This 7-day Marrakech desert tour offers a perfect blend of culture, history, and adventure. Explore Marrakech’s ancient medina, historic monuments, and vibrant souks before crossing the High Atlas Mountains, where spectacular views unfold along the way. Discover centuries-old mud-brick kasbahs that once lined the legendary caravan routes.
During this one-week journey through Morocco, you’ll have plenty of time to admire lush green valleys filled with palm trees and vegetation. Experience the magic of the Sahara Desert with a camel trek and spend an unforgettable night at a Merzouga desert camp. Explore the fascinating sites around the golden Erg Chebbi dunes and meet Berber nomad families, gaining a unique insight into their traditional way of life.
Cross the stunning High and Middle Atlas Mountains
Take in breathtaking panoramic views
Discover authentic Berber villages along the way
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah
Explore the scenic Dades Valley
Walk through the dramatic Todra Gorge
Enjoy a camel trek in the Sahara Desert
Spend the night in a traditional nomadic desert camp
Relax under a star-filled desert sky
Witness unforgettable sunrises and sunsets in the desert
Meet Berber nomad families and learn about their way of life
Travel through the Draa Valley, home to Morocco’s longest river
At the start of your incredible 7-day Marrakech desert tour, one of our local drivers will meet you at Marrakech Menara Airport and transfer you to your hotel or riad.
After a hearty breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 a.m. to begin the Marrakech desert tour. Travel across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m), enjoying spectacular views of the Atlas Mountains and passing through authentic Berber villages, with stops along the way for photos.
Next, visit the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. This iconic location has been featured in numerous films, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penélope Cruz. Enjoy free time for lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Morocco,” where you will visit the Atlas Film Studios, the largest in the country, and the historic Taourirt Kasbah. Afterwards, drive through the lush palm groves of Skoura and the Rose Valley, famous for its annual rose festival and locally made cosmetic products in May. Passing through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, admire the centuries-old adobe fortresses before arriving in the Dades Valley in the afternoon. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel or riad overlooking the valley.
After breakfast at your hotel in the Dades Valley, your Morocco desert journey continues toward Todra Gorge. Along the way, you’ll pass through scattered Berber villages and Tinghir, stopping to admire the lush Todra Valley lined with palm trees. Upon arrival at Todra Gorge, one of Morocco’s most popular rock-climbing destinations, enjoy a short walk through its towering grey and pink canyon walls, which reach up to 300 meters. Take in the unique scenery and capture memorable photos.
Next, we head to Tinjdad and Touroug, where you’ll have free time for lunch at a local restaurant, before continuing to Erfoud, the gateway to the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet.
In the afternoon, arrive in Merzouga at the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes. Here, embark on a camel trek of approximately 1.5 hours to reach your nomadic Berber desert camp. Along the way, pause in the middle of the dunes to watch the sunset, try sandboarding if you wish, take photos, and enjoy the stunning desert scenery.
After sunset, continue to the camp, where you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea. Enjoy a traditional dinner, lively campfire music, and an unforgettable overnight stay under the stars at the Merzouga desert camp.
Today, we recommend an early start to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the desert near your camp. After soaking in these unforgettable moments, enjoy breakfast and freshen up with a shower at the camp. Then, either ride your camels back to the starting point or opt for a 4×4 transfer as an alternative.
Meet your driver for a 4×4 excursion around Merzouga, exploring the fascinating sites surrounding the Erg Chebbi dunes. Visit Hassi Labied oasis to see its traditional irrigation canals and agricultural lands, then head south to the seasonal Srij Lake (if it contains water). Continue to Khamlia village, where you can enjoy the soulful Gnawa music performed by the descendants of sub-Saharan Africans brought to Morocco centuries ago.
Next, explore the M’ifis mines, known for their minerals and fossils, and visit a nomadic Berber family still living in a traditional tent in the heart of the Sahara. Share a glass of mint tea with them and learn about their way of life. Along the way, stop at scenic viewpoints to capture stunning photos of the desert landscape. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the village for dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel overlooking the dunes.
The next day, after a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your driver and begin the journey toward Ouarzazate. On the way, stop in Rissani to explore its vibrant weekly market, held on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, if your visit coincides with market day. Afterward, drive through the arid pre-desert region, dotted with iconic acacia trees typical of this landscape.
Continue toward the Draa Valley, making stops to admire the stunning views of the river that gives the valley its name—the longest river in Morocco. Your 7-day Marrakech desert tour proceeds across the Anti-Atlas Mountains as you head to Ouarzazate. Pause for lunch during the journey, then resume your drive to arrive in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon or early evening. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel, resting up for the next leg of your adventure.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel in Ouarzazate, we will begin our return journey to Marrakech, traveling once again through the scenic High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, we’ll make stops to admire panoramic views, take photos, and stretch your legs.
We will arrive in Marrakech around midday and begin a guided sightseeing tour of the city’s main attractions. Explore the vibrant sights of the Red City, including the Koutoubia Minaret, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Medersa Ben Youssef, Majorelle Garden, and the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel, concluding your Marrakech sightseeing experience.
Today is at your leisure to relax, explore Marrakech on your own, or enjoy any activities you wish until it’s time for your departure. When your flight approaches, we will pick you up from your hotel or riad and transfer you to Marrakech Airport. This marks the end of your 7-day Marrakech desert tour.
