4 Days Ouarzazate to Marrakech via the Desert and Ait Ben Haddou
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If you’re already in Ouarzazate, this is the loop that takes in the dunes and finishes in Marrakech. Our 4 days Ouarzazate to Marrakech via desert and Ait Ben Haddou tour runs privately with your own driver and an air-conditioned vehicle. You get the Todra gorge, a night by the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Draa valley and the film-set kasbah, all on one route north.
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: Ouarzazate to the Dades Valley
We start with the Taourirt kasbah in Ouarzazate, then drive out to the Skoura palm groves and the Amridil kasbah. The road follows the Valley of Roses, known for its rosewater, before climbing into the Dades with its narrow gorge and switchbacks.
Route: Ouarzazate, Skoura, Valley of Roses, Dades Valley. Night in a Dades guesthouse.
Day 2: Todra Gorge to Merzouga
A morning at the Todra gorge, where the cliffs close in to a few metres over the river, then east past Tinghir and Erfoud toward the sand. We reach Merzouga in the late afternoon and a camel takes you over the first dunes to camp for the sunset.
Route: Dades, Todra gorge, Tinghir, Erfoud, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 3: Merzouga to the Draa Valley
After the sunrise we take the quieter southern road, cutting across through Tazzarine and Nkob with its long line of kasbahs below Jbel Saghro. By evening we reach Agdz at the top of the Draa valley, where the palm oasis begins.
Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Tazzarine, Nkob, Agdz. Night in an Agdz kasbah guesthouse.
Day 4: Agdz to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou
We climb out of the Draa over the Tizi n’Tinififft and stop at Ait Ben Haddou to walk up through the old earthen kasbah. From there it’s the Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas and down into Marrakech, where we drop you at your accommodation.
Route: Agdz, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- Pick-up in Ouarzazate and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Three nights: Dades, desert camp and Agdz
- 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”
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 with your dates and group size for a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.