The classic private Marrakech desert route, crossing the Atlas and kasbah valleys before a night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Tour overview
This three day route is the most direct way to reach the Sahara from Marrakech. You cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, stop at the earthen village of Ait Ben Haddou and continue through Ouarzazate towards the Dades Valley.
On the second day the landscape opens into gorges and palm oases before the road ends at the dunes of Erg Chebbi, where camels take you into the sand for sunset and dinner at a desert camp.
The final day returns west through Todra Gorge and the kasbah road, arriving back in Marrakech in the evening.
This 3 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is the standard Sahara round trip for travellers who want the desert without changing arrival city. It links the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, Todra Gorge and Merzouga in a compact itinerary.
The tour runs privately, so photo stops, walking time and camp style can be adjusted when availability is requested.
Day by day
Day 1
Morning pick-up from your riad, then up through Berber villages to the Tizi n’Tichka pass. After a walk around the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and a stop in Ouarzazate, the road follows the Valley of Roses into the Dades gorges for the night.
Day 2
Drive through the Dades and Todra gorges, then east past the oasis towns of Tinghir and Erfoud. Arriving in Merzouga in the afternoon, you swap the car for camels and ride into the dunes for sunset, dinner and music at the camp.
Day 3
Sunrise over the dunes and breakfast at the camp, then the long drive west across the kasbah road and back over the High Atlas, with stops for lunch and viewpoints before evening drop-off in Marrakech.
The route
An overview of the main stops on this journey. Exact stops and timings are adapted to your dates and pace.
When to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route: warm days, cool desert nights and clear light over the dunes. Summer brings very hot afternoons in the south, so days start early and rest hours fall in the middle of the day. Winter is quiet and bright, with cold nights in the desert and possible snow on the High Atlas passes.
Read the seasons guideGallery
Private travel
This tour runs privately for your group only. You travel in your own vehicle with a local driver who knows the roads, the villages and the seasons, so the itinerary can shift during the trip if you would rather stay longer somewhere or set off earlier.
Families, couples and small groups all travel the same way, with accommodation chosen to match the comfort level you ask for — from simple guesthouses to more comfortable hotels and desert camps.
To book this private 3 days tour from Marrakech, send us your travel date, number of travellers, pick-up location in Marrakech and preferred accommodation category through the request form.
Please mention any special requirements, including child seats, dietary needs, a private 4×4 transfer to the desert camp or optional activities such as quad biking and dune buggy rides.
After receiving your request we confirm availability and send you the final itinerary, accommodation details and total price. Your reservation is confirmed once the required deposit has been received.
To secure your reservation, a deposit of €100–€200 is required. The exact amount is stated in your final quotation and depends on the total booking value and the services you choose.
The deposit can be paid securely through PayPal. The remaining balance is normally paid in cash directly to your driver at the start of the tour.
Card payment can also be arranged. A 5% processing fee applies to payments made by card.
Your booking is fully confirmed once the deposit has been received and written confirmation has been sent with the final itinerary, desert camp details and payment summary.
We share pick-up times, accommodation details and packing suggestions for the desert once your dates are confirmed.
Good to know
What travellers say
74 reviews from travellers who booked with us. Figures checked September 2026.
“Our recent tour through Morocco was nothing short of spectacular, but what truly made the experience stand out was the exceptional service we received. A special shoutout goes to our driver, Omar, who was the highlight of our trip. What we appreciated most was how he catered to our specific interests, often suggesting stops and experiences that perfectly matched what we were looking for.”
“We just finished a 14 days tour of Morocco. The travel agency designed a travel plan for us that brings us from the modern Casablanca to the exotic Chefchaouen, Fes and Sahara. We were all well looked after by our driver Omar, who is courteous, gentle and humourous. He seems to know everyone wherever we visit.”
“We just returned from an unforgettable 10-day trip to Morocco with my wife and our three children, and I can't recommend this travel agency enough. They planned a perfectly balanced itinerary covering Marrakesh, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca, giving us a wonderful mix of culture, history, and relaxation.”
Other routes
2 daysThe quickest way to reach Erg Chebbi from Marrakech, with one night in a desert camp.
3 daysA rewarding one-way route linking two imperial cities through valleys, kasbahs and the Sahara.
4 daysTravel at a more relaxed pace with extra time for the landscapes and communities of southern Morocco.
4 daysA four-day one-way crossing from Marrakech to Fes by way of Merzouga.
Your Morocco journey starts here
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