3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

Your journey begins early in Marrakech, as the city slowly awakens to the scent of mint tea and the hum of scooters in the medina. After pickup from your hotel or riad, you’ll head east toward the High Atlas Mountains, climbing through the twisting roads of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass — Morocco’s highest paved route.
Each turn reveals a new vista: terraced farms, adobe villages clinging to the hillsides, and distant snow peaks that shimmer in the morning light. Stop occasionally to breathe the cool mountain air and photograph the endless panoramas.

Descending from the pass, the landscape transforms into a palette of ochre and gold as you approach Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most iconic landmarks. This fortified village, built from clay and straw, has stood for centuries as a silent guardian of the desert trade routes. You might recognize it from films such as Gladiator, The Mummy, or Game of Thrones. Stroll through its narrow alleys, where sunlight filters between mudbrick walls and the call of local artisans echoes softly.

Continuing onward, you reach Ouarzazate, known as the “Gateway to the Desert.” Here, cinematic history meets Berber culture — it’s home to Morocco’s largest film studios and a vibrant mix of markets and kasbahs. After a leisurely lunch, the road leads you past the palm groves of Skoura and the fragrant Rose Valley, where the scent of wild Damask roses lingers in the spring breeze.
By evening, you arrive in Boumalne Dades, your resting place for the night. Enjoy dinner surrounded by the serenity of the Dades Valley, where the red cliffs catch the last glow of sunset.

Wake to the soft call of birds echoing through the valley before continuing your Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour. The road winds through the Dades Valley, a landscape sculpted by wind and time into curious rock formations and steep canyons. Stop at a scenic viewpoint to take in the stunning vistas of the Dades Gorges, a place where crimson cliffs rise dramatically against the azure sky.

Next, journey toward the Todra Gorges, where the river has carved a deep canyon through the limestone mountains. Towering walls of red rock rise up to 300 meters high, creating one of Morocco’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Take your time to wander through the gorge, listen to the echo of flowing water, and feel the cool shade cast by the sheer cliffs. It’s a haven for photographers and nature lovers alike.

After a stop for lunch in a roadside village — perhaps enjoying a tagine cooked slowly over charcoal — the landscape begins to change again. The fertile valleys give way to arid plains dotted with palm groves, and soon, the first golden dunes of Merzouga come into view. This marks the edge of the Erg Chebbi, one of the most beautiful parts of the Sahara Desert.

Here, you’ll trade your vehicle for a camel, setting off across the soft sands as the sun begins to dip toward the horizon. The slow, rhythmic sway of your camel, the whisper of wind over dunes, and the changing colors of the desert — from amber to crimson to deep indigo — create a moment of pure magic.
At the top of a high dune, pause to witness the sunset over the Sahara, a sight that feels timeless and unforgettable.

Your destination is a luxury desert camp, where warm hospitality awaits. After dinner beneath a canopy of stars, listen to the beat of Berber drums and perhaps join in a dance around the campfire. The night sky here is astonishingly clear — millions of stars glittering like scattered jewels. Fall asleep to the silence of the desert, wrapped in the stillness of the dunes.

Rise early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, when the desert glows in shades of rose and gold. After a hearty Moroccan breakfast of fresh bread, olives, and aromatic coffee, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4. Your driver awaits to begin the long but scenic journey back toward Marrakech.

The route passes through Rissani, a lively market town that was once a vital stop for caravans trading gold, salt, and spices. Wander through its bustling souk, where locals sell everything from silver jewelry to fragrant spices. Continuing westward, you’ll drive through Alnif and along the lush Draa Valley, one of Morocco’s longest river valleys, lined with thousands of date palms and small Berber villages.

As the road climbs into the Anti-Atlas Mountains, the scenery once again shifts — rugged peaks, dry riverbeds, and scattered kasbahs mark the return toward Ouarzazate. From there, the journey crosses back over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, tracing the same mountain path you took just two days earlier, but now with the desert’s warmth still lingering in your memory.
By late evening, you’ll arrive back in Marrakech, where your 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga comes full circle.