5 days tour from marrakech to merzouga
overview
Take a 5 days Marrakech desert tours to Merzouga, and experience the vast Sahara desert up close. Ride camels across the golden sand dunes, sleep beneath the open night sky, and enjoy stunning desert views.
This 5 days Marrakech desert tour, offers a chance to dive into the culture and traditions of southern Morocco. Travel deep into the desert, see breathtaking landscapes, and learn about the daily life of those who call the Sahara home.
Highlights of the 5-day trip from Marrakech to Fes:
- Crossing the High Atlas Mountains through the stunning Tizi-N-Tichka pass
- Visiting charming traditional Berber villages along the way
- Exploring the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a recognized World Heritage Site
- Checking out Africa’s largest film studio and a historic Kasbah in Ouarzazate
- Spending a night in a beautiful riad tucked in the Dades Valley
- Walking through the narrow Todra Gorge in Tinghir
- Riding camels across the vast Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- Enjoying peaceful sunsets and sunrises in the Merzouga desert
- Stargazing under clear desert skies
- Sleeping comfortably in your private tent set up in the quiet desert
- Going off-road to meet a local Nomadic family
- Exploring a traditional Moroccan souk full of colors and culture
why 5 days Marrakech desert tours
Choose our private 5-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga to discover the charm of southern Morocco. You’ll visit historic Kasbahs and enjoy camel rides across the desert. Spend a full day exploring the Merzouga desert, including a visit to a nomadic family. This tour is designed to cut down on long drives, giving you more time to take in the beauty of the Sahara.
5 days tour from marrakech to merzouga
Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via High Atlas Mountains and Ait Ben Haddou
Start your 5 days Marrakech desert tours, with a convenient pickup from your hotel. Leaving Marrakech behind, you’ll travel across the stunning High Atlas Mountains by way of the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass. Along the way, your guide and driver will stop at beautiful spots, and you can ask to pause anytime you like.
Enjoy a tasty lunch in Ait Ben Haddou or Ouarzazate before heading to the Dades Gorge. The route passes through the peaceful Skoura oasis and the colorful Rose Valley. In Skoura, you can visit the Amridil Kasbah, a well-preserved fortified village. If you’re traveling in spring, the Rose Valley will be full of blossoming roses, offering a lovely detour.
At the Dades Gorge, take in the amazing rock formations known as “monkey fingers” and enjoy wide views of the valley. Afterward, you’ll settle into your hotel for dinner and a restful night.
Distance traveled: About 353 km
Driving time: Around 6 hours 30 minutes
Day 2: Dades Valley to Todra Gorge and Merzouga
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel in the Dades Valley. Next, we’ll head toward Tinghir, where you can admire a beautiful oasis and ancient kasbahs that once sheltered both Berber and Jewish communities. You’ll also walk beneath the towering cliffs of Todra Gorge, which rise 300 meters high, before continuing toward the Sahara Desert.
Along the way, we’ll stop for a satisfying lunch. When we arrive at Merzouga, your camel guide and camels will be ready to take you across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi toward the desert camp. On the journey, pause on a tall dune to watch a stunning sunset and enjoy sandboarding on the slopes.
As night falls, the camp staff will prepare a delicious dinner and offer music with traditional Berber drums around the campfire under a sky full of stars.
Distance to drive: About 310 km
Driving time: Around 5 hours
Day 3: Exploring the Desert
Start your day early to enjoy a peaceful sunrise right from your camp. After a hearty breakfast, we’ll pick you up in a 4×4 vehicle and begin our journey through the Sahara.
First, we’ll drive to the area where nomads live. They will welcome you into one of their tents for tea. This is a great chance to see how they survive in such a tough environment far from modern life.
Next, we’ll visit an abandoned village hidden in the middle of nowhere. This place is known for its Galena mines, which you’ll get to explore.
Then we’ll head to the village of Khamlia to experience Gnaoua music played by local musicians. Their roots trace back to southern African countries like Sudan. Here, you can also enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we’ll drive to a lake near Merzouga if it has water. After that, we’ll take you back to your riad.
