5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
Itinerary for a 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga.
Note: You may book our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert trip here.
Table of contents:
Departure location:
Marrakech
Return location:
Marrakech
Departure time:
08:00 AM
Itinerary duration
5 days/ 4 nights
5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga overview:
Our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert often begins and concludes in Marrakech. In general, our 5-day trip provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the country’s top attractions. We’ll first travel via the Atlas Mountains, Ait Benhaddou, and Ouarzazate before arriving at Gorges Dades for the night. Second, we’ll go on a desert excursion to explore it and spend the night there. The desert journey on the third day will provide you with a completely different ambiance. On the fourth day, though, we shall return to Ouarzazate to spend the night. Finally, on the last day, we will return to Marrakech, where the journey will come to a conclusion.
Highlights of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga:
- Views of the Atlas Mountains’ scenery are breathtaking.
- Discover Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Spend the night in the breathtaking Dades gorges.
- Aerial views of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- As the sun sets over the sand dunes, take in the view.
- Experience Merzouga Sahara camel ride
- At Merzouga Desert Camp, do a sand boarding activity and spend the night.
- A hearty supper and a campfire party (Berber Drums)
Itinerary of 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Boumalne Dades
The first day of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga program begins with a pick-up from your hotel in the red city. First, we’ll travel across Tizi Ntichka Pass (about 200 km), where we’ll halt at a spot to see an argan oil cooperative. We will halt at a renowned panoramic vista, which is considered the highest point of the route (2260m), while traveling over the High Atlas Mountains. Our trip continues, and we will travel through Telouet Kasbah before landing at Ait Benhaddou.
We’ll take a break for lunch and explore Ait Benhaddou, a fortified hamlet. In general, it is regarded as one of Africa’s top locations for film production. As a consequence, Unesco has designated it as a World Heritage Site. Many films and television programs have been filmed in this little community, including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Kingdom of Heaven. Finally, we’ll go to Boumalne Dades, specifically Dades Gorges, where we’ll stay the night and unwind.
Day 2: Dades Valley- Todra Gorges- Merzouga:
After breakfast at Dades Gorges today, we will begin the second day of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. To begin, we will go to Todra Gorges, a popular climbing destination. We would, however, spend some time trekking and exploring its 300-meter-long gorges. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some Berber Nomads bringing their goats to the spring for a drink. If necessary, we might also pay a visit to several carpet-making workshops. Our next stops will be at Tinghir and Tinjedad, where we will have lunch.
Finally, we’ll make our way to the desert, passing via Erfoud and its Fossil Workshops. The captivating vistas of the golden dunes will undoubtedly wow you with their splendor. We ride the camels across the Erg Echabbi sand dunes. We’ll stop along the road to see the sunset. We’ll have reached our last goal, the Berber camp, by then. Our magical desert evening will begin with a delectable traditional Moroccan supper. Then, while sitting around the campfire, you’ll be immersed in a different ambiance beneath the stars, complete with Berber music.
Day 3: Merzouga Desert Tours and Camel Trekking Trip
The third of our 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. The whole 5 days program will be spent visiting desert regions. In general, a desert trip starts with a visit to the Berber Nomads, Morocco’s indigenous people. These individuals continue to live in tents with a small herd of goats, sheep, and donkeys. Following that, we’ll pay a visit to a well-known kohl mine in the M’Ifiss region, which was formerly under French rule. In a short time, we’ll travel to the key panoramic places in the desert to enable you to take in the scenery.
Later in the trip, we’ll take you to see another way of living. Gnawa people are originally from Mali and Gabon, and they settled in Morocco in places like Khamlia, which we will visit next. The Gnaoua are famed for their hospitality, and they will entertain you by playing music and showing you their distinctive dance films. Finally, we’ll take you on a tour of some of the desert’s most renowned Oases before leaving you off at your hotel.
Day 4: Merzouga Desert to Ouarzazate:
We will continue our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga program after breakfast at the hotel. This time, though, we shall return to Ouarzazate through another route. We’ll start by driving to Rissani, passed by thousands of palm palms. We’ll stop in this city to see one of the largest traditional Souks (markets) in Morocco’s southeast. Following that, we’ll journey via a number of stunning Berber settlements.
We’ll arrive at Nkob at about noon, where we’ll stop for lunch. Last but not least, we will go to Daraa Valley, Morocco’s largest valley and river. After seeing the region, we go straight to Ouarzazate, where we will spend the night.
