Three-day desert tour : Marrakech | Merzouga | Marrakech

Tour Reference DV-MM3/122

Few of our tours match this one for the variety of landscapes, scenery, cultural diversity and the thrill of being at one with the desert. All in the space of three days.

Just sit back, enjoy the ride – and the camel trek - and get ready to immerse yourself in magnificent Morocco!

Category Desert Overland Tour
Duration 3 Days
Starts From Marrakech
Returns to Marrakech
Group Size 2 - 8
Prices from €190

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Marrakech | Aït Ben Haddou | Ouarzazate | Dadès Gorge

After collecting you from your hotel or riad, we set off towards Ouarzazate enjoying the spectacular scenery as we climb upwards to the important Tizi-n-Tichka pass – the highest major mountain pass in North Africa - nestled at a height of 2,260m in the High Atlas Mountains.

As with the rest of the tour, your driver will stop off en route for photo opportunities and ‘comfort breaks’. Before Ouarzazate, we make a detour to enjoy the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou.

Dating back to the 17th Century, this ksar is an outstanding example of early southern Morocco architecture. And, not only will you be stepping back in time here, you can also follow in the footsteps of film stars who have appeared in productions such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones which used this magnificent backdrop for some of their location shoots.

With fond farewells to our Kasbah tour guide, we head towards Ouarzazate, now a holiday destination in its own right but more widely known as the “doorway to the Sahara Desert” and as the location for Morocco’s largest film studios.

With the Sahara beckoning in the distance, we move further into the Skoura Valley with its extensive palm groves. We will also pass through the Valley of the Roses, renowned as Morocco’s prime centre for rose cultivation and production of rose-based products. During early summer, the air has a magical rose-scented aura to complement the fabulous array of colours you will see.

More photographic opportunities await as we head back into the mountains following the path of the Dadès River. Unusual and incredible rock formations – a dream for geologists – unfold in the Tamnalt Hills. Winding our way up towards the Dadès Gorge – carved through centuries of erosion by the Dadès River – we arrive at our accommodation for the night and an opportunity to exchange notes with your fellow travellers during your evening meal in the heart of the gorge.

Meals included / not included
Breakfast Not included
Lunch Not included
Dinner Included

Day 2

Dadès Gorge | Todra Gorge | Erg Chebbi

After breakfast – and in the shadow of the early morning sun – we head out of the Dadès Gorge, passing through a Berber village and on to the Todra Gorge.

Here you can enjoy the glorious, fresh mountain air and take a trek through some of the 300m high canyons which are popular with both amateur and professional rock climbers. The scenery then changes dramatically as we head towards the Sahara.

The sheer mountain drops give way to the wide-open plains that serve as a prelude to the desert and the Erg Chebbi dunes just beyond Merzouga.

After a stop-over for lunch we pass through the oasis town of Erfoud – another popular movie location – and it will come as no surprise that much of the surrounding landscape bears a striking resemblance to that of the planet Mars! On arrival at Erg Chebbi, we change our mode of transport for a two-hour camel trek into the desert.

 

You’ll have the opportunity to witness a fabulous Saharan sunset and take in some dramatic desert scenery as our guides escort us to their Berber camp behind an oasis in the heart of the Moroccan desert.

Here you can enjoy a traditional Berber meal and entertainment before becoming entranced by the total darkness and peace of the desert under a canopy of millions of stars.

An incredible way to complete your day…and reflect on the popular belief that there are more stars in the sky than there are grains of sand in the desert!

Meals included / not included
Breakfast Included
Lunch Not included
Dinner Included

Day 3

Merzouga | Ouarzazate | Marrakech

The day begins early in the Berber desert camp – especially if you want to capture the magic of the Saharan sunrise. Inspired by this magical setting, we begin our camel trek back to the auberge where we are fortified by a traditional Berber breakfast before our return journey to Marrakech.

En route we pass through Ouarzazate, the movie capital of Morocco, before beginning our ascent of the High Atlas Mountains. Every twist and turn of these mountain roads reveals a new and spectacular vista.

 

From ancient Berber villages perched precariously on hillsides to sweeping valleys that stretch far into the horizon. We arrive back in Marrakech in the early evening where we return you to your accommodation.

Meals included / not included
Breakfast Included
Lunch Not included
Dinner Not included

Gallery

Pricing

2 Persons €380 pp
3 Persons €320 pp
4 Persons €280 pp
5 Persons €220 pp
6 Persons €190 pp

Solo travellers are always welcome. Please ask for details and availability. For groups of more than 6 guests, please ask our Reservations Team for more information about availability and prices. Reductions apply for children accompanied by adults. No charge for children under 5 years. All local taxes, state taxes, parking fees, tolls and fuel charges are included within the price. Please see below for more information.

Accommodation

Except for the Berber camp, the inclusive prices for accommodation are based on staying at a 3 or 4 star riad or hotel. Your accommodation can be upgraded to 5 star for part or all of your tour if you wish. Just ask our Reservations Team. Unless specified, your accommodation is inclusive of an evening meal and breakfast. Prices based on two people sharing a room. Single supplements may apply.

Inclusive and Exclusive

What is included

  • Accommodation in Berber tent at desert camp
  • All fuel, travel taxes and tolls as per itinerary
  • Breakfast at auberge in Merzouga
  • Camel trek and guides
  • Collection from your accommodation *
  • English/French/Spanish speaking driver
  • English/French/Spanish speaking tour guides
  • Evening meal and entertainment at desert camp
  • Accommodation inc. breakfast
  • Return to your accommodation *
  • Transportation in air-conditioned 4x4 or mini-bus
  • * Within 5kms of tour start and return points

What is not included

  • Airport-train-seaport transfers to accommodation
  • Entrance fee to attractions or events en route
  • Flights or travel to and from Morocco
  • Gratuities at your discretion
  • Lunches, snacks and drinks
  • Incidental expenses and souvenirs
  • Personal travel and health insurance
  • Any other items or services not shown as inclusive

NB: Local tour guides at Aït Ben Haddou and Telouet are optional. Prices vary according to group size and season. Please ask for details prior to booking.


Notes:

Upgrades and changes to your itinerary

We’re more than happy to alter this itinerary to suit your individual requirements prior to booking. Just let us know what changes you would like and we will advise. And if you would prefer to travel throughout in a luxury limousine or have any special requirements you would like arranged for your tour, please ask us for details.

Other information

As with many of our tours, this itinerary involves a certain amount of travelling and walking, often on uneven surfaces. Please think carefully about the personal mobility (especially young children) of those in your group and the suitability of this tour for them before booking. Our Reservations Team will be happy to advise you on this.

Contact Us

To book this tour, request more information about the tour or advise of any special requirements you may have, please send an email to us using the form below.

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Contact information

Phone (office): +212 524 433 513

Fax: +212 524 433 513

Mobile (Morocco): + 212 662 27 39 30

Mobile (Spain): + 34 659 320 701

Email: tours@magnificentmorocco.com

Address: Angle Rue Tarik Ibn Ziad & Ibn Aicha Résidence Excel Sior

Imm. 18 No 6 Gueliz

Marrakech

Morocco