Four days takes you from Marrakech to the Sahara and back, taking in a run of amazing sites: the High Atlas and the Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Draa Valley, Rissani, and the Merzouga Sahara, along with the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, and the Amridil Kasbah.
You cross the High Atlas from Marrakech through the Ounila Valley to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate for the first night. The second day explores Ouarzazate, then runs down the Draa Valley through Agdz and Nkob and on through Rissani to Merzouga, with a camel trek at sunset. The third day returns through Rissani and Erfoud to the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley. The last day tracks west through the Roses Valley, Skoura and the Amridil Kasbah, and over the High Atlas back to Marrakech.
The tour starts with an early pick-up from the airport or your accommodation in Marrakech. You drive through the High Atlas and the Tizi n’Tichka pass, with stops for the panoramas.
You then continue to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After that you head to Ouarzazate, the gate of the desert. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Approx. 4 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate
After breakfast you explore Ouarzazate: the Atlas Studios, then the Taourirt Kasbah, an ancient fortified mud castle. You then set off toward Agdz and join the Draa Valley, the longest river in Morocco, driving along it with stops for the palm groves, kasbahs, and Berber villages. Free time for lunch in Nkob or Alnif.
After lunch you continue to the Sahara at Merzouga through Rissani. On reaching Erg Chebbi you switch to camels to cross the desert, pausing on a big dune for the sunset. You continue to the camp for Berber drum music and dancing under a sky of bright stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Approx. 5.5 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
An early start lets you watch the sunrise over the desert. You return by camel to Merzouga, then leave for Rissani, with a large souk (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays).
After the souk you continue to Erfoud for a fossilised-marble workshop, then through the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves to the Todra Gorge. Free time for lunch. You continue to the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and a viewpoint over the valley. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Approx. 5 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley
On the last day you continue to Kalaat M’Gouna to visit the Roses Valley. You then drive past various kasbahs, including the Amridil Kasbah set among the Skoura palm grove. You reach Ouarzazate for free time and lunch, then continue to Marrakech across the Tizi n’Tichka pass and the High Atlas. Finally you are dropped off at your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech. To finish in Fes instead, consider the 4-day Marrakech to Fes tour.
Approx. 6 hours driving
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It is a private experience: only the travellers who make the enquiry take part, with no one else joining. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised trips, which is why we mainly run private tours.
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has a private bathroom with hot running water.
You take only what you need for the ride; the rest of your luggage travels in the camp’s 4×4 and is waiting for you at the camp.
The camel ride runs from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you stay in. If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that carries people and luggage in and out. ATVs can also be arranged at extra cost.
Yes, though it involves roughly 4 to 6 hours of driving a day. The vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops, but if you aren’t used to this amount of travel you may prefer a longer tour, such as our 8-day from Marrakech.
