Overview of the 3 day Marrakech desert tour
We offer you the best private 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga where you can explore the best sites of Morocco’s wonderful land.
This tour begins in Marrakech, nicknamed ‘’The Red City’’, where the charming squares and historical monuments take you through time. Then you can cross the panoramic Atlas Mountains to the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, Dades Valley, Tinghir Oasis.
Last but not least, you can cross the Moroccan Sahara Desert to the dunes of Merzouga, especially Erg Chebbi where you can enjoy camel trekking and spend the night in desert camps under the stars. So, what are you waiting for to join this diversified wonderful tour that incorporates cultural diversity, wonders of the Moroccan nature and delicious food.
Highlights
- Cross the panoramic Atlas Mountains and Tizi N’tichka road.
- Explore the traditional Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.
- Enjoy the scenes of Todra Oasis and Todra Gorges.
- Enjoy the best camel ride in Erg Chebbi Dunes to witness the sunset.
- Overnight stay in a Sahara Desert Camp under the sky and stars.
Itinerary of the 3 day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert
This journey begins in early morning with a pick up from your hotel. The drive passes through the panoramic Atlas Mountains where you can enjoy wonderful natural scenes. These natural scenes include the famous Tizi N’Tichka pass where you can enjoy the wonderful mountain scenes. You can stop whenever and wherever you want for some memorable pictures.
Your first day of the tour will take you the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kasbas Ait Ben Haddou. This Kasbah is known for its amazing traditional buildings and houses that depict the authentic Moroccan architecture. You can wander in the alleys of this Kasbah in order to discover the richness and authenticity of the Moroccan culture.
The next step of the tour is the calm Skoura Oasis in order to visit the Kasbah Amridil that is famous for its wonderful Moroccan architecture. The Skoura palm Oasis is also worth visiting. It enables you to strengthen your connection to the local culture. The tour takes you also to the wonderful village of Kelaat Megouna that is known for rose water which is distilled by local producers.
The first day is concluded by a visit to the Dades Valley which is known for its wonderful rocks’ formations. The night can be spent in a Riad or a local guest house where you can enjoy the Moroccan hospitality and generosity. This first day is a mixture of the beauty of nature, cultural immersion and history exploration.
The second day of the Marrakech to Merzouga tour takes you from the Dades Valley to the beautiful Tinghir oasis to explore the panoramic Todra gorges and their towering cliffs and natural beauty.
The next destination of this tour is Rissani, the cradle of the Alaouite Dynasty. This town is known for its market where traditional and products are exposed. In Rissani, you can visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif who is the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty in order to look deeper into the history of Morocco.
The wonderful town of Merzouga is the last destination of day 2. Merzouga is a charming town that is considered the gateway of Erg Chebbi Dunes. In these dunes, you can enjoy camel trekking towards the desert camp where you can spend the night under the stars. In the desert camp, many activities are programmed such as traditional local music around a campfire which makes you embrace the local culture and traditions.
Your last and final day begins with a climb to the Erg Chebbi Dunes to witness the sunrise and the desert’s beauty. After having breakfast, you will bord on a 9-hour drive to return to Marrakech. This nine hour drive is your chance to reflect on your journey and hope for another visit in the future.
On your way back you will pass by beautiful scenes of the Daraa Valley palm oasis. In addition, the worthy stop in Ouarzazate will allow you to discover the Atlas Film Studios where many famous films took place.
This tour is a chance to deeply explore the wonderful lands of Morocco and its rich and diverse culture. So, your Marrakech to Merzouga tour is just a collection of vivid and unforgettable memories.
Marrakech to Merzouga 3 Days Desert Tour Cost
What's included in the Marrakech to Merzouga tour Price:
- Transportation by modern air conditioned 4x4 car or van.
- English speaking driver/guide.
- Hotel or Riad pick up service.
- Stay in the first night at Hotel in a private air-conditioned room including breakfast and dinner.
- Witnessing the sunrise and sunset after a camel ride in Erg Chebbi Dunes.
- Stay in a Sahara Desert Camp private tent including dinner and breakfast.
- Sandboarding
Not included services:
- Beverages and drinks.
- Entrance charges, if applicable.
- Lunches during the tour.
Valuable information before you go:
- The tour cost depends on the number of group members.
- Extension of the tour to 4-day is possible if you prefer to do so.
- Driving time as mentioned above excludes time dedicated to photo taking, meals,….
- Because we only have 3 days for the tour, prepare yourselves for lengthy drives.
- Because our 4*4 cars can transport up to four adults, a van will be provided if the number is 5 persons or more.
- Our recommendation is starting your desert adventure between 7:30 to 8:00 on the first day.
- We provide sandboards for you to have fun.
- Individual travelers can join our 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga.
3 Day Tour From Marrakech to Merzouga FAQs
The distance covered is 560 kilometers (348). This journey is divided into two days with a stop in Dades Valley. However, the return trip lasts for one day drive back to Marrakech.
This depends on the timings of sunrise and sunset and the season. However, an average journey to the desert camp takes about 1 hour. The return trip takes approximately the same time. The timing of the camel trekking journeys allows you to enjoy the majestic scenes of the Sahara Desert.
The type of vehicle used in the Marrakech to Merzouga 3 day-tour is customized according to the number of persons interested in the tour. So, for small groups of persons, we provide 4*4 Toyota Land Cruiser cars, which are known for their reliability and comfort. But for larger groups, we provide vans which also offer space for luggage. Note that the road between Merzouga and Marrakech is paved. So, the transportation will be smooth and comfortable.
This depends on the type of luxury camp you booked for reservation. In standard desert camps, bathrooms are shared and they are located outside the tents. However, if you upgrade to luxury desert camps, you will have your own bathroom inside your tent which insures your privacy.
You can choose to access the desert camp by a 4*4 car with an additional fee of 30 Euros for a round-trip transportation. However, if you upgrade to a luxury desert camp, the 4*4 option is included with no extra fees.
Obviously you can rent quads in Merzouga because you can find many quad, buggies,… operators there. You can also have your desert guide for a better ad enjoyable experience. The payment is made directly to the quad operator and prices starts from 50 Euros per hour.
Outlets are available in public areas in the desert camps such as restaurants. So, you can charge your electrical devices. However, as the camps operate on the electrical generators, these generators are turned off around midnight. So, you should plan your charging needs accordingly.
Outlets are available not only in public areas, but also inside your tents in the luxury desert camps. So, you can charge your electrical devices. However, as the camps operate on the electrical generators, these generators are turned off around midnight. So, you should plan your charging needs accordingly.
Absolutely, Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps are equipped by air-conditioning services which ensure your comfort. In winter months tents are heated while in summer months they are cooled. The fee of this added luxury climate-controlled tents is an extra 20 Euros per person.
Camel riding seems at first to be an uncomfortable experience, but it is just a matter of getting used to it. It is just a matter of practice and you will be able to ride a camel like a professional rider. Adaptation to the camel is also key element in camel riding.
When riding a camel in the Merzouga Sahara Desert, it is advisable to wear loose clothes. You should also bring hats, turbines, sunglasses, sunscreen….. in order to enhance your comfort and avoid sunstrikes which are difficult to deal with. These clothing accessories will help you enjoy your journey without troubles and hindrances.
