(5.0)
4 Days
English,spanish
From Marrakech
This Desert Tour From Marrakech Will Take You To The Great Sahara Desert And The Zagora Desert, Passing By The High Atlas Mountains And Desert Cities Like Ouarzazate And Rissani.
Our Desert tour from Marrakech will start after we pick you up in the morning from your accommodation, and start driving through the High Atlas Mountains.
We will get many chances to sop along the way and enjoy the scenic views over the small and scattered Berber villages of the area. We will also meet many interesting Kasbahs and other traditional forms of architecture unique to the south of Morocco.
Another interesting road we will cross is the Tizin Tichka mountain pass, which is 2260 meters high and offers an amazing panoramic view at the mountains. After this, we will arrive at one of the most important historical Kasbahs in Morocco: the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. On top of being a UNESCO world heritage site, the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou has piqued the interest of many international movie producers, which resulted in several big movies being shot here such as: Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia and more. Through the years, the Kasbah has maintained its Berber traits and traditional architecture, which makes it a very important spot to visit during our tour.
Once we are done exploring it, we will visit the nearby Ouarzazate city, which is nicknamed “the Hollywood of Morocco” for containing the Kingdom’s most important movie studios. Finally, after driving by the cities of Kalaat Mgouna and Skoura, we will reach the Dades valley where we will spend the night.
Today on the program of the Desert tour from Marrakech, we have a big day of desert explorations ahead of us, so we will make sure to wake up early to start heading towards the Erg Chebbi desert. After a while, we will reach the famous Todra gorges. This site, where we will also have lunch, is known for its 300 meters high gorges that attract people from all over the world. We can hike around the valley or simply walk along the Todra River, the experience will be just as interesting regardless.
Later on, we will continue driving towards Merzouga, which we will reach after stopping at Erfoud town to have a local delicacy for lunch.
Once at Merzouga, we will be welcomed with some traditional mint tea and get to rest at our hotel. Finally, our camel caravan will be waiting for us, which we will ride through the sunset and head to the desert camp where we will be spending the night. You will enjoy a cozy atmosphere around a campfire and under the starry night sky, followed by a mouthwatering dinner before sleeping in your luxury tent.
This next day of the Desert tour from Marrakech, we will have breakfast then continue our journey through the Moroccan desert, this time heading towards the Zagora desert part.
On the way there, we will first stop to pay a visit to Rissani town, which is the hometown of the ancestors of the current ruling Alaouite dynasty in Morocco. Here we will get to explore the traditional weekly market, which used to be a center of trade in the desert, linking Morocco to other South-Saharan countries.
We will have a traditional lunch at a local restaurant in town, before moving on with our journey. We will pass by the beautiful Berber towns of Alnif and Tazarine before finally arriving at Zagora, where will be spending the night at a traditional Riad.
The 4-day tour is significantly less rushed. It allows for more time at key sites like Ait Benhaddou and Todra Gorges, and gives you a full extra day (Day 3) to immerse yourself in the desert, explore the local villages (Khamlia), and meet nomad families.
On the last morning, the camel trek from the camp back to the Merzouga hotel is short, usually about 45 minutes to an hour, timed perfectly to catch the morning light and sunrise.
Lunch on Day 2 is often in a local spot near the Todra Gorges or the town of Erfoud. On Day 3, your exploration day, lunch is typically a traditional "Berber Pizza" at a local nomad's home or a dedicated stop in the desert, which is a highlight for many.
You will likely have decent service in the main Merzouga village (at the hotel on Day 3). However, once you are deep in the Erg Chebbi dunes at the desert camp on Day 2, cell service and Wi-Fi are intermittent or non-existent. Use this time to truly unplug and enjoy the night sky!
+212 666 392 331
Mhamid, Marrakech, Morocco – 40000, Morocco
journeystomorocco@gmail.com
Journeys Morocco offers authentic travel experiences across the kingdom, from the lively souks of Marrakech to the golden dunes on our unforgettable Sahara Desert tours.
Every trip is part of our carefully designed Morocco tours, crafted to immerse you in culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes.