Elite
Private 3-Day Desert Tour to Merzouga Dunes from Marrakech
Free Cancellation · Instant confirmation · Private tour
Your journey begins the moment we meet you. Your dedicated local driver and tour companion will pick you up directly from your hotel or riad in Marrakech — if your accommodation is inside the medina and vehicles cannot access it, we will arrange a meeting point just a short walk away.We head south on an approximately 3-hour drive covering around 200 km, climbing through the dramatic High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. At 2,260 meters above sea level this is one of the highest mountain roads in North Africa — your companion will stop at the summit for 15 to 20 minutes so you can soak in the panoramic views, grab a coffee and stretch your legs while sharing stories about the Berber villages nestled in the mountains around you.
We then descend toward Ait Benhaddou — a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah standing since the 11th century and famous as a filming location for Gladiator, Game of Thrones and The Mummy. Your certified local guide will bring its history to life with a walking tour of the ancient village. We continue to Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Africa, approximately 30 minutes further, for an overnight stay. Dinner is included this evening.
Every 1.5 to 2 hours your companion will make a 15 to 20 minute break for coffee, a stretch or a toilet stop so you always feel relaxed and never rushed. Along the way you pass through the Valley of Roses, famous for its annual rose harvest every May, and stop in Kalaat M'Gouna where rosewater and rose oil have been produced for centuries. Your companion will then guide you through the breathtaking Todra Gorge — canyon walls rising 300 meters on both sides and one of the most dramatic landscapes in all of Morocco.
By afternoon you reach Merzouga and the legendary Erg Chebbi dunes, some of the tallest in Morocco at over 150 meters. At sunset your camel trek begins, guided by our local Berber team deep into the golden dunes. A traditional camp awaits with a candlelit dinner, live Berber music around the fire and a sky absolutely full of stars above the Sahara.
Rise before dawn to watch the Sahara turn gold in the morning light — one of the most breathtaking moments of the entire journey. After a traditional Berber breakfast at camp your companion is ready for the drive north to Fes, approximately 570 km and around 7 hours with regular comfort stops every 1.5 to 2 hours for coffee, a stretch or a toilet break.
Your driver and companion will take you through the stunning Ziz Valley and its vast palmeries, one of the most beautiful oasis landscapes in all of Morocco, sharing stories of the region and its people along the way. You pass through the ancient town of Erfoud, famous for its fossils and the gateway to the Sahara, and continue north through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas where Barbary macaques are often spotted along the roadside.
By evening you arrive in Fes, one of the world's oldest medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your companion will drop you off directly at your hotel or riad in the city. If your accommodation is inside the medina and vehicles cannot access it, we will drop you at the nearest accessible point, just a short walk away.
Fully refundable
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