Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley
3-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert:
📍 Distance: ~350 km (~6-7 hours of driving)
- Early morning departure from Marrakech (usually around 7:00 AM).
- Drive through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), offering breathtaking views of the High Atlas Mountains.
- Stop for photos at panoramic viewpoints along the way.
- Visit the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- Optional: Visit Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” with its Atlas Film Studios and Taourirt Kasbah.
- Drive through the Valley of Roses, known for its rosewater production.
- Reach Dades Valley in the evening, famous for its rock formations (“Monkey Fingers”).
- Overnight stay in a charming riad or hotel with dinner included.
Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi Desert)
📍 Distance: ~270 km (~5-6 hours of driving)
- After breakfast, drive through the Dades Gorges, stopping at scenic viewpoints.
- Head to Todra Gorge, a 300m-high canyon, where you can walk between the cliffs or relax by the river.
- Continue the journey through Berber villages and desert landscapes.
- Stop at Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops and date markets.
- Arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon, where you switch from the car to camels for a sunset camel trek across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- Arrive at your desert camp, where you’ll enjoy:
✔️ A traditional Berber dinner under the stars
✔️ Live drumming and music around a campfire
✔️ Comfortable tent accommodation (luxury or standard)
✔️ A breathtaking starry sky in the middle of the Sahara
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Fez (or back to Marrakech)
📍 Distance to Fez: ~460 km (~8 hours of driving)
📍 Distance to Marrakech: ~560 km (~10 hours of driving)
- Early morning wake-up to watch the sunrise over the dunes.
- Camel ride or 4×4 transfer back to the village.
- Breakfast and quick shower at a local guesthouse.
- Start the return journey, passing through:
- Ziz Valley, known for its palm groves and kasbahs.
- Midelt, a small town in the Middle Atlas Mountains (lunch stop).
- Cedar forests of Azrou, where you might see Barbary macaques (monkeys).
- Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco,” a European-style town.
- Arrive in Fez in the late afternoon/evening.
What’s Included?
✅ Private or group transport in a 4×4 or minibus
✅ English/French/Spanish-speaking driver-guide
✅ Accommodation in Dades Valley (hotel/riad)
✅ Luxury or standard desert camp in Merzouga
✅ Camel trekking in the Erg Chebbi dunes
✅ Breakfast & dinner (except lunch)
What’s NOT Included?
❌ Lunches & drinks
❌ Entrance fees to optional sites (Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate studios)
❌ Personal expenses & tips
Optional Upgrades
⭐ Luxury Desert Camp – Private tent, ensuite bathroom, comfortable bedding
🐪 Quad biking or 4×4 desert tour instead of camel trekking
🍽️ Upgrade to a luxury riad in Dades Valley
FAQs
❓ Can I do this tour as a private trip?
✔ Yes! You can book a private tour with flexible stops and a private driver.
❓ Is the camel ride mandatory?
✔ No, you can take a 4×4 to the desert camp instead.
❓ Can I return to Marrakech instead of Fez?
✔ Yes, but it will be a long journey (~10 hours).
🌍 Overview of the Trip
This 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is one of the most famous road trips in Morocco. You’ll travel from the vibrant city of Marrakech, cross the High Atlas Mountains, visit ancient kasbahs, explore palm-filled valleys, and experience the Sahara Desert—where you’ll ride camels and spend a magical night under the stars in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
🗺️ Key Highlights:
✅ Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260m)
✅ Visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah (UNESCO site)
✅ See the Todgha Gorge, a spectacular canyon
✅ Ride a camel in the Sahara Desert
✅ Spend the night in a Berber desert camp
✅ Watch a breathtaking sunrise over the dunes
✅ Drive through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas Mountains