From Marrakech: 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Merzouga with Camel Trek

This classic three-day loop from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas, follows the old kasbah road through the valleys of southern Morocco and ends in the tall orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, close to the Algerian border. There you ride a camel into the sand at sunset and sleep in a desert camp. It is a road journey as much as a desert trip, with long but varied drives and frequent stops for viewpoints, villages and short walks.

Day 1: Pickup in Marrakech at about 7:30 am, then the climb into the High Atlas on the N9 road to the Tizi n'Tichka pass at roughly 2,200 metres. On the far side you visit Aït Benhaddou, the fortified earthen village above the Ounila river that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and a backdrop for films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. After lunch the road passes Ouarzazate and runs east along the Dadès valley, past the rose-growing town of Kalaat M'Gouna, to your hotel in the Dadès Gorges for dinner and the night.

Day 2: A morning drive up the Dadès Gorges, where the road climbs in tight hairpins between red rock, then on to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge. In its last 600 metres the canyon narrows to about 10 metres between sheer limestone walls up to 160 metres high, and you walk through on the flat valley floor. The afternoon drive continues through Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga. In the late afternoon you set off by camel into Erg Chebbi, whose dunes rise up to 150 metres, and reach the camp around sunset for dinner and music around the fire.

Day 3: Wake early to watch the sun rise over the dunes, ride back to Merzouga for breakfast, then begin the long drive west across the south of the country, with a lunch stop on the way, arriving in Marrakech at about 8 to 8:30 pm.

The tour runs all year, but October to April is the best season: days are usually clear and pleasant, while summer heat in the desert is extreme. Winter nights in the desert are cold, so camps supply heavy blankets and you should pack warm layers. On rare winter days snow on the Tizi n'Tichka can slow or briefly close the pass. Departures from autumn 2026 to spring 2027 run on fixed dates with a shared group of up to 16 travellers.

Expect long days on the road: roughly 8 to 10 hours on day 1 and day 3 including stops, much of it on winding mountain roads. If you are prone to motion sickness, bring medication and ask for a seat near the front.

Pack for big temperature swings. Days are often warm and sunny, but desert nights from November to March can be very cold. Bring a warm jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a scarf against wind and sand, plus comfortable closed shoes.

The camel ride usually lasts about an hour to an hour and a half each way, depending on where the camp is. It is not recommended during pregnancy or for people with back problems, and you can walk beside the camel instead. Take only a small overnight bag to the camp; main luggage stays in the vehicle.

Standard camp tents are simple, with shared or basic facilities and limited electricity, so bring a torch and a power bank. Private tents and rooms are available with the single supplement or as an upgrade.

Bring your passport, as Moroccan hotels and camps register guests, and send us your riad or hotel name and phone number when you book. Weather, snow on the Atlas pass or sandstorms can change the order of stops or timings.