Sahara Desert Tours
Our Sahara desert tours run from Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca and four other cities to Morocco’s two great dune seas: Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, and the quieter, more remote Erg Chigaga. Choose your departure city and trip length below, from a 2-day escape to a full 14-day tour.
Which Desert Is Actually Yours
All the Sahara desert tours on this page lead to one of two places. They are not interchangeable.
Still deciding between the two? Read the full Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga comparison.
Find Your Sahara Desert Tour
Organized by where your trip actually starts, since that’s usually decided before the length is. Looking for a specific number of days instead? See our 2 vs 3 vs 4 day guide.
From Marrakech
Most Sahara desert tours run from here, with options from a quick two-day dash to the full multi-week tours.
From Fes
Fes pairs naturally with a one-way route to or from Marrakech, since the desert sits roughly between the two.
From Casablanca
Routes from Casablanca tend to be longer circuits, with the widest range of trip lengths of any departure city.
From Tangier
The longest haul to the desert of any departure city, usually combined with the north and the imperial cities along the way.
Every Trip We Run Can Be Built Around You
Different city, different length, different pace, tell us what you need and we’ll put together an itinerary that actually fits.
Build A Custom ItineraryWhat Actually Varies Between Desert Tours
Two tours advertised at a similar price can still be very different trips. Worth asking before paying anything: does the route actually reach Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga, or does it stop short at the smaller dunes near Zagora? Is the vehicle private to your group, or shared with travelers you haven’t met? Is the desert camp genuinely private and en-suite, or a standard shared tent dressed up as something more? And does the itinerary include scheduled stops at shops along the way, something not every operator states clearly in advance? None of these questions has a universally right answer, but they’re worth asking before comparing prices, since two tours that look identical on paper rarely are.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sahara Desert Tours
What travelers usually ask us before booking a Sahara desert tour.
How many days do I need for a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech?
Three days is the realistic minimum if reaching Erg Chebbi’s dunes near Merzouga matters to you, since that distance alone, around 560 kilometres from Marrakech, takes most of a day each way. Four to six days allow a slower pace and time to reach the more remote Erg Chigaga; two days is workable but only reaches the smaller dunes near Zagora.
What’s the difference between a Merzouga and an Erg Chigaga desert tour?
Merzouga sits at the end of a paved road and offers taller, more photographed dunes at Erg Chebbi. Erg Chigaga requires several hours of off-road driving beyond M’Hamid but covers a much larger area with far fewer other visitors. Compare both in detail in our Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga guide.
Is a 2-day desert tour from Marrakech worth doing?
It depends what you’re after. A 2-day tour delivers a genuine desert night and camel ride near Zagora, but not the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi or the remoteness of Erg Chigaga, both of which sit too far away for a round trip this short.
Can a desert tour start in one city and end in another?
Yes, many tours run one-way between Marrakech and Fes rather than returning to the starting point, which avoids covering the same road twice and works well for travelers continuing north afterward.
What’s actually included in a typical Sahara desert tour?
Most standard Sahara desert tours include private or shared transport, a driver-guide, a camel trek into camp, dinner and breakfast in the desert, and return transport. Accommodation level, meals beyond the desert night, and any add-on activities vary considerably between operators, so it’s worth checking the specific inclusions before comparing prices.
Do Sahara desert tours include stops at shops along the way?
Some do, often without stating it clearly in advance. If avoiding scheduled shop stops matters to you, asking directly before booking is more reliable than assuming based on price alone.
What’s the best time of year to book a Sahara desert tour?
March through May and September through November offer the most comfortable temperatures for both the drive and the desert night itself. Summer is workable but hot, and winter nights in the desert get genuinely cold.
Can I start a Sahara desert tour from a city other than Marrakech?
Yes. Fes, Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, Ouarzazate and Errachidia all work as starting points, with the route and length adjusting depending on how far that city sits from the dunes. Ouarzazate and Errachidia sit closest; Tangier sits furthest.
Is a private desert tour safer than a group tour?
Not inherently safer, but private tours put you in direct contact with the person planning your route, which makes it easier to confirm details in advance. Group tours from established operators are generally just as safe, with the added benefit of traveling alongside other people.
Tell Us Your Dates, We’ll Point You The Right Way
Tell us which desert interests you, how many days you have, and who’s traveling, and we’ll point you to the right tour above or build one specifically around your trip.