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Marrakech:
The last day of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga program will start with a visit to Ouarzazate. Morocco’s Ouallywood is certainly worth a visit. As a consequence, we’ll have to spend the majority of our time figuring it out. Atlas Studios are without a doubt the greatest attraction in the neighborhood. Ouarzazate is well-known across the globe for being an ideal location for filming television shows and movies. Despite this, shows like Game of Thrones and Prison Break were filmed in the city. Finally, after our tour to Ouarzazate is over, we’ll travel back to Marrakech past the 1000 thousand kasbahs. Our Marrakech tour and service come to an end when we leave you off at your hotel.
Tour includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off at/from your accommodation
- Transport in a private, air-conditioned car.
- Driver/Guide who is fluent in English
- Fuel for cars
- 1-night stay at a hotel/riad in a private room (At your preferred room type).
- Trekking with camels (Camel per person).
- Camel riding at sunset.
- (Breakfast & Dinner) x 2 in the Desert Camp (At your choice tent type)
- Transfer from and to the camp in a 4x4 vehicle (Alternative to Camels).
Tour excludes:
- Monuments fees
- Lunches
- Tips
- Soft drinks
Testimonials:
The Sahara is a fantastic place for camel riding.
Our driver, Hassan, drove us on a 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, where we rode camels and slept in Berber tents. The service was amazing, and the trip was as well; we saw a lot of things outside the Sahara. The accommodations and meals we ate on the trip were all nice to great, and the vehicle was clean and comfortable as well.
Marcos H
People are friendly, and the service is of high quality.
Excellent 5-day Morocco trip. Idir took us from Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou, where he explained what a Kasbah is and why they name it that, among other things. We visited the Merzouga and Dades canyons, and our camel ride was the highlight of the excursion; it was always something we wanted to experience. Idir was able to keep track of time and put up a fantastic program and timetable for us. Everyone we encountered on the trip was warm and pleasant, particularly the nomads and hotel staff.
Adam S
We went on a vacation with Aziz.
In Morocco, we had the most incredible New Year's Eve. Our relatives suggested this travel itinerary from Marrakech, so we booked it to the Sahara desert. We had always wanted to go camel trekking, and we were fortunate enough to be there on New Year's Eve. I was surprised by a large number of visitors and the parties they throw there. We were in a Berber camp where they were throwing a festival with drums and fireworks. If you're visiting Morocco on New Year's Eve, head to the Merzouga desert; you'll be blown away.
Audrey C
Driss in the desert gets a ten out of ten!
My husband and I enjoyed a fantastic three-day desert excursion with Driss from Fes to Marrakech!!
This excursion is highly recommended, and Driss should certainly be your guide. He's a fantastic driver (seriously—this is crucial), very knowledgeable about the sites, completely laid-back, and a joy to spend time with throughout our long days in the vehicle together.
He was incredibly flexible and willing to accommodate any and all requests we had, including stopping for coffee in the morning, eating local cuisine, listening to Berber music, teaching us Arabic words, and locating lovely donkeys to visit with.
Overall, we had a fantastic three days in the desert and could not recommend this trip, tour organization, or guide highly enough.
Cesar C
Book your 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes!
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Highlights overview:
The 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is full of stunning sights to visit. As a result, we’d like to provide you with an outline of what you’ll see and experience during your trip with us.
Merzouga is a Sahara desert in Morocco.
The Merzouga desert is without a doubt the greatest site in Morocco to get a desert adventure. There are the greatest camel rides, camping (glamping), and desert excursions. You may also hire a buggy or quad to traverse the dunes.
Merzouga is situated in Morocco’s farthest southeast corner, around 50 kilometers from Algeria. Merzouga is the place to go if you want to see the world’s largest and tallest golden dunes. The tallest point is said to be approximately 150 meters, and the dunes are roughly 30 kilometers long. Other deserts, though, might be an excellent location if you go farther into the Southeast.
You may hear about Hassi Labied, Tanamoust, Khamlia, or other little settlements that are all deemed Merzouga since the Erg Chebbi desert encompasses them all. However, there is a primary little city with a population of roughly 5000 people. The desert is popular not just with tourists, but also with Moroccans who come to take sandbaths. Rheumatism is the most common ailment among these folks, and the best treatment is hot sand.
In general, Merzouga is known for its camel rides and glamping in its dunes. There are also additional activities available, such as a desert tour that enables you to go on an exploration journey across the dunes’ surrounds. You may go see Berber nomads, Gnawa people, and many more groups. You may also hire a quad or buggy and go see the dawn or sunset.
Valleys
5 days tour from Marrakech to the Merzouga desert schedule is a great way to see some of Morocco’s most beautiful valleys. These valleys were the only route for camel caravans to go between Marrakech and the Merzouga desert before the road was built. To begin, there is the Draa Valley, which is roughly 1,100 kilometers long and is the country’s largest and longest valley. Many settlements along this river, with a population of roughly 225,000 people that rely solely on what this valley has to give. As previously stated, this valley was one of the key routes utilized by camel caravans.
