8 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, Fes, Meknes & Rabat
Overview:
This 8-day trip from Marrakech through Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) offers the chance to traverse The High Atlas mountains. Visit Ait Ben Haddou & Telouat Kasbah. Visit Ouarzazate for photos following the “Atlas studio”, Roses Valley, and Dades Gorges: camel ride and overnight camping in the Sahara desert.
Stay the night in Berber tents at the southwestern end of the dunes. After the dunes, we’ll return to the road we took to Fez in a different direction. We will go to Rissani Market, Erfoud, Errachidia, Midelt, Azrou. Then we’ll go to Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Rabat, and Casablanca until Marrakech.
The most appealing aspect of booking our 8-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga with us is that guests can choose to add an itinerary and plan departures. We plan the trip according to your requirements and preferences.
Additionally, we provide tours in comfortable, modern vehicles that are easy to drive, particularly in hot deserts.
Leave your hotel or at the airport early in the morning for an 8-day journey from Marrakech to Merzouga. Then, take a journey towards Dades Valley. We’ll travel through Dades Valley and the High Atlas Mountains while twisting through the famous Tizi N-Tichka Pass, which stands at 2260m in height.
We will stop by Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It was used in numerous films, including Laurence of Arabia, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and many more.
Take in stunning scenic views of diverse colours and small Berber villages. We’ll stop at different locations to take pictures. Then, continue to Ouarzazate town, which is known as “the gate of the Sahara desert.”
Our journey will also provide you with unique cultural experiences. You’ll have the chance to explore the Kasbah Taourirt and Film Studios, gaining insight into the local history and culture. After crossing the lovely road that is home to a thousand Kasbahs, we’ll arrive at Boumalne Dades, where you’ll enjoy a traditional dinner and spend the night in a typical Riad hotel.
After the traditional Moroccan breakfast, we’ll depart Dades and head for Todra Gorges. After that, we will travel along the road that runs through 1000 kasbahs towards Tinghir, the town, and the Todra Gorge. We will take an excursion through the narrow canyons of the Dades Gorges and snap photos of the valleys at approximately 300m, a popular destination for mountaineers.
Then, the journey goes on towards the Merzouga Sahara Desert. You can eat lunch at a local eatery along the way before arriving at Merzouga Sahara Desert—Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga later in the afternoon.
Go on a camel safari for approximately 1h30min to reach the centre of the desert. You’ll be able to enjoy the stunning sunset while standing on the tallest dunes of sand.
Enjoy a delicious dinner at the speed of Berber dance and drum music as you stay overnight at a Standard and a Luxury Desert Camp under a crystal clear sky adorned with stunning stars.
As the sun begins to rise, your camel guide will gently awaken you, inviting you to witness the most breathtaking sunrise of your life. After a hearty breakfast, your camel will lead you back to your Riad or Hotel in Merzouga. Here, your driver or guide will be waiting to escort you on an exhilarating off-road adventure around the majestic sand dunes.
Explore this region called Merzouga. Explore Berber villages, beginning with Khamlia village, known as the black village. Tea and coffee will warmly welcome you while listening to their mystical Gnawa music.
Take in the stunning views of the dunes and get a glimpse of nomads living in tents and tending to groups of camels and goats.
Explore deserted mines and a lush paradise of trees. Head back to Merzouga. There is time for you to walk around the streets of Merzouga.
Today, we’ll depart for the Sahara Desert after a tremendous off-road experience and unforgettable nomad adventures.
After breakfast, we’ll head towards Midelt, passing through the charming towns of Rissani and Erfoud. Here, you’ll have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture at the traditional Souk and shop like a local. As we continue our journey towards Midelt, we’ll make a stop to admire the stunning views of palm trees across Ziz Valley.
After Errachidia, our route will continue following the rich Ziz Gorges, which have been carved into volcanic rock. Then, traversing the Tizi N Talghamt pass, we will arrive at Midelt. We will arrive in Midelt and stay the night in our Hotel, with breakfast, bed, and dinner.
The 8-day tour continues from Marrakech to Merzouga. Today, after breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive through Midlet to Fes, passing small mud Berber villages situated in the Middle Atlas Mountains.
We stopped to look around and snap pictures with the Barbarian Apes (monkeys) within the famous Cedar forest, just before the tiny city of Azrou. Continue through Ifrane (the Switzerland of Morocco) before arriving in Fes. Then, drop it off at Fes in your hotel or at Riad.
