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Small-group camel caravan crossing the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga at sunset Small group

3 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga

The classic Sahara loop in three days: High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou, two gorges, a camel trek into Erg Chebbi and a night under the stars. Daily departures, €145 per person.

  • 3 days
  • Marrakech
  • Small group
  • From TT$ 1,108 (€145) per person
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Overview

Short on time but set on the Sahara? Our 3 day desert tour from Marrakech is the fastest way to swap the souks for the dunes of Erg Chebbi and still see the big sights on the way. You cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, walk through the mud-brick ksar of Aït Benhaddou, sleep in the Dades Gorge and ride a camel into the dunes of Merzouga for a night in a Berber camp.

This is a shared small-group tour in an air-conditioned minibus with a maximum of 17 travelers. The price is fixed at €145 per person, whatever the size of the group, and we leave Marrakech every day of the year. You travel with people from all over the world, so it is an easy option for solo travelers and couples who want company and a good price.

Be honest with yourself about the driving: Merzouga is roughly 560 km from Marrakech, so days one and three are long. If you would rather spend a full day in the desert, look at our 4 day desert tour from Marrakech. If three days fits your trip, this loop gives you the essentials without wasting a minute.

Highlights

  • Cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m)
  • Walk through Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar
  • Sleep in the Dades Gorge, then hike into the Todra Gorge
  • Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
  • Night in a Berber desert camp with dinner and drums
  • Return through the Draa Valley palm groves and N'Kob kasbahs

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Dades Gorge

    Pickup from your riad or hotel in Marrakech early in the morning. The minibus climbs into the High Atlas through Berber villages and walnut groves to the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m, with photo stops along the way. Next comes Aït Benhaddou, the fortified village of earthen houses that has starred in films such as Gladiator. You have time to cross the river and climb to the granary at the top. After lunch (not included), drive past Ouarzazate, the gateway to the south, and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Gorge. Check in, have dinner and rest: tomorrow is desert day.

    Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Gorge Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga, camel trek and desert camp

    After breakfast, drive through Tinghir and its long palm grove to the Todra Gorge, where rock walls up to 300 m high close in around a clear stream. Walk the narrowest section on foot and watch climbers on the cliffs. Continue east through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the late afternoon you swap the minibus for a camel and ride about an hour into the sand as the dunes turn orange. Climb a dune for sunset, then settle into the Berber camp for dinner, music around the fire and a sky full of stars.

    Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  3. Day 3 Merzouga – Rissani – N'Kob – Draa Valley – Marrakech

    Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes, then ride your camel back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. This is the longest day, around 10 hours with stops, so we leave promptly. Pass through Rissani, the old caravan town of the Tafilalet, then cross the arid plains to N'Kob, a village famous for its dozens of kasbahs. The road follows the Draa Valley, Morocco's longest river and an endless ribbon of palms, to Ouarzazate. From there you cross the Tichka pass one more time and arrive in Marrakech in the evening, with drop-off at or near your accommodation.

    Overnight: — (tour ends in Marrakech) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

TT$ 1,108 (€145) per person

Fixed price per person in a small group (max 17 people).

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech (or a nearby meeting point in the medina)
  • Shared air-conditioned minibus (max 17 travelers) with an English-speaking driver
  • 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Gorge (shared double/twin room)
  • 1 night in a Berber desert camp in Merzouga
  • 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • Camel trek at sunset and sunrise in Erg Chebbi
  • Short walking visits in the Todra Gorge

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides in Aït Benhaddou or other sites (optional, paid on the spot)
  • Entrance fees
  • Single supplement (on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Planning your 3 day desert tour from Marrakech

Pickup: around 7:00 a.m. from your accommodation. Many riads sit in car-free lanes, so the driver may meet you at the nearest square; we confirm the exact spot the evening before. Drop-off on day 3 is usually between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.

What to bring: a small overnight bag for the camp (big suitcases stay in the minibus), a warm layer for desert nights from October to April, sunglasses, a scarf for wind and sand, sunscreen and cash in dirhams for lunches and tips.

Pace: this is a driving-heavy tour, roughly 7 to 10 hours on the road on days 1 and 3, broken up by photo and leg-stretch stops. It suits travelers with limited time, solo travelers who like meeting people and anyone who wants the Sahara on a budget. If long road days put you off, our other small-group desert tours give you a slower rhythm.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

How does the shared minibus work?

You share an air-conditioned minibus with other travelers on the same route, up to a maximum of 17 people. The driver handles the road and the timing, and the group stays together for meals, the camel trek and the camp.

Is the price really fixed?

Yes. The group price is €145 per person (about US$163 as of October 2026) whether the bus has 4 or 17 travelers. You pay a deposit online via PayPal and the balance on arrival.

I'm traveling solo. Will I have to share a room?

By default rooms are double or twin and we pair solo travelers of the same gender where possible. If you want your own room and tent, ask for the single supplement when you book; we quote it on request.

Is three days enough for the Sahara?

It is enough to see the dunes, ride a camel and sleep in the desert, but you spend a lot of time in the bus. If you can add one day, the 4-day version gives you a full day around Merzouga.

When do tours depart?

Every day of the year from Marrakech. Book at least a day ahead; in busy months like March, April, October and late December, a week or more ahead is safer.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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