3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga (Private)
Booking direct with us supports local Agafay families. Read our social mission →
This is our classic run from Marrakech down to the big dunes at Merzouga and back, done privately over three days. You get your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan, so you decide when to stop for photos or a glass of mint tea. Three days is the right amount of time to cross the Atlas, sleep in a palm oasis, ride a camel into the sand for sunset, and be up on the dunes again for sunrise.
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 Skoura oasis
We collect you from your riad or hotel after breakfast and head south over the Tizi n’Tichka, the high pass that cuts through the Atlas. The main stop is Ait Ben Haddou, the old earthen kasbah you’ve probably seen in the movies; there’s time to walk up through it before lunch. After that it’s Ouarzazate, a look at the Amridil kasbah, and a first night among the palm groves of Skoura.
Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura. Night in a Skoura guesthouse.
Day 2: Down the valleys to Merzouga
Breakfast on the terrace, then a slow drive through the Valley of Roses and the Dades before the road squeezes into the Todra gorge, where the cliffs go up nearly 300 metres on either side. By late afternoon you reach Merzouga. A camel takes you over the first dunes to camp, and you’ll want to climb a little higher on foot to watch the light go. Dinner and the night are in the camp.
Route: Skoura, Valley of Roses, Dades, Todra gorge, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 3: Sunrise, then back to Marrakech
Get up for the sunrise if you can; it’s the best part. A camel brings you back to the vehicle after breakfast and we take the southern road home through Rissani, the Draa valley and Agdz, over the Ait Saoun hills and into Marrakech in the evening. We drop you wherever you’re staying.
Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Draa valley, Agdz, Ait Saoun, Marrakech.
Included
- Private 4×4 or minivan with air-conditioning and an experienced driver
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, evening and morning
- One night in Skoura and one night in a desert camp
- Breakfasts and dinners along the way
Not included
- International flights and airport taxes
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and site entrance fees
- Tips for the driver and guides
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under “Included”
The hotels, the standing and the route are the same ones we run on our operated tour. We’ll confirm the exact places and the full list of what’s included 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.