Total driving distance is about 57 km, and the trip should take around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Day 4: Merzouga to Rissani to Agdez to Ouarzazate
Start your morning early and enjoy a quiet sunrise from the terrace of your riad. Afterward, set off on your trip. Your first stop will be the old city of Rissani, where you can explore a traditional souk. Then, continue toward Ouarzazate, passing through the scenic Draa Valley. Along the way, pause in Agdez to take in the valley views. You’ll reach your riad in Ouarzazate by the afternoon.
Distance to drive: About 370 km
Estimated driving time: Around 5 hours 20 minutes
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, then Telouet Kasbah, ending in Marrakech
Start your last morning with a delicious breakfast at your riad. Ouarzazate, often called the gateway to the Sahara and Africa’s Hollywood, features the historic Kasbah of Taourirt and the Atlas Studios, making it a popular spot for filmmakers.
After exploring Ouarzazate’s sights, we head to the stunning Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. This ancient fortress, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, has a rich history and has appeared in many famous movies and TV shows like Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones.
Leaving Ait Ben Haddou behind, the trip continues toward Marrakech. Along the way, we pass through the impressive High Atlas Mountains and stop to admire the Telouet Kasbah.
At the end of this 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Marrakech for a smooth and comfortable finish.
Distance to drive: About 203 km
Time on the road: Around 3 hours 50 minutes
Price includes
✅Travel in a private 4×4 or air-conditioned minivan with fuel included.
✅Pick-up from any location in Marrakech.
✅An English-speaking private driver/guide will accompany you.
✅Stay 3 nights in top-notch hotels or riads.
✅Spend 1 night in a luxury desert camp with a private bathroom.
✅Sandboards are ready to use at the camp.
✅Enjoy a camel ride (one camel per person) or ride in a 4×4.
✅Experience a desert tour in a 4×4.
✅Drop-off at any location in Fes.
✅Dinners and breakfasts are included.
Price Does Not Include
❎Lunches & Drinks
5 days tour from marrakech to merzouga
5 Days Marrakech Desert Tours
The 5 Days Marrakech Desert Tours, the trip from Marrakech to Merzouga. Prices can change based on factors like the number of people in your group, the type of accommodation you prefer, and the dates you choose to travel. Larger groups usually bring down the cost for each person.
For a clear and personalized quote that fits your group’s needs, please contact us through the form below. Our team will quickly get back to you with pricing information tailored just for you.
Know Before You Book
When reserving your tour, please share any dietary preferences or special food needs, such as vegetarian or vegan options. This helps us prepare meals that suit your taste and requirements throughout the trip.
Our guides choose restaurants known for fresh, quality food to give you a pleasant dining experience. If there’s a particular restaurant you’d like to try, just tell your guide. They’ll gladly arrange it for you. Your comfort and meal satisfaction are always a priority.
The itinerary includes two nights in Merzouga: one night at a camp and one night in a riad. You can also choose to spend both nights in the camp if you prefer. Let us know your choice when you book.
If your schedule doesn’t allow for the full 5 Days Marrakech Desert Tours, shorter options are available. You can select the 4-day, or 3-day desert tours from Marrakech instead.
5 Days Marrakech Desert Tours
The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga lasts about 9 hours. That’s why our 5-day itinerary includes a night in the Dades Valley before reaching the desert and another night in Ouarzazate on the way back to Marrakech. These stops break up the journey and make it more relaxing.
If you don’t want to ride a camel to the desert camp, no problem. You can stay comfortable in a 4×4 vehicle, and we’ll take you to the camp without any hassle. Your comfort is our goal.
All the camps we use are luxury camps with private bathrooms to make sure you have a comfortable stay.
The type of vehicle for your 5-day tour depends on your group size. We offer options like the Toyota Prado Land Cruiser TX, Ford 8-seater van, and Mercedes Benz Sprinter minibus for groups of eight to seventeen people, along with other comfortable cars.
To get the best dates and availability, it’s best to book your tour as early as you can.
Booking and payment are simple. You’ll need to pay a small deposit to reserve your spot, which can be done via PayPal, bank transfer, or Wise. The rest of the payment is due in cash on the first day of the tour, directly to your driver/guide. You can pay in euros, US dollars, or dirhams.
