Merzouga Desert Private Tour: A 4-Day Sahara Desert Exploration from Marrakech

Embark on a 4-day private tour of the Merzouga Desert, exploring the stunning landscapes of Morocco. From the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert, experience camel trekking, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, and spend a night in an authentic Berber camp.

Duration: 4 days
Cancellation: 3 days learn more
Highlights

Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou - Dades valley.

Atlas Mountains - Traverse the high Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-N-Tichka pass, which stands at an elevation of 2260m. Here, you can take in the breathtaking views of lush valleys and charming Berber villages along the route.

Ait Ben Haddou - Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, is a small ancient town that was once part of the caravan trade route between the Sahara Desert and Marrakech. The Ksar is frequently used as a filming location for movies such as The Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven.

Vallee Des Roses - Kalaat M’Gouna, a picturesque town situated in the rose valley, is renowned for its rose cooperatives. Each year, thousands of pounds of rose petals are harvested here to be distilled into rose water and rose oil for use in cosmetics.

Boumalne Dades - Enjoy the scenic views of the lush Dades valley as you travel towards the Dades gorges.

Dades Gorges - The Dadès gorges are a legendary and colorful site, rich in history and elevation. Formed by the Oued Dadès river, this exceptional natural site winds through the foothills of the High Atlas massif and nourishes the many enchanting valleys that descend to the south, each with its own unique charm.

Dades - Toudgha Gorge - Erfoud - Rissani - Merzouga.

Erfoud - Next, we will head to Erfoud city, known for its palm tree plantations and fossil exhibitions.

Rissani - In the old town of Rissani, you can visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali-Cherif, the final resting place of the current king’s great-grandfather and the founder of the current dynasty. The intricate decor on the entrance gate is reminiscent of the Bab Mansour in Meknes, while the interior courtyard is adorned with flowers and date trees. You can also explore the local market, which is more oriented towards locals than that of Marrakech. Here, you will find blacksmiths and woodworkers, mountains of olives and spices, and a variety of goods from housewares to electronics.

Merzouga Desert - In the evening, we will arrive at the Sahara Desert, one of the most stunning places you may ever see, making it one of Morocco’s top highlights. Check into your hotel on the edge of the Erg-chebbi golden dunes.

Sahara Desert – Nomads – Gnawa – Camel ride.

Hassilabied - Our excursion begins with a visit to Hassi labied village and its lush oasis, featuring palm trees, almonds, and olives, all sustained by an incredible irrigation system that has been in place for ages. Learn about this well-organized system.

Mfis - After a peaceful stay with nomads, we will drive and search for fossils of aquatic creatures in the desert. The Sahara was once an ocean 7 million years ago, leaving behind countless fossils.

Khamlia Gnawa Music - Next, we will visit Khamlia village, inhabited by dark-skinned people from South African countries, descendants of slaves brought to the area. Stop at Dar Gnawa to listen to their captivating music. This rhythmic, hypnotic music has long been part of their ceremonies and has influenced an entire genre performed across Morocco, inspiring several music festivals.

Erg Chebbi - In the late afternoon, meet your camels for a trek to your desert camp. Along the way, enjoy an amazing sunset in the desert before arriving at the camp, where you can relax before savoring a delicious dinner and live Berber music around a campfire under a sky filled with billions of shining stars.

Merzouga – N’koub – Draa valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech.

Ouarzazate - We will journey back to Marrakech, passing several Berber villages and enjoying the deserted views of the Anti Atlas Mountains. Travel through the stunning Draa valley, lined with thousands of palm trees, and then drive through the breathtaking landscapes of the High Atlas to Marrakech.

What's Included
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • SUV excursion of the Sahara Desert
  • 1 night accommodation in the camp
  • Private ground transportation via A/C SUV or Mini Van with Driver/Guide
  • Camel ride in the desert
  • 2 nights accommodation in hotels
What's Not Included
  • Lunches & Beverages
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Entrance fees to museums and attractions.
  • Travel insurance.
Additional Information

The 4-day expedition offers one of the most exceptional desert experiences, offering sufficient time to discover everything the south has to offer, from mountainous landscapes to the expansive Sahara desert. It includes visits to Kasbahs, museums, gorges, valleys, and an unforgettable camel trek through the desert.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Traverse the lofty Atlas Mountains and navigate the Tizi-N-Tichka pass (situated at an altitude of 2260m).
• Explore the UNESCO world heritage site, Aït Ben Haddou Ksar; a filming location for numerous movies.
• Experience Ouarzazate city, often considered as the gateway to the Sahara desert and Africa’s Hollywood.
• Witness the extraordinary beauty of the Todra and Dades gorges.
• Embark on an SUV adventure through the Sahara Desert.
• Participate in a camel trek across the Sahara desert.
• Enjoy a breathtaking sunset over the Erg-chebbi dunes.
• Spend a memorable night in a traditional Berber tent.
• Take a scenic drive along the Draa valley, home to a stunning valley filled with palm trees.

