FROM MARRAKECH: 3 Days Desert Tour: Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorges – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
Embark on a breathtaking 3-day journey from Marrakech, exploring the stunning landscapes of Morocco. Travel through the red Atlas Mountains, charming Berber villages, and lush valleys dotted with palm groves and rose fields. Admire terracotta-colored kasbahs, iconic ksars, and ancient mosques. Witness the dramatic “finger-formed” rock formations and massive canyons of Dades and Todra Gorges.
Continue to the magical Sahara Desert, where you’ll ride camels across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, enjoy a mesmerizing sunset, and spend the night in a desert camp under the starry skies. A perfect blend of culture, adventure, and natural beauty.
- From Marrakech
- Start/stop: At your hotel or riad
- Duration: 3 days
- Transport: Landcruiser 4×4 car with aircondition
- Language: Driver/guide speaks English and French
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Day 1: Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Skoura - Dades Valley
At 08:00 in the morning the driver picks you up at your hotel or riad. We drive in comfortable 4×4 car through the High Atlas mountains, via the highest pass Tizi n Tichka (2260 m), towards Ouarzazate.
We pass Berber villages and stop along the way to take pictures of the beautiful landscapes. In mid day we arrive to the old ksar Ait Ben Haddou, where you have free time to visit the ksar by foot with a local guide. The Ksar Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified city, listed on UNESCO World Heritage site and several famous Hollywood films have been shot here.
After lunch we make a stop in Ouarzazate to visit Taourirt Kasbah, before we continue to Dades valley and the city of roses. On the way we pass the beautiful oasis of Skoura with its impressive 17th century Amridil Kasbah, among others.
The tour through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs is a true highlight of Morocco. You’ll pass through the red Atlas Mountains, Berber villages, and green valleys with palm groves and rose gardens. Every village has a red kasbah or ksar and a mosque, with colorful carpets hanging from the windows.
We arrive to Dades Valley in the evening, where you have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi – Desert camp
After breakfast you visit the Dades Gorge and you have the opportunity to take some lovely photos.
The Dades Gorge is amazing with its finger-formed stones and is separating the Atlas mountain from the Anti Atlas.
We continue to drive to Tinghir and Todra Gorge where you have free time to walk around. The massive canyon Todra Gorge is spectacular, with a deep fault of 300 m which splits the red limestone into a deep ravine. The drive through the gorge is amazing.
Next we continue to Tinejdad town, where we stop for lunch.
After lunch, we head to Merzouga desert and drive through the city Erfoud, famous for its fossils. We arrive at Merzouga in the afternoon. Camels are waiting to take you to the Erg Chebbi dunes and your camp for the night. The camel ride takes you around the Erg Chebbi dunes for about 1 hours and 30 minutes.
When arriving at the desert camp, you can leave your luggage in your private nomad tent. Then free time to walk to the highest sand dune to watch the beautiful sunset. You can also try the sandboarding down the dunes.
After sunset, tea and a delicious Berber tagine is served in the camp. After dinner, the local Berbers will entertain you with traditional drums and song. Feel free to dance around the camp fire. The night sky is filled with stars. Magical!
Sleep in a nomad tent.
Day 3: Tafilalet – Rissani – Draa valley – Ouarzazate - Marrakech
Early morning rise to catch the sunrise, or you can sleep until breakfast. Breakfast and shower in the camp, before you return by camels to Merzouga.
We continue our journey in our 4×4 Land Cruiser to the Draa Valley, known for its date palms, and then head to Ouarzazate. Along the way, we pass through the villages of Rissani, Alnif, Tazzarine (featured in the film Babel), and the historic village of N’Kob.
Lunch in N’Kob.
After lunch we continue along the palm trees in Draa Valley and follow the former road for caravans. We pass many ancients Kasbahs, and one of the most well-known is Tamnougalte.
After crossing the Anti-Atlas mountains and the Tizi n Tinfifite (1,660 m) we cross Ouarzazate and head back to Marrakech. Arrival in the evening.
The tour ends at you hotel or riad in Marrakech.
NB: Please note that this day involves much driving.
Price information
The starting price is EUR 390 per person when 2 persons travel together on a private basis and transport in 4wd Landcruiser.
For bigger groups, please contact us for price.
Included:
- Private transport in 4wd Landruiser
- Guide/driver
- 1 night in guesthouse in Dades Valley
- 1 night in desert camp
- Local guide in Ait Ben Haddou
- 2 dinners
- 2 breakfasts
- Camel ride
- Sandboarding
Not included:
- Lunches
- Drink
- Entrance fees/local guides at Kasbah Taourirt, Kasbah Amridil or other locations not included in the program
- Tip (Tipping is common in Morocco and considered a sign of appreciation for good service. It is up to the individual whether and how much they choose to tip.)
