5 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi Dunes

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This is our 5 days from Marrakech run down to the big dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga, done privately with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan. Five days gives you room to breathe: you cross the Atlas, sleep in the palm valleys, spend a full day around the dunes, and take the long way back through the Draa. You set the pace and the photo stops.

Trip highlights

• Private trip with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
• Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the mud-brick ksar from the films
• Walk into the Todra gorge, where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres
• Drive the twisting Dades valley past its old kasbahs
• Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep in a desert camp
• Sunrise over the big dunes at Merzouga

Day 1: Marrakech to the Dades Valley

We pick you up from your riad after breakfast and head south over the Tizi n’Tichka, the high pass through the Atlas. The main stop is Ait Ben Haddou, the old earthen kasbah you’ve seen in the films, with time to walk up through it. After Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm groves we follow the Valley of Roses into the Dades.

Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura, Dades Valley. Night in a Dades guesthouse.

Day 2: Todra Gorge to Merzouga

A morning drive brings us to the Todra gorge, where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres on either side of a narrow river. From there we carry on east past Tinghir and Erfoud to Merzouga by late afternoon. A camel takes you over the first dunes to camp, and it’s worth climbing a little higher on foot for the sunset.

Route: Dades, Todra gorge, Tinghir, Erfoud, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.

Day 3: A full day around Erg Chebbi

Get up for the sunrise, then take the day slowly around the dunes. We visit the Gnawa musicians at Khamlia, stop by a nomad family for tea, and drive out past the old mines and the seasonal lake where flamingos sometimes gather. You can add a quad ride or sandboarding if you like.

Route: Merzouga, Khamlia, nomad camps, Erg Chebbi. Night in a kasbah hotel on the edge of the dunes.

Day 4: Across to Ouarzazate

We leave the dunes and head west, stopping at Rissani for the market and the road that runs through Nkob with its line of kasbahs. The drive follows the Draa here and there before we reach Ouarzazate in the evening. If there’s time we look in at the Taourirt kasbah in town.

Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Nkob, Agdz, Ouarzazate. Night in an Ouarzazate hotel.

Day 5: Back to Marrakech

A relaxed last morning, then we retrace the mountain road over the Tizi n’Tichka back to Marrakech. There’s a stop or two for photos and lunch on the way, and we drop you wherever you’re staying by the afternoon.

Route: Ouarzazate, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.

Hotels, standing and route match our operated tour; exact accommodation and the full list of what’s included are confirmed when you book.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. You travel with just your own group, your own driver and vehicle. Nobody else joins, so the stops and the pace are yours to set.

Where do we sleep along the way?

You spend a night in a desert camp in the dunes, reached by camel, plus nights in kasbah hotels or guesthouses on the road. The standing is the same as our operated tour, and we confirm the exact places when you book.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable. Summer days get very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring layers whatever the season.

Can we change the itinerary or the pick-up point?

Yes. Because it is private, we can add nights, swap stops, or start from a different city or airport. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the plan.

Book the trip

Price on request. Send us a message on WhatsApp for dates and a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.