Location
Jemaa el-Fna
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 4 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(11 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Szil_rdn2024
Jan 21, 2024
Amazing experience - With Mohammed and Hassan we were able to see what felt like the entirety of Morocco. We covered great distances starting in Agadir, onwards to Ourzazete, Dades Valley and Merzouga in the Sahara desert before heading to Marrakech. Mohammed was an excellent tour guide. He was very well organized, accommodating, spoke English well, and was very thoughtful with regards to our overall experience - ensuring we were well taken care of and got to experience Morocco in a truly authentic way. We saw a range of beautiful landscapes, ate a range of local foods - with one of the meals being cooked by Mohamed and Hassan in a picnic style. We had an amazing time in the Sahara desert with local foods and music - Mohammed showed off his drumming skills! Mohammed really tailored the stops along the way to our liking, taking us to Souks, look out points and other sites of cultural importance. We felt Mohammed was a great planner and Hassan a great driver: both giving us the best experience we could have asked for. We left feeling more than satisfied.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deannabl370tm
Jan 21, 2024
Private Tour to Sahara + Marrakech - In only 4 days it feels like we saw all of Morocco. We started in Agadir headed towards Merzouga (Sahara Desert) with stops in Ouarzazate and Dades valley. Mohamed was very organized, informative and knowledgeable (answering our plethora of questions about Morocco, culture, language, economy etc everyday), accommodating and thoughtful throughout this trip. As per our request, we got a truly authentic experience from a culinary perspective as well, we ate at local spots with locals, avoiding touristy food at all costs. Mohammed and Hassan also cooked a Berbere picnic for us one day! Our stays at night were very comfortable and organized, Hassan was an amazing driver — we felt very safe. I cannot recommend Mohamed and Hassan enough. Never late!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Viktoriaeval
Jan 6, 2024
Fantastic five days with Mohamed - Although we only had a couple of days, we have seen a lot from Morocco on our tour. Our group has been to many places, such as Ouarzazate, Merzouga, Dades Valley and Marrakech. We have seen cities and the Moroccan countryside as well. A big highlight was the night at the desert camp with local music and dinner. We had such a great time, as it really was an amazing experience! Mohamed spoke English very well, helped us with everything and even changed the schedule, when we wished for it. Hassan has been a great driver and took us everywhere safely and comfortable with the van. I would definitely recommend choosing Mohamed as a tour guide! Hope to see them again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Relax45268651639
Jan 4, 2024
Wonderful experience touring the beautiful cities of Morocco - We had an exceptional experience with the Love Morocca Travel folks.Mohamed and Said were amazing tour guides and provided us with such an incredible experience of the beautiful cities of Morocco.They were extremely personable and courteous of our every needs and quick to help in any situation.They took us around Casablance the beautiful Atlantic Ocean front to Ribat and Fes city tours.To the beautiful exotic city of Marrakech and the vast amazing valley of the Sahara Desert where we experienced the native culture of Merzouga .The camps at Sahara were amazing and Said and the locals entertained the guests with amazing folk dances and music. We have a amazing experience of Morocco because of the exceptional tour provided by Mohamed and Said.They guys are extremely helpful courteous and very caring making it a personal experience.Because of these guys we are looking to come back to Morocco and enjoy other places I would totally recommend Mohamed and Said and encourage everyone to engage them to take u around beautifully Morocco.
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J4998jddianem
Nov 3, 2023
never too late to choose the best - I highly recommend traveling with them. It was one of the best experiences of my life. They will show you their culture and their favorite places with kindness and sympathy. Go with your eyes closed!
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Meirajs2023
Jul 16, 2023
Recent Morocco family travel - Mohammad is a professional, reliable and trustworthy tour guide. I’ll highly recommend him for any Morocco trip. We throughly enjoyed our trip recently to Morocco for 10 days..
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448yuqingc
May 16, 2023
I highly recommend Traveling with Love Morocco Travel and Mohamed NOGOT. - I highly recommend Traveling with Love Morocco Travel and Mohamed NOGOT. I highly recommend travelling to Morocco. Here, you can experience the magnificent Sahara Desert, the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, peaceful small cities, and encounter warm and friendly people. Every experience I had made me reluctant to leave, and I will treasure these memories in my heart. I want to express my gratitude to Mohamed for his planning. I only found him one day before the trip, but he patiently helped me with my questions until 3 a.m., finalizing the itinerary. He continuously checked in with us throughout the journey, asking about our experiences and feelings. I'm also very grateful for Moha's assistance. During the seven-day trip, he helped with communication and addressed our difficulties. The accommodations and food during the journey were excellent, usually arranged in quiet and beautiful hotels, allowing us to rest fully and experience the local cuisine and scenery. Regarding the itinerary planning, Mohamed extensively sought our opinions and incorporated them into the trip, creating a relaxing yet fulfilling schedule for us. We visited many famous Moroccan attractions such as Todra Gorges, Ait Ben Haddou Ksar, the Sahara Desert, and the beautiful coastal town of Essaouira. Lastly, I strongly recommend the Sahara Desert. As a renowned Chinese poet, Sanmao, once said: "There was no desert in the world, and for every time I missed you, God dropped a grain of sand, and thus the Sahara was formed." The Sahara is indeed a mysterious and unforgettable place.
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