7-day desert tour from Marrakech

Arrival in Marrakech

Welcome to the Red City. Your 7-day desert tour from Marrakech begins with a warm welcome at the airport, where your driver waits to take you to a tranquil riad within the old city walls.

After settling in, the afternoon is yours. As the sun sets, head to Jemaa el-Fnaa and watch it turn into a huge open-air kitchen, filled with the aroma of spices, the sound of Berber musicians and the energy of Moroccan storytelling.

Overnight in a riad in Marrakech, with breakfast

Marrakech to the Dades Valley, via Aït Ben Haddou and the Valley of the Roses

We leave the city and climb the switchbacks of the High Atlas. At the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres, you’ll see Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides. On the way down we visit Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified village that has starred in Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

We continue through Ouarzazate and the fragrant Valley of the Roses, where thousands of Damask roses bloom each spring, to the dramatic rock formations of the Dades Valley for the night.

Overnight in a riad in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast

Dades Valley to Merzouga, via the Todra Gorge and Erfoud

Today we head for the Sahara, stopping at the Todra Gorge, where a crystal-clear river runs between two 300-metre limestone cliffs. After a walk through this natural cathedral, we continue to Erfoud, the fossil capital.

As the afternoon shadows lengthen, we reach the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. You’ll mount your camel for a peaceful trek into the sea of sand, reaching a luxury desert camp in time for a traditional dinner and Berber drumming under a sky full of stars.

Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast

A full day in the Sahara: nomads, Khamlia and Merzouga

Wake to a Saharan sunrise before a day of cultural immersion. We cross the black stone desert (hamada) to visit a nomad family in their traditional woollen tent, sharing tea and learning about the resilience of desert life. Then we visit Khamlia, home to descendants of enslaved people brought from sub-Saharan Africa, for an evocative performance of Gnaoua music.

After exploring the Merzouga palm grove and the seasonal lake, where flamingos often gather, the afternoon is yours to relax at your hotel or try sandboarding on the towering dunes.

Overnight in a hotel or riad in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast

Merzouga to Ouarzazate, via Rissani and the Draa Valley

Our journey back towards the mountains begins in Rissani, the historic cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, with a lively souk famous for its donkey “car park” and for madfouna, the Berber pizza.

From here we enter the lush Draa Valley, following the river past endless date palms and fortified kasbahs, then cross the Anti-Atlas through Agdz, between jagged peaks and green oases, to Ouarzazate, the heart of Morocco’s film industry.

Overnight in a riad in Ouarzazate, with dinner and breakfast

Ouarzazate to Marrakech, and a guided medina tour

We cross the High Atlas one last time, with a final look at the mountain scenery, and reach Marrakech by early afternoon.

There you’re met by a local certified guide to peel back the layers of the medina: the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Koutoubia Mosque, ending in the winding souks where you can watch artisans at work.

Overnight in a riad in Marrakech, with breakfast

Departure

Your 7-day desert tour from Marrakech comes to a close. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your riad’s terrace, soaking up the morning sounds of the medina and, depending on your flight, a last visit to the Majorelle Garden or a relaxing hammam.

Your driver then takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).