The Ounila valley will be your second stop. We pass by this river on our route to Telouet village, which is sort of hidden. When touring Ait Benhaddou’s kasbah, though, you will come across it. It goes between the original Kasbahs and the majority of the families’ homes, which are close to the Kasbah. Clearly, it enhances the beauty of the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou and lends a unique touch to it.
Second, there are both the Dades and Toudra valleys. They are located between the towns of Boumalne Dades and Todra Gorges and provide one of the most beautiful and scenic vistas in the nation.
Above all, these valleys are vital for the people who live along the rivers that run through them. They provide a large quantity of food, such as dates and olives, in addition to stunning vistas.
Rissani and Erfoud:
When you book one of our 5 days Marrakech desert excursions, you will see two of the most important desert towns. They are where the bulk of people shop for their daily needs, such as food and clothing. The city of Erfoud, for example. Erfoud is the largest city near the Erg Chebbi dunes, located between Errachidia and Merzouga deserts.
It is undeniably one of the most significant towns in the nation for the production of dates. Ziz Valley, Morocco’s largest supplier of dates, supplies Erfoud with massive quantities of dates every year. Every year, Erfoud celebrates this by holding a festival of dates that are well-known outside of the nation. You’ll find all of the various types of dates here. The nicest and sweetest dates are Lmjhoul or Medjool. Erfoud is also the capital of the Fossils region in the southeast. It contains a variety of tiny workshops that make various types of fossils for sale to residents, visitors, and even for export outside of the nation.
The city of Rissani, the capital of Tafilalt, is the second. Throughout history, this city served as a major stopping point for merchants traveling by camel. In addition, it has one of the country’s largest traditional Souks. Traditional methods of transferring and selling items are still used by the locals. Donkeys are the primary mode of transportation. As a consequence, Rissani has a donkey-specific area that is well-known across the nation.
Rose Valley and Toudra Gorges:
The Toudgha canyons are perhaps the greatest place for climbers, with roughly 300 meters of towering cliffs. Toudgha or Todra, situated on the apex of the High Atlas Mountains, gives one of the most beautiful and stunning vistas of all time. The river that flows between the great canyons is undoubtedly what adds to its beauty. Many tiny Berber communities may be found nearby, all of which rely on what Toudra has to offer. Most of them have modest businesses in the canyons where they sell anything from leather to rugs. Many others have just goat and sheep herds that mostly drink from the canyon springs. The predominant rock type in the region is limestone, which makes it a popular climbing destination.
The Rose Valley, on the other hand, is a beautiful place. Because of its significance, we chose to segregate it from the other valley. This valley helps Kalaat Mgouna, a well-known city. It provides them with a wide variety of roses, allowing them to develop cosmetic items for the first time in the nation. This city, like Erfoud, has an annual festival dedicated to the rose. This event attracted over 500000 people in 2015, demonstrating the significance of this valley and the city of Qalaat Mgouna.
Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou are two Moroccan cities:
Marrakech desert tours 5 days tour itinerary from Marrakech to Merzouga is your opportunity to see Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou, two of Morocco’s most stunning sites. The Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, for example, is positioned at the very extremity of the High Atlas Mountains. Because of the amazing vistas it provides, it is the first destination that is considered the primary halt station. Despite the fact that Ait Benhaddou is in the form of a Ksar, it is fairer to refer to it as a kasbah. For starters, the name “kasbah” refers to anything made of Kasab, or bamboo in English, and Ait Benhaddou is mostly composed of bamboo. Ait Benhaddou was a trading station in Morocco’s past, where merchants would sell their wares. Furthermore, they used to utilize it as a rest and relaxation stop before continuing their long journeys to Europe or Marrakech.
The El Glaoui family owns this property and was the first to discover it. They were one of Morocco’s wealthiest families since they relied on taxes levied by merchants to supplement their revenue.
On the other hand, there’s the lovely Ouarzazate, Morocco’s Ouallywood. The Atlas Studios are what distinguishes this place and makes it worthwhile to visit. Aside from the Touarirt Kasbah labyrinth and the world’s largest solar energy facility.
In general, these two locations are recommended for filming movies and television shows. Using Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Prison Break, and the Kingdom of Heaven as examples.
Tours similar to the 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert trip schedule to Merzouga include:
The schedule for a 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is shown above. You may, however, contact us for alternative customization options or look at the relevant excursions listed below. Our staff would be more than happy to provide you with the finest possible service.