The classic Morocco desert experience — cross the High Atlas, explore kasbahs, and sleep under the Sahara stars at Erg Chebbi dunes.
This 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is Morocco's most iconic journey. Travel by private car with your dedicated English-speaking driver along routes that pass through:
~350 km | Depart 7:30am
We depart Marrakech early in the morning heading south. The drive crosses the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 meters — expect spectacular mountain scenery with Berber villages clinging to cliffsides.
We stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou — a fortified mud-brick village that starred in Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia. After lunch in Ouarzazate (the "Gateway to the Sahara"), we continue along the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses to overnight in the scenic Dades Valley.
~230 km | Full day in the south
After breakfast, explore the dramatic Todgha Gorge — a 300-meter-high limestone canyon that's a paradise for photographers and rock climbers. Continue to Erfoud, famous for its fossil workshops and the gateway to the Merzouga dunes.
Arrive at the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga in the late afternoon. Mount a camel and ride into the golden dunes to watch the Sahara sunset. Overnight in a luxury Berber desert camp with dinner and traditional music under a sky full of stars.
~580 km | Return journey
Wake up before dawn to witness a breathtaking Sahara sunrise over the dunes — one of Morocco's most magical moments. After a camp breakfast, we begin the scenic return journey through the ancient Draa Valley, stretching 200 km and lined with over 1,000 kasbahs and lush palmeries.
Pass through Zagora, Agdz, and Aït Saoun before crossing back over the Atlas Mountains. We arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, dropping you at your riad or hotel.