A three‑day private round‑trip from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Cross the Tizi‑n‑Tichka pass to the UNESCO ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, walk the Todra and Dades gorges, ride camels into the Sahara at sunset, sleep in a deep‑desert camp, and return through the Atlas. Meals, accommodation, camel trek, and a private driver throughout. Compact, intense, unforgettable.
Day 1: Marrakech to Ouarzazate – The High Atlas & Aït Ben Haddou
Leave Marrakech early and climb into the High Atlas on the Tizi‑n‑Tichka pass. At 2,260 metres, it’s the highest paved road in North Africa. The switchbacks demand attention, but there are places to pull over, catch your breath, and buy minerals and fossils from roadside stalls, bring small cash.
By midday you reach Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO‑listed ksar of earthen towers and narrow alleys. A local guide walks you through its 500‑year history, explaining how Berber tribes built these fortified villages to defend against invasion. You’ll recognise the backdrop from Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy.
After lunch, continue to Ouarzazate, the film‑studio town known as Morocco’s Hollywood. If time allows, you can visit the Taourirt Kasbah or simply rest before tomorrow’s drive into the desert. Dinner and overnight in a comfortable lodge or riad.
Day 2: Ouarzazate to Merzouga – Gorges, Valleys & the Sahara
The morning takes you east through two dramatic gorges. First, a stop for lunch overlooking the Dades Gorge, where the river winds between stratified cliffs. Then Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls close to barely 10 metres apart, rising 400 metres on either side. You’ll walk along the cold stream, stretch your legs, and feel the temperature drop inside the canyon before emerging into the dry heat beyond.
The landscape shifts quickly after that: palm groves give way to scrub, then to the orange sand of the pre‑Sahara. By late afternoon you reach Merzouga, where a line of camels waits at the edge of the dunes. You’ll ride into Erg Chebbi as the sun drops, the light turning the peaks from amber to rose. The trek takes about an hour and a half, arriving at a deep‑desert camp as the last light fades.
Dinner is a slow‑cooked tagine around the fire. After the drums and the tea, sleep in a canvas tent or drag your mattress outside under a sky dense with stars.
Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech – Sunrise & Return
Wake before dawn to climb a dune and watch the sunrise. After a granola snack, ride your camel back to the lodge for a proper breakfast and a shower. Then begins the long drive back to Marrakech through the same dramatic landscapes, with multiple stops for breaks, lunch, and photos along the way. You’ll arrive by early evening.
This is a compact desert trip; two nights total, one in the dunes, designed for travelers who want the Sahara experience without sacrificing days of their itinerary.
Excluded:
Pickup: From your hotel or Riad.
Drop off: in your hotel/Riad or at the airport.
Infant seats and baby cribs are available upon request — please reach out and request them in advance.
You’ll travel in a private, air‑conditioned 4WD or spacious minivan, late‑model Mercedes, Toyota, or similar, kept very clean and serviced regularly. Your driver is a licensed Moroccan professional with years of experience on mountain passes and Saharan pistes. Friendly, attentive, and discreet, they know every fuel stop, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the journey so you feel safe, comfortable, and never rushed.
Free cancellation up to 14 days before your tour starts. If you cancel within 14 days, you’ll receive a full refund minus a 20% fee.
If you have questions about this tour, want to customize it, or simply need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just reach out to us through
When you travel with us, your money stays in the places you visit, the desert villages, the mountain towns, and the family‑run businesses that make each stop what it is.
Family‑run desert camp – your night in Merzouga is at a camp managed by a Berber family we’ve known for years.
Local guides and drivers – every guide, driver, and camel handler you meet is from the region. They earn fair wages, and we never use commission‑based stops.
Artisan cooperatives – when you buy pottery, fossils, or carpets along the route, we guide you to workshops run by local craftsmen and women‑led cooperatives.
This is not a charity pitch. It’s how we’ve always run our tours. And it means that after your three days in the desert, you’ve left something real behind.
We’ve spent years helping travelers explore the Morocco and have created an extensive library of practical guides covering everything from desert camps and weather to routes, packing, safety, local culture, and itineraries. If you still have questions before booking, our Guides will help you understand exactly what to expect and plan your trip with confidence.
