4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga

Your tour begins with a morning pickup from your accommodation in Marrakech. Drive across the High Atlas Mountains via the winding Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), where you'll stop for panoramic views and photos of the Berber villages scattered across the hills.

Your first major stop is at the famous Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village that has served as a backdrop for films such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy. After exploring the ksar, enjoy a traditional Moroccan lunch nearby.

Continue to Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the desert, where you’ll see the legendary film studios. Then travel through the Valley of Roses and into the Dades Valley, known for its stunning rock formations and ancient kasbahs. Overnight in a charming guesthouse in the Dades Gorges.

After breakfast, continue your journey through the Dades Valley, making stops to admire the unusual rock formations and traditional Berber villages.

Next, visit the impressive Todgha Gorges, where sheer canyon walls tower above a winding river. Walk through the gorge and capture its dramatic beauty before heading further south through the oasis town of Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops and date markets.

By afternoon, arrive at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, where your camel caravan awaits. Ride into the Sahara just before sunset, stopping atop the dunes for panoramic views and unforgettable photos. At your desert camp, enjoy a warm Moroccan dinner, live music around the campfire, and sleep in a tent beneath the starry sky.

Wake early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, then return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4. After breakfast, leave the desert behind and drive to Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalt region and home to a traditional market full of crafts, spices, and local products.

Continue toward Alnif and follow the road along the Draa Valley, famous for its endless palm groves and fortified kasbahs. Stop in the Berber village of Nkob for lunch, then drive through the Anti-Atlas Mountains, passing the scenic Tizi n’Tifilt Pass and Ait Saoun curves, arriving in Ouarzazate by evening. Overnight in a local riad or guesthouse.

After breakfast, visit the Atlas Film Studios, where numerous international films and series have been shot. Walk through film sets that recreate ancient Egypt, Rome, and the Arabian desert.

Then begin your return journey through the High Atlas Mountains, stopping along the way for photos, lunch, and a final look at the changing landscapes. Arrive back in Marrakech in the late afternoon or early evening, where your 4-day desert adventure ends.