Trip overview
Three private days from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes and back: Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, Dades, Todra, a camel ride and a night in camp. The last day is a long one.
- Duration3 days / 2 nights
- Starts inMarrakech
- GroupPrivate or shared · 1–16 people
- DifficultyEasy
- LanguageEspañol
- DeparturesDaily departures all year round
Highlights
- Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas
- Walking tour of the Aït Ben Haddou ksar
- Skoura palm grove and the Valley of Roses
- Dades and Todra gorges
- Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi
- Night in camp with dinner and Berber music
- Sunrise from a dune
- Return via the Draa Valley, a different road from the way out
Who it's for
It suits you if…
You only have a few days in Marrakech and want to spend a night in the Merzouga dunes. You travel in a private car with a Spanish-speaking driver, just you and the people you're travelling with.
- Couples and groups of friends
- Families whose children can cope with long hours in the car
Pick something else if…
Long days on the road wear you out. The 4-day tour covers the same route with the stages spread more evenly.
See the 4-day tourPrivate or small group
You can book this route either way, on this same page.
Private
A vehicle and driver just for you: you choose the start time and the stops. The price per person drops the more of you there are.
Small group
A seat in a shared minibus with other travellers on the same itinerary. Daily departures; the price is the same even if you travel alone.
Before you book
The drive back from Merzouga is the longest day: 9 or 10 hours through the Draa Valley. Keep water and something to eat in the car, because lunch is at roadside restaurants and sometimes late.
If you're heading north afterwards, the 3-day route that ends in Fez saves you driving back the way you came. To plan the trip, there's our Merzouga guide and our Morocco travel guide. If you're unsure about dates, message us.
Driving hours and overnight stops
On Standard you sleep in a comfortable hotel in the Dades and a simple desert camp; on Superior the hotel is a step up and the tent has a private bathroom.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley
We pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech at around 7:00 and head for the High Atlas. The road winds up to the Tizi n'Tichka pass; if you get carsick, keep breakfast light. We drop down to Aït Ben Haddou, the fortified ksar where many films and series have been shot, and you walk through it up to the old granary at the top of the hill.
We continue through Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm grove with its kasbahs, and late in the afternoon we cross the Valley of Roses, known for its rose water. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in the Dades Valley. Around 7 hours on the road with stops.
Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
After breakfast we drive up the upper Dades Valley, a road of tight hairpins between rock formations. We carry on to Tinghir and its palm grove and into the Todra Gorge, a narrow canyon with sheer walls and a river at the bottom. We take a walk through the gorge and there is time for photos.
In the afternoon we pass through Tinejdad, Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga, at the foot of Erg Chebbi. There you get on a camel and ride into the dunes as the sun goes down, all the way to the camp. Dinner, Berber music by the fire and a night in a tent. It cools down quickly once the sun has gone, so keep your jacket handy. About 5 or 6 hours of driving.
Day 3: Sunrise in the dunes – Rissani – Draa Valley – Marrakech
We get up early to watch the sunrise from a dune. It is cold at that hour, so wrap up before you climb. You go back to the starting point by camel or 4x4, whichever you prefer, and have breakfast before leaving.
We pass through Rissani, the old capital of the Tafilalet, and take the southern road through Alnif, Tazarine and N'kob, past mud-brick villages that see few visitors. At Agdz we enter the Draa Valley and its long palm grove, and from Ouarzazate we cross the Atlas again over the Tichka. You reach Marrakech in the late afternoon or early evening. This is the longest day: about 9 or 10 hours with stops.
What's included
Included (7)
- Pick-up from and return to your accommodation in Marrakech
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Multilingual driver (speaks Spanish)
- Fuel and tolls
- 1 night in a Dades Valley hotel with dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride in Erg Chebbi (one camel per person)
- 1 night in a desert camp with dinner and breakfast
Not included (5)
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Entry fees to monuments and kasbahs
- Tips
- Accommodation in Marrakech
Important information (6)
- If you are vegetarian or have an allergy, tell us when you book and we will pass it on to the hotels and camp.
- Quad or buggy rides in the dunes are optional and paid separately.
- Long trousers are best for the camel ride.
- Desert nights are cold even in spring and autumn. In winter, bring a proper coat.
- A small backpack is enough for the night in camp; your suitcase stays in the car.
- Lunches are at restaurants along the route and paid for there.
Prices per person
Private
The vehicle and driver are paid per day and shared between the travellers, so the price per person goes down the more of you there are. Accommodation is charged per person per night (2 nights).
| Travellers | Standard | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | €650 | €740 |
| 2 people | €365 | €455 |
| 3 people | €270 | €360 |
| 4 people | €223 | €313 |
| 5 people | €194 | €284 |
| 6 people | €175 | €265 |
- Standard: Comfortable hotels and riads, standard desert camp
- Superior: More characterful accommodation and a superior desert camp
- Children aged 3 to 11: 3% less than an adult.
- Groups of more than 7 people travel in two vehicles. The booking calculator takes this into account.
Small group
Small group
A seat in a shared minibus with other travellers, the same price even if you travel alone. Daily departures.
Payment and cancellation
You pay a 15% deposit when you book. The rest is paid on the first day of the trip, in cash or by bank transfer. You can also pay it by PayPal or card, with a 5% surcharge.
Private: free up to 48 hours before the start. Group: free up to 10 days before departure. If you cancel in time, we refund the full deposit.
Extras you can add
Chosen when you book and added to the total. You can also ask for them later, subject to availability.
Quad bike in the Merzouga dunes
Guided quad ride around Erg Chebbi, helmet included
Dune buggy in Merzouga
Two-seater buggy with a guide through the dunes, helmet included
Upgrade the accommodation
More characterful hotels and riads, and a superior desert camp On the group booking; for a private trip choose the Superior option.
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Leave a reviewFrequently asked questions
How many hours of driving does this trip involve?
In total it is about 21 or 22 hours of driving over three days: around 7 on the first, 5 to 6 on the second and 9 or 10 on the way back to Marrakech. The car is private and air-conditioned, and we stop whenever you need to rest, eat or take photos.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, lots of families do it, as long as the children handle long journeys well. The camels are calm and the handlers walk alongside them. With young children we think the 4-day trip is better, because it spreads out the kilometres. If you let us know in advance, we can arrange child seats.
What is the difference between Standard and Superior?
The route, the car and the driver are the same. The accommodation changes: with Standard you sleep in a comfortable hotel and a simple camp; with Superior, in a nicer hotel and a tent with its own bathroom. The price table on this page shows what each person pays for each option depending on how many of you travel.
Can I finish the trip in Fez instead of going back to Marrakech?
Yes. We have a three-day version that, after the night in the desert, heads north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane to Fez. It makes sense if your trip continues to the imperial cities: you don't repeat any road and you save the day driving back.
