Camel Ride Trips5-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Our favorite way to see the Sahara from Marrakech without rushing. Cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou, sleep in the Dades Valley, walk the Todra Gorge, then spend two nights around the Erg Chebbi dunes: one in a desert camp after a sunset camel trek and one in a kasbah hotel facing the dunes. Return by a different road through Agdez and Ouarzazate. Planned by our local team from Rissani, near Merzouga.
What is the 5-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour?
It is a private, round-trip desert tour by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts and ends at your hotel or riad in Marrakech and lasts 5 days and 4 nights. The route crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, follows the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley, then visits the Todra Gorge and Rissani before reaching the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. You spend two nights there, one in a desert camp after a sunset camel trek and one in a kasbah hotel by the dunes, with a full day exploring the desert. The return goes through Rissani, Agdez and Ouarzazate.
- 1 night Dades Valley
- 1 night Sahara desert camp
- 1 night kasbah hotel in Merzouga
- 1 night Ouarzazate
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
Merzouga is about 550 km from Marrakech by road, around 9 to 10 hours of driving without stops. On this 5-day loop the trip is split into shorter stages, with a night in the Dades Valley on the way out and a night in Ouarzazate on the way back, and a different route home through the Draa Valley region at Agdez. The full loop is about 1,250 km. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley | about 320 km | 7–8 hours with visits |
| Day 2 | Dades → Todra Gorge → Rissani → Merzouga | about 300 km | 5–6 hours with stops |
| Day 3 | Merzouga: lake, nomad families, desert landscapes | about 60 km | Short drives by 4x4 |
| Day 4 | Merzouga → Rissani → Alnif → Agdez → Ouarzazate | about 380 km | 6–7 hours with stops |
| Day 5 | Ouarzazate → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech | about 200 km | 4 hours with stops |
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
⛺ Two nights in Merzouga
A desert camp in Erg Chebbi and a kasbah hotel by the dunes.
🔁 Two different roads
Out via Dades and Todra, back via Agdez and the Draa region.
🚙 Private 4x4
Air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own driver-guide.
5-Day Marrakech Desert Tour Itinerary
- Day 1
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Leave Marrakech and climb the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with views of the peaks and Berber villages. Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar of earthen lanes and towers.
Have lunch near the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, once a residence of the Glaoui family, then follow the Valley of Roses, stopping at the Amerhidil Kasbah in the Skoura oasis, before reaching the Dades Valley.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Rissani → Merzouga
Take in the rock formations of the Dades Valley over a glass of mint tea, the 'Berber whiskey', then drive through palm groves to the Todra Gorge for lunch between its high walls.
Pass Rissani, with its market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and arrive at the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride a camel into the dunes at sunset and spend the night in a desert camp with a Moroccan dinner and a sky full of stars.
🛏 Overnight: Sahara desert camp (nomad or luxury tent), dinner included
- Day 3
Merzouga exploration
Wake up for sunrise over the dunes and ride back by camel for breakfast. Explore the area by 4x4: black stone desert, palm groves, salt flats and golden dunes.
Visit the seasonal lake near Merzouga, often home to flamingos, and share a Berber lunch with a local family. End the day at a kasbah hotel facing the Erg Chebbi dunes.
🛏 Overnight: Kasbah hotel by the Erg Chebbi dunes, dinner included
- Day 4
Merzouga → Rissani → Agdez → Ouarzazate
Climb a dune for one more sunrise, then start the drive west by a different road: Rissani, then the quiet desert route to Agdez, gateway to the Draa Valley palm groves.
Arrive in Ouarzazate, the 'Hollywood of Africa', known for its film studios and desert scenery.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate, dinner included
- Day 5
Ouarzazate → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
After breakfast, cross the High Atlas again over the Tizi n'Tichka pass and descend to Marrakech, where your driver takes you to your hotel or riad.
🏁 Tour ends at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 4 nights in hotels, a kasbah and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in the Dades Valley, Merzouga and Ouarzazate
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Hotel and riad pickup and drop-off in Marrakech
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Dinners not listed above
- Entrance fees
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Questions About the Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
How many days do you need for a desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga?
At least 3 days, because Merzouga is about 550 km from Marrakech. A 5-day tour is more comfortable: shorter driving days, two nights in Merzouga and a full day to explore the desert, with time for the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
About 550 km by road, or 9 to 10 hours of driving without stops. On this tour the drive is split over two days each way, with nights in the Dades Valley and Ouarzazate.
What is the difference between the 3-day and 5-day Marrakech desert tours?
The 3-day tour spends one night in the desert and drives back to Marrakech in one long day. The 5-day tour adds a full day around Merzouga, a second desert night in a kasbah hotel, and a different, quieter road home through Agdez with a night in Ouarzazate.
Where do you sleep in the desert?
The first night is in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, reached by camel at sunset, in a traditional nomad tent or a luxury tent depending on your level. The second night is in a kasbah hotel facing the dunes.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in the Dades Valley, the desert camp, Merzouga and Ouarzazate. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
What is the best time of year for a Marrakech desert tour?
Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most comfortable. In summer we plan the camel trek for sunset and sunrise; in winter the desert nights are cold, but camps provide warm blankets, and the Tizi n'Tichka pass can have snow.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
Other tours from Marrakech: 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga, 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga and 2-day Marrakech to Zagora.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.