Overview
This fantastic 5-day desert tour takes you from Marrakech to the Merzouga Sahara. Over five days, you explore the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the Atlas mountains, Ouarzazate, the Todra and Dades Gorges, the Merzouga desert with its Erg Chebbi dunes, and Berber villages.
At Morocco Day Tour, we offer private, standard, and luxury Marrakech desert tours for 5 days and more.
The cost depends on the number of travelers, the type of accommodation (standard, luxury, or the mixed medium choice), and the time of year. Contact us at any time.
Because it’s longer than other tours, this route lets you visit more towns and villages — and spend more time in each. It’s also packed with the best excursions, above all the chance to meet the nomadic families who live in caves near the Todra Gorges for a close look at traditional nomad life.
Another advantage: much shorter driving days, and a different comfortable hotel each night for the most relaxing trip possible.
As with all our Marrakech desert tours, you travel in an air-conditioned minivan or 4×4 (depending on group size), with pickup directly from your accommodation or riad. Day one takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, where we visit the famous 300-room kasbah! We also visit Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate before returning to the hotel.
The next day, we explore the naturally sculpted rocks of the Dades Gorges and the beautiful canyons of Todra. On day three, we return to the Todra canyons — this time down by the river and the palm trees along its banks for a stunning panorama — before heading to the hotel in Merzouga. There, we ride camels across the Erg Chebbi dunes; after setting up camp, we share a jolly dinner with the nomads and sleep in our tents.
On day four, we begin the return towards Ouarzazate, stopping in the town of Agdz to visit the Kasbah of Tamnougalt on the palm-lined hills of the Draa Valley. After a day in Ouarzazate, we drive back to Marrakech.
If you have the time, this 5-day tour is an excellent experience — it covers a wide variety of monuments and regions, and it’s also the least demanding option, well suited to anyone who can’t sit through long drives, and to families with children.
Give yourself five days from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert, in the company of experienced local drivers and guides.
Highlights of 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech
- Atlas Mountains landscapes
- The UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Ouarzazate Film Studio & Taourirt Kasbah
- Panoramic views from Erg Chebbi dunes
- Camel ride in Merzouga Sahara
- Watch Sunset from the dunes of sand
- Sand Boarding activity
- Overnight at Merzouga Desert Camp
- Delicious dinner and celebration around the fire pits (Berber Drums)
Program Itinerary of the 5 Days Marrakech Desert Tour
Marrakech » Telouet » Ait Benhaddou Kasbah » Ouarzazate [196 km]
We pick you up at your Marrakech hotel or riad in the medina, then transfer across the renowned High Atlas chain over the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m — the highest in Morocco.
You’ll be amazed by the stunning views and Berber villages before arriving at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. A guided walking tour tells you its history — including its starring roles in films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Queen of the Desert, Gladiator (2000), and Game of Thrones (2013).
We continue to Ouarzazate, often called “the Hollywood of Africa”, where you spend the night before the desert stage of your five-day tour begins.
Ouarzazate » Draa Valley » Rissani » Erg Chebbi Dunes (Merzouga) [367 km]
After breakfast, your route runs from Marrakech towards the Sahara through the Draa Valley, crossing the volcanic formations of the Anti-Atlas to Agdz and Tamnougalt. You then pass through N’kob, a tiny Berber town famous for its many kasbahs and as a gateway for trekking in Jbel Saghro, before continuing towards Dades.
Your journey carries on to Rissani, a Saharan town believed to be the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty. Immerse yourself in the local culture at its traditional market, where nomadic families come to buy and sell. It may not be the largest souk, but it’s a vital part of the southeast’s cultural fabric — and the closest town (35 km) to the Merzouga desert and the villages around Erg Chebbi.
Then you head into the Erg Chebbi Sahara itself and set off on a camel trek to your camp, watching the sun set across the dunes. You share a meal, then enjoy live Berber drummers at the campfire before your night in a comfortable, well-equipped tent camp.
Explore Merzouga area & Visit nomad families [40 Km]
Today you wake to an extraordinary morning in the Sahara — it’s worth getting up for the breathtaking sunrise over the dunes. Ride your camel back to the dune line, where your driver meets you, then enjoy breakfast and freshen up.
Next, set off on an off-road exploration of the surrounding villages, including Hassi Labied and Khamlia — famous for its Gnawa musicians, whose music has roots in sub-Saharan Africa.
You also visit Mifis, a once-thriving lead-mining town that now lies abandoned. The highlight of your evening is dinner with a nomadic family — a unique chance to experience their way of life at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
The afternoon is yours. Relax at your hotel, or head back to the dunes for another stunning sunset. Want more adventure? Spend an hour quad riding through the dunes (not included in the tour price). You spend the night at the hotel.
Merzouga » Erfoud » Todra Gorges » Dades Valley [255 km]
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you rejoin your driver and head back out of the desert towards the Dades Valley. You stop in Erfoud, a city famous for its fossil-rich rock and the workshops that craft it.
The journey continues to the awe-inspiring Todra Gorges, a natural wonder and a hidden paradise for rock climbers. After a leisurely stroll, we bring you to your accommodation in the Dades Valley for a peaceful night.
Dades Valley » Ouarzazate » Marrakech [326 km]
After breakfast at your hotel in Dades, you depart for Marrakech, traveling through Kelaa M’Gouna — the city of roses — and the Skoura palm grove, then on through Ouarzazate and the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.
Enjoy the stunning landscapes of the High Atlas as you cross the Tichka pass before arriving in Marrakech, where we take you to your hotel.
Price Includes and Excludes
What’s included
- Drop-off and pick-up at/from your place of accommodation
- Transport via private, modern vehicles equipped with air conditioning
- Experienced English driver/guide
- Car Fuel
- Camel Trekking (Camel per person)
- Sunset camel ride
- 3 nights in a private room at the hotel (At your preference of room type)
- 1 night in Desert Camp (At your preferred tent style)
- (Breakfast & Dinner) x 4
- Transfer of 4x4s from and back to the camp (Alternative alternative Camels)
Not included
- Drinks
- Lunch
- Tipping
Check the 5 Days Desert tour from Marrakech on the Map
Good to know
FAQ of the 5 days Marrakech Desert Tour to Merzouga
What is the difference between a comfortable tent and a luxury upgraded option?
A luxury private tent has a private ensuite bathroom and shower, with towels and toiletries provided. A comfort tent has shared bathrooms and hot showers outside the tent — bring your own towel and toiletries.
Are the tents private?
Yes — on a private tour, every tent is private.
Are there any showers in the desert camp?
If you choose a luxury tent, you get a private ensuite shower with towels and toiletries. A comfort tent has shared hot showers outside the tent, so bring your own towel and toiletries.
Can we leave our luggage in the car overnight?
Yes — you can safely leave your big luggage in the car overnight.
Are there any sand boarding opportunities?
There’s no sandboarding in Zagora, but you can sandboard in Merzouga.
Are there any quad bikes available in the desert?
There are no quad bikes in Zagora, but you can ride them in Merzouga.
How long is the camel ride?
The sunset camel ride takes about 1 hour, and the sunrise trek about 40 minutes.
Can we skip the camel ride?
Yes — you can skip the camel ride and take a 4×4 instead.
How is the weather in the desert?
In winter, temperatures drop sharply and nights can be freezing — please bring warm clothes to sleep in.
What is the minimum number of participant to run the tour?
Just one person is enough — we run the private tour even for a single traveler.
Reviews about our 5 days Desert Tour from Marrakech
100% Suggested My flights were scheduled two days in advance, and I appreciate that Mohamed got back to me and tailored a schedule that included everything I wanted to see and do in Morocco! Morocco has captured my heart, and I will return for further tours! Mohamed became my part-time photographer in addition to being an excellent driver! His service had a significant positive impact on my experience. What occurs when you travel alone. I only have wonderful things to say and have made some really special memories. Gratitude for everything, Morocco Day Tour.
Traveler
What happens after you send your details
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01
A real person reads it
Your message reaches our team in Merzouga — not a call centre or a booking robot.
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02
You get a tailored plan
We send a route, hotel and camp suggestions, and a clear price for your group and dates.
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03
You adjust until it fits
Change the pace, the cities, the camp style. Nothing is booked until you say yes.
Request this tour
Tell us your dates and group size — we’ll confirm availability and send a price for exactly this route.
