18 October 2026 · 6 min read
Best time to visit the Sahara desert in Morocco
Spring and autumn are the obvious answer, but every season has its case. Here is what the desert is really like month by month, from our drivers who go every week.
3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
Cross the High Atlas, sleep under the stars in Erg Chebbi and return to Marrakech by the Draa Valley.
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Departure: Marrakech
- Private tour
- Desert
- UNESCO site
- Adventure
- Family-friendly
Overview
This is the classic way to see the Sahara from Marrakech in three days, with a private driver and no fixed group. You leave the Red City early, climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass and reach the mud-brick ksar of Ait Ben Haddou before lunch. The road then follows the Valley of the Roses to the Dades Valley, where you sleep in a kasbah-style hotel with mountain views.
Day two takes you through the Todra Gorges and across the stony plains to Merzouga. In the late afternoon you ride a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, watch the sun go down from the top of a dune and eat a Berber dinner around the fire at a comfortable desert camp.
After sunrise you drive back to Marrakech by the Draa Valley and its million palm trees. It is a long day on the road, but the scenery changes every hour and we stop whenever you want a photo or a mint tea.
Highlights
- Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO ksar seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones
- The Valley of the Roses and the Dades Valley at golden hour
- A walk through the 300-metre walls of the Todra Gorges
- Sunset camel trek and a night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Sunrise over the dunes, then the Draa Valley palm groves
Itinerary
1Marrakech → High Atlas → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Pick-up at your riad at 7:30. We climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) with photo stops, visit the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou with a local guide, pass the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate and follow the Valley of the Roses to your hotel in the Dades Valley.
- Meals:
- Dinner
- Overnight:
- 4-star kasbah hotel, Dades Valley
2Dades Valley → Todra Gorges → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi camp
After breakfast we drive to the Todra Gorges for a walk along the river. We continue through Tinghir, Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga. Around 17:00 you set off on camels for an hour's ride to the camp, with a stop on a high dune for the sunset. Dinner, Berber drums and a sky full of stars.
- Meals:
- Breakfast, dinner
- Overnight:
- Desert camp with private tent and bathroom, Erg Chebbi
3Merzouga → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate → Marrakech
Wake early for the sunrise on the dunes, then ride back to the village (or take the 4x4). Breakfast, shower and departure by the Draa Valley with its palm groves and kasbahs. Lunch in Agdz or Ouarzazate, then the Atlas once more and arrival in Marrakech around 19:00.
- Meals:
- Breakfast
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a 4-star hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner and breakfast
- 1 night in a desert camp in Merzouga, dinner and breakfast
- Camel trek at sunset and sunrise over the dunes
- Local guide in Ait Ben Haddou
- Fuel, tolls and all transport
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees (around 20 MAD per site)
- Tips for guides and camp staff
- Travel insurance
Questions travellers ask
Is this tour private?
Yes. The vehicle, the driver and the itinerary are yours. We can adjust departure times, stops and the pace to suit your group.
Is it suitable for children?
Families do this tour all the time. We recommend it from about 5 years old because of the driving time, and we bring child seats on request.
What should I bring for the night in the desert?
A warm layer for the evening (desert nights are cold from October to April), a scarf for the camel ride, sunscreen, a torch and a power bank. The camp has electricity and hot showers.
Guides to read before you go
All guides
18 October 2026 · 5 min read
3 or 4 days for a desert tour from Marrakech?
The question we get most on WhatsApp. The difference is not what you see, it is how much of the trip you spend looking at it through a window.
18 October 2026 · 5 min read
What to pack for a Morocco desert tour
A desert camp has electricity, hot showers and real beds, so you need less than you think. Here is what actually matters, and what the camp already has.
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