Desert Tours · Agafay Desert
Agafay Desert Sunset Camel Ride with Dinner & Show from Marrakech
From€35 €25per person
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Desert Tours · Sahara Desert
3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga with Camel Trek
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Easy
- Small group (up to 16 people)
- Marrakech (hotel / riad pick-up)
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Group
- Small group (up to 16 people)
- Start
- Marrakech (hotel / riad pick-up)
- End
- Marrakech (hotel / riad drop-off)
- Max altitude
- 2,260 m
- Price
- From €145 per person
Overview
Merzouga sits at the edge of Erg Chebbi, the tallest sand sea in Morocco, where dunes rise around 150 m above the stony plain. It lies some 560 km from Marrakech, so this three-day loop by Morocco Adventure Travel breaks the journey into two long but varied driving stages, with one night in the Dades Valley and one among the dunes. It is the classic Sahara experience for travellers with only a few days to spare.
The first day climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m and stops at Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen ksar, before following the valley past Ouarzazate, Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna to a hotel in the Dades Valley. On day two you walk into the Todra Gorge, where the limestone cliffs close in to about 20 m apart, then continue via Tinghir and Erfoud to Merzouga. There you leave the minibus behind and ride a camel into the dunes at sunset, arriving at a Berber camp for dinner and the night.
Wake early on the last morning to watch the sun rise over Erg Chebbi, ride back to the village for breakfast and a shower, and settle in for the long drive home to Marrakech.
Travel is in an air-conditioned minibus with an experienced driver, and the tour runs with English, French or Spanish commentary. If you are heading on to Fes rather than returning, our one-way three-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech covers the same dunes in reverse.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m)
- Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou
- Walk between the towering limestone walls of the Todra Gorge
- Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Night in a Berber desert camp and sunrise over the Sahara
- Overnight in the Dades Valley on the road of kasbahs
Day-by-day itinerary
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1
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m) – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Valley
Pick-up from your hotel or riad is around 07:00. The road climbs steadily into the High Atlas, with photo stops on the way up to the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m. On the southern side you visit the fortified earthen village of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before driving on past Ouarzazate, the palm groves of Skoura and the rose town of Kelaat M'Gouna. The day ends at a hotel in the Dades Valley, where dinner is served and you spend the night. Allow seven to eight hours on the road including stops.
-
2
Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
After breakfast you head east to the Todra Gorge and walk into the canyon, where sheer limestone walls narrow to roughly 20 m apart at the tightest point. The route then continues through Tinghir and Erfoud towards the dunes. In Merzouga you exchange the minibus for a camel and ride out into the Erg Chebbi sand sea as the sun goes down, a trek of about an hour to an hour and a half. Dinner and the night are spent at a Berber desert camp.
-
3
Day 3: Merzouga – Marrakech
Rise early to watch the sunrise light up the dunes, then ride your camel back to the village, where breakfast and a shower are waiting. The long journey back to Marrakech follows with regular breaks for lunch and rest along the way, retracing the road across the Atlas. Expect nine to ten hours of driving including stops, arriving in Marrakech between about 19:00 and 20:00, when you are dropped back at your hotel or riad.
What’s included
- Hotel or riad pick-up and drop-off in Marrakech
- Air-conditioned minibus with an experienced driver
- 1 night in a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades Valley (private room)
- 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi (tent with bedding)
- 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts
- Camel trek to and from the desert camp
- Lunches and drinks
- Local guides at Ait Benhaddou and the Todra Gorge (optional)
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
What to bring
- A warm layer, a scarf and closed shoes for the desert night, especially from November to March
- A small overnight bag for the camp (large luggage stays in the vehicle)
- Cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and tips
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
Good to know
- Pick-up is around 07:00 on day 1; if your riad is in a pedestrian lane, we meet at the nearest point cars can reach, confirmed the day before on WhatsApp (+212 606 957 514).
- Expect long driving days: about 7–8 hours on day 1 and 9–10 hours on day 3, including stops.
- Desert nights can be cold from November to March.
- Camel riding is not recommended during pregnancy or for people with back problems; a 4x4 transfer to the camp can be arranged on request.
- Reserve now and pay later; cancellation is free up to 7 days before departure.
Questions about this tour
About 560 km. That is why the tour spreads the drive over two days, with a night in the Dades Valley on the way out.
Around one to one and a half hours each way, at sunset on day 2 and at sunrise on day 3.
We can arrange a 4x4 transfer to the camp on request, which is recommended for pregnant travellers and anyone with back problems.
Two dinners and two breakfasts, at the Dades Valley hotel and the desert camp. Lunches and drinks are paid separately.
Cancellation is free up to 7 days before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.
A question before booking?Our team answers on WhatsApp, usually within minutes.
Ask on WhatsApp
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