and Todra Gorge. The road passes palm groves, traditional villages and dry mountain landscapes.

Stop at Todra Gorge and enjoy time to walk beneath the high canyon walls. The impressive cliffs and narrow valley make this one of the most memorable natural stops on the route.

Continue toward Erfoud, a desert town known for dates and fossils, before traveling farther south toward the Sahara.

Arrive in Merzouga beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. This evening gives you your first opportunity to enjoy the peaceful Sahara landscape before the full desert exploration the following day.

After breakfast, begin a full-day 4x4 desert exploration around Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes, discovering the landscapes, villages and communities of the Sahara region.

Travel through the desert surroundings and visit an oasis area with palm groves, offering a different landscape from the nearby sand dunes.

Depending on local and seasonal conditions, stop near the desert lake around Merzouga. When the lake contains water, migratory birds may be present, including flamingos at certain times of the year. Bird sightings depend on rainfall, water levels and the season and therefore cannot be guaranteed.

Continue across the desert landscape toward an old mining area, where you can discover another side of the region and learn about activities that have historically taken place beyond the dunes.

Next, visit Khamlia village, a small community near Merzouga known for its Gnawa musical traditions. Meet local people, learn about the village and enjoy a live performance of traditional Gnawa music.

The exploration continues with a visit to local nomad families living in the desert area. Spend some time learning about their traditional way of life and their connection with the Sahara landscape.

Later in the afternoon, return toward the Erg Chebbi dunes and prepare for your camel trip. Ride across the golden sand dunes and enjoy the changing colors of the Sahara around sunset.

Continue by camel to the desert camp, where dinner is served before an evening beneath the desert sky. Spend the night in your camp in the Erg Chebbi area.

Wake early if you would like to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. After breakfast, leave Merzouga and begin the journey west toward Ouarzazate.

Continue to Rissani, a historic town closely connected with the Tafilalt region and old Sahara trade routes.

From Rissani, travel through Alnif and across broad desert landscapes before reaching the Draa Valley.

The Draa Valley is known for its extensive palm groves, traditional villages, kasbahs and landscapes stretching along the valley.

Continue toward Ouarzazate and arrive later in the day. Spend the final night of the tour here before returning to Marrakech the following day.

After breakfast in Ouarzazate, begin the final day with a visit to Atlas Studios, one of Morocco's best-known film studio attractions.

Discover film sets and locations associated with productions created in the Ouarzazate region. Entrance fees, where required, are not included unless stated otherwise in your booking.

After the studio visit, continue toward the High Atlas Mountains and cross the mountain road toward Marrakech, enjoying changing landscapes and viewpoints along the way.

Arrive in Marrakech later in the day, where your 5-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga ends with drop-off at your hotel or riad.