3-day private desert trip from Marrakech
Cross the High Atlas, explore UNESCO-listed kasbahs and sleep among the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, with just your own group.
- Duration3 days, 2 nights
- Starts and endsMarrakech, door to door
- Travel style100% private, just your group
- VehiclePrivate 4×4 or minivan
Mountains, kasbahs and a night in the Sahara
A 3-day private desert trip through Morocco’s most iconic landscapes: over the High Atlas, past UNESCO heritage sites and deep into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. It’s the classic Sahara route, at your own pace.
- Tizi n’Tichka passCross the High Atlas at 2,260 m, with panoramic mountain views.
- Aït Ben HaddouExplore the UNESCO-listed ksar where Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed.
- OuarzazateSee the Atlas Film Studios and the historic Taourirt Kasbah.
- Todgha GorgeWalk between orange limestone cliffs up to 300 m high.
- A night in the SaharaA private camel trek across Erg Chebbi and a night in a luxury desert camp.
- Sunrise over the dunesWake early to watch the desert change colour in the silence of dawn.
Your trip, day by day
Every stop can be adjusted. Linger longer, skip a visit or add a walk: your driver adapts the plan on the day.
- Marrakech
- Tizi n’Tichka
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
- Dades ValleyNight 1
- Todgha Gorge
- MerzougaNight 2
- Draa Valley
- Marrakech
Day 1
Marrakech to the Dades Valley, via the High Atlas and Aït Ben Haddou
Your trip begins with a morning pick-up from your accommodation in Marrakech. We head into the High Atlas and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, stopping at panoramic viewpoints over Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides.
By midday we reach Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s best-preserved ksars. After exploring its narrow lanes, we continue to Ouarzazate to see the Taourirt Kasbah, then drive through the palm groves of Skoura and the Valley of the Roses to the Dades Valley.
Overnight in a riad or hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast
Day 2
Dades Valley to Merzouga, via the Todgha Gorge
We drive deeper into the Dades Gorges to see the rock formations known as the monkey fingers, then continue to Tinghir and the Todgha Gorge. You’ll have time to walk through the canyon, where limestone cliffs rise up to 300 metres on either side.
The road then heads east through Tinejdad and Erfoud, as the landscape turns into the black stone desert of the pre-Sahara. In Merzouga, you’ll meet your camel team for a trek across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, reaching camp in time to watch the sunset from a high dune. The evening ends with a Saharan dinner and music under the stars.
Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast
Day 3
Merzouga to Marrakech, via the Draa Valley
Wake early to experience the silence and changing colours of the Sahara at sunrise. After breakfast at camp, we leave the dunes for Rissani, a historic caravan trading hub, then cross the volcanic peaks of the Saghro mountains towards Agdz and the Draa Valley.
The valley follows Morocco’s longest river, lined with palm oases and fortified kasbahs. After a lunch break in Ouarzazate, we cross the High Atlas once more and reach Marrakech in the early evening.
Clear from the start
Here is exactly what your quote covers, and what it doesn’t.
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
- A 100% private experience for your group
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- 1 night in a riad or hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast
- Private camel trek and sandboarding in the dunes
- Flexible photo stops along the route
- 24/7 support before and during your trip
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- All local taxes
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to kasbahs and museums
- Personal expenses and tips
Before you go
The questions travelers ask most about this trip.
Is this tour shared with other travelers?
No. It’s 100% private: just your group, your own vehicle and your own driver.
Can I change this itinerary?
Yes. Add a night in the dunes, visit a nomadic family or start from another city. We shape every trip around you.
Can the trip end in Fes instead?
Yes. We can plan a one-way route that finishes in Fes, or see our 4-day Sahara and Fes trip.
How much time is spent driving?
This is a road trip across the Atlas and the Sahara, so expect several hours on the road each day, broken up by photo stops, walks and meals.
What should I pack?
Layers for cool desert nights, a scarf for sun and sand, sunscreen, comfortable shoes for the Todgha Gorge, and a small bag for the night at camp.
When is the best time to go?
October to April is the most comfortable season. Summer days in the desert are very hot and winter nights can be cold, so we’ll help you plan around the weather.
Request this trip, or make it yours
Want an extra night in the dunes, a visit to a nomadic family, or to start from another city? Tell me what you have in mind and I’ll tailor this trip to your pace and interests.
- Camps and riads we’ve checked personally
- No forced shopping stops, ever
- 100% Berber-owned: what you pay stays in Morocco
Request this tour
Share your dates and group size, and I’ll reply with a tailored quote for this trip.
Free and with no obligation. Nothing is booked until you confirm.
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Every tour is private and can be tailored to your pace and interests.