A visit to Fez City’s oldest and most impressive landmarks is an absolute must and a fantastic experience not to miss in Morocco. You can enjoy a half-day medina-led excursion with an expert local and then have time after lunch to discover additional locations in the city. The Fes medina can be described as the world’s biggest living medina and has been a UNESCO site since 1981.
Additionally, you can explore the historical sites of ancient times in Fes’ Old Medina (Fes-el-Bali) like Nejjarin Museum, Al Quaraouin which is the most ancient University within Morocco, Jewish Quarter, and see Fes the famed leather tanning facility from above and many more. After a day of exploration, you can relax and stay at the hotel for the night or Riad, where you’ll be warmly welcomed.
After breakfast, take a bus departing from Fes towards Rabat through Meknes. While on the way, we’ll visit Volubilis’s archaeological site to get an insight into the Moroccan lifestyle during the Roman Empire. This ancient Roman city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
In Meknes, we will visit the Bab El Mansour, the renowned gate in Africa, the Lahdim square and its spice Souk (market), and the Mausoleum Moulay Ismail. In the past, it was the sole mosque in Morocco that allowed non-Muslims to visit.
Our journey continues to the capital city of Morocco, Rabat. This coastal city is a sight to behold, with its stunning ocher-coloured red walls that have been carved out over the centuries. We’ll also visit Rabat’s Kasbah in the city of Udayas, the famed Hassan 2 tower, and the Mohamed 5 mausoleum. Our day ends with a night in a hotel/ Riad located in the Medina, a perfect way to immerse ourselves in the local culture.
The final day of our 8-day adventure in Marrakech through Merzouga. Leave Rabat early in the morning and go to Marrakech through Casablanca. After breakfast, we’ll begin our tour with a tour of the fantastic beauty of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. It is the second-largest Mosque in Africa and the seventh-biggest in the entire world. Its minaret is ranked second highest at 689 feet (210 metres). Before our journey, we will return to Marrakech, the point of departure.
When you arrive at your hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. You can explore the famed Djemaa El Fna square or go about what you planned to do in Marrakech prior to your journey to Morocco.
As the day draws to a close, we’ll transfer you to your chosen accommodation or the airport, depending on your departure time. This marks the end of our eight-day journey from Marrakech through Merzouga and the imperial cities. We hope that we’ve been able to create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences for you to cherish.
A luxury private tent has private ensuite bathroom and shower with shower condiments and towels. A comfortable tent has shared bathrooms and hot showers outside the tent. You have to bring your own towel and shower accessories.
All tents on the private tour are private.
If you choose a luxury tent, it has a private ensuite shower with accessories and towels. Comfortable tent has shared hot showers outside the tent and you have to bring your own towel and shower condiments with you.
Yes, you can safely store the big luggage in the car.
There is no sandboarding offered in Zagora, but in Merzouga there is.
There are no quad bikes in Zagora, but they are in Merzouga.
The sunset camel ride is about 1 hour and sunrise trek is 40 minutes.
It is possible to skip the camel ride and take 4×4 instead.
In winter temperatures fall dramatically and it can be freezing at night, please bring warm sleeping clothes with you.
At least one person is required to run the private tour.
8 days 7 nights from Marrakech to Merzouga & Fes
My wife and I went on an 8-day/7-night private tour to Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes) luxury camp. We had a fantastic experience! Our guide, Youssef, looked after us very well. He appeared to know everyone, and he recognized all the side streets.
Although the travel was lengthy, it was broken up with some amazing stops. When Youssef told us to accompany him down a street, we never really knew what to anticipate, but he was always happy. We loved being shown to local culture.
The Erg Chebbi dunes were a sight to behold, making the entire trip worthwhile. Our luck was in as we had the entire camp to ourselves. The return journey to Marrakech was long, but Youssef’s music made it enjoyable. We would highly recommend this experience, and we only wish we could have extended our stay.
Excellent 8 days of private tour of Morocco
Said at Morocco Packages Holidays was prompt in responding to our pre-trip queries. After seeing all the good reviews, a small deposit was all that was needed to secure our trip booking.
Omar, our driver/guide, was always smiling, and his humble yet joyful nature and safe driving in a 4X4 vehicle made us feel secure during the many days of long driving.
We always needed to take photos, and his recommendations for our lunches were great. He gave many fascinating anecdotes, particularly about Merzouga, the village where he was born and raised and the entry point to the desert.
Best 8-day trip Marrakech to Merzouga.
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contact@morocco-day-tour.com