Merzouga Desert Tour

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech at 8 o’clock in the morning to start your journey toward the High Anti Atlas Mountains. As you travel through the Tizi N’Tichka pass, you’ll have opportunities to stop for panoramic views and capture photos of the Berber villages that blend seamlessly into the landscape, all part of a 3 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. Heading south, you’ll reach the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou, where you’ll explore the famous Kasbah, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. This spectacular location has been the set for well-known films like Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penélope Cruz, among others.

Afterward, enjoy some free time for lunch in town. Next, you’ll continue to Ouarzazate, known as “The Gate of the Desert,” which in Berber means “noiseless” or “without confusion.” Here, you’ll visit the Taourirt Kasbah, one of Morocco’s most impressive ksars. Our tour from marrakech to merzouga leads you to the Rose Valley, passing through the lush Skoura palm grove, a beautiful landscape featuring over 700,000 palms and many kasbahs dotting the area. This valley is known for its Damascene roses, grown for their cosmetic use, especially the prized rosewater. Each May, the valley hosts the annual Rose Festival, celebrating Moroccan culture.

Finally, you’ll arrive in the Dades Valley, where you’ll spend the night, surrounded by stunning scenery.

• TRANSFER: 7H, 390 km

After breakfast, you’ll take in one of the most breathtaking views of the Dades Valley from a strategic lookout in the mountains, where you can admire the numerous kasbahs and the unique features of each. A well-paved road winds up the valley from the city of Tinghir toward the gorge and eventually to the desert. Along the way, you’ll make a few stops before arriving at the Todra Gorges, known for their stunning scenery. You’ll see local residents living in traditional adobe villages, and these rock walls, with their rugged surfaces, are especially popular among rock climbers. After a short walk in the Todra Gorges, you’ll have some free time for lunch in Tinejdad or Touroug.

From there, you’ll continue toward the desert, arriving at the majestic dunes of Merzouga. Here, you’ll embark on a one-hour camel ride to a nomad camp nestled within the vast sea of dunes known as Erg Chebbi. Before dinner, you’ll climb to the top of a dune to watch a stunning sunset, then settle into a tent for the night, drifting off under a brilliant, star-filled sky.

• TRANSFER: 5H, 300 km

Very early in the morning, you’ll have a special “Date with the Sunrise.” In the heart of the desert, waking up early is essential to witness one of the most spectacular sunrises from the top of a dune near the camp. Afterward, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel, where a delicious breakfast awaits.

Once you’re refreshed, you’ll start the final day of your journey, traveling through the arid pre-desert landscapes where you’ll spot the iconic “acacia,” a tree that defines these surroundings. As you head toward the Draa Valley, you’ll stop along the way to take in stunning views of the river that runs through Morocco’s longest valley, reaching all the way to Mauritania. The journey then continues toward Ouarzazate, crossing the dramatic landscapes of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. In Ouarzazate, you’ll have free time for lunch before setting off again, reaching Marrakech around 8 p.m.

End of our Eco Morocco Tour services

• TRANSFER: 8H30, 560 km