3 Days Desert tour From Ouarzazate to Merzouga & Marrakech

This 3-day desert tour from Ouarzazate to Marrakech combines dramatic gorges, Sahara dunes, and historic kasbahs. Over 3 days / 2 nights, visit the Todra Gorges before continuing to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride or a 4×4 alternative and an overnight stay in a luxury desert camp. Explore the Merzouga region by 4×4 and visit the traditional market in Rissani. Then travel through the Draa Valley and visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou before crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Your tour ends in Marrakech.

1st Day: Ouarzazate – Todra Gorges – Merzouga Dunes – Camel Ride – Luxury Desert Camp (6 Hours Drive)

We pick you up from your accommodation or the airport in Ouarzazate early in the morning, then drive towards the Todra Gorges. Here, the Todra River has carved a spectacular canyon with towering red cliffs. Enjoy some time walking through the gorges and admiring the scenery. Afterwards, we continue through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad, with free time for lunch along the way.

In the afternoon, we reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga. Enjoy a camel ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi, stopping to watch the sunset. A 4×4 alternative is available if you prefer. Afterwards, continue to your luxury desert camp for dinner and an overnight stay. In the evening, enjoy traditional Berber drumming around the campfire under the starry desert sky, weather permitting.

2nd Day: Explore Merzouga – Nomads – Khamlia – Seasonal Lake – Erg Chebbi – Palm Grove (2 Hours Drive)

After breakfast, we dedicate the day to exploring the Merzouga Desert and Erg Chebbi by 4×4. The area offers sand dunes, a seasonal lake, fossil sites, small mines, and beautiful oases.

We start with an off-road drive to an old kohl mine, then visit a nomadic family to learn about their way of life over a cup of tea. Next, we continue to Khamlia to enjoy traditional Gnaoua music. Free time for lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, stroll through a palm grove and visit the seasonal lake near Merzouga, when water levels allow.

Dinner and overnight in a Riad or a desert camp, according to your booking.

3rd Day: Merzouga – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech (9 Hours Drive)

If you are staying at the camp, wake up early to enjoy the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, return to Merzouga to meet your driver. If you are staying in a Riad, we depart directly from your accommodation. We then head west, stopping for scenic viewpoints and café breaks before reaching Ouarzazate, where you will have free time for lunch.

After lunch, visit the famous fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, known for its traditional earthen architecture and appearances in films and television. We then continue to Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Finally, we drop you off at your accommodation, or at the airport if your flight schedule allows. End of your 3-day desert tour from Ouarzazate to Marrakech.

• Note: This final day involves approximately 9 hours of driving, with additional time for visits and breaks. If you prefer to avoid the long drive to Marrakech, the tour can finish at Errachidia Airport instead. Contact us to plan this alternative around your chosen flight. Flights are not included.