3-Day Sahara Desert Tour
Tour Details
Day 1: Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - The Dadès Valley
At the scheduled time, we'll leave Marrakech behind to hit the road towards Ouarzazate. On the way, we'll cross the striking Atlas Mountains, crossing through the stunning Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, 7414 feet (2,260 meters) high.
At the midpoint of the journey, we'll arrive at the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, a fortified city that has served as a filming location for movies such as Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. You'll have approximately 2.5 hours here to explore this spectacular desert city and to have lunch.
The route then continues to Ouarzazate, where you'll have approximately half an hour to admire and take photos of the impressive Taourirt Kasbah.
Taking “The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs" towards Skoura, we'll then cross the Valley of the Roses to finally arrive at the Dadès Valley, where we'll spend the night.
Day 2: Dadès Valley - Todgha Gorges - Merzouga
After breakfast, we'll set off towards the incredible Todgha Gorges, where we'll stay for a bit to enjoy the impressive landscape. Next, we move on in the direction of Merzouga, passing through the Jorf palm grove (which produces the best dates) and we'll stop for lunch before arriving at Erfoud, a village famous for its fossil fragments.
Having arrived in Merzouga, we'll swap our motor vehicles for camels to immerse ourselves in the desert and search for the Bedouin camp where we'll spend the night.
Here, soundtracked by desert silence, we'll enjoy one of the most authentic dinners in all of Morocco.
Day 3: Merzouga - Rissani - Alnif -Tizi n'Tichka - Ouarzazate - Marrakesh
If there's one unmissable sight in the desert, it's sunrise. Having enjoyed this tranquil moment, then we'll have breakfast at the camp and gather our strength for our last day.
Passing through the Tafilalet palm grove and Rissani village (from where Morocco’s ruling Alaouite dynasty comes) the tour continues through the acacia-covered plateaus and arrives at Alnif, where we take the road crossing the Anti-Atlas mountain range. Through the remarkable mountainous passages of Tizi n'Tichka, we'll arrive at Tinghir, (an important Amazigh village), and finally the Dades Valley.
Reaching Kalaat M'Gouna around midday, we'll stop for lunch and a well-earned rest, before we complete our return journey to Marrakesh via Ouarzazate, leaving you at your hotel or at the Marrakesh airport at around 8:30 pm.
Tour Accommodation
On the first night, we'll stay in Dades, and the accommodation will be the same for both standard and superior options. Among the options are Dar Essyaha, Hotel Babylon, Hotel Le Vieux Chateau, Kasbah Tifawen, or similar.
On the second night, the tour will stay in the Merzouga camp. The difference between the standard and superior categories (Azawad Luxury Desert Camp or similar), is that in the standard camp, the bathrooms and showers are in the communal tents, and in the superior camp each tent has a private bathroom with a shower.
The standard and superior camps are totally separate and, in addition to the distinction of the bathrooms, there are differences in the food you'll be served and the interior decoration of the haimas.
On the third day, the shower and breakfast will be at the camp in both categories.
For both categories, the rooms are doubles, triples, or family rooms if you prefer. If a single-person booking is made, a single supplement will be applied, as well as if someone in the group wishes to sleep in a single room.
Hotel Pickup
If you're staying in the Medina, you must go to the meeting point. If you're staying outside the Medina, we'll pick you up free of charge at your hotel or riad. If the hotel is outside of Marrakech, the pickup will have a supplement of € 10 (US$ 10.43) to € 40 (US$ 41.72), depending on the distance.
Private Tours
If you wish to do a 4-day private day trip with your partner, family or friends, check out our 4-Day Merzouga Desert Private Tour.
More Information
Duration
3 days.
Language
The activity takes place with a driver that speaks in English, although it may occasionally be done in two languages.
Included
Transport by 8 seater vehicle, minibus or bus
English–speaking driver
2 nights accommodation (hotel and Amazigh tent)
Breakfast and dinner
Sunrise and sunset camel rides
Pickup and drop–off hotels outside the historic centre
Towels in the accommodation
Shampoo (only in the Luxury category)
Wifi (only in the Luxury category)
Not included
Entrance fee for the Taourirt Kasbah: approx. € 7 (US$ 7.30)
Guide at Aït Benhaddou: € 2 (US$ 2.08) per person
Sunbeds
Air conditioning: € 30 (US$ 31.29) per haima
Mineral water: between € 1 (US$ 1.04) and € 1.50 (US$ 1.56) per bottle of 1.5 liters
When to book?
You can book up until 12 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.
Type of voucher
Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible.
Sustainability
All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code.
Our providers commit to:
- Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
- Uphold fair employment standards.
- Foster the growth of local communities.
- Preserve the integrity of local culture.
- Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
- Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
- Operate with honesty and transparency.
- Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.
This particular activity contributes as follows:
- No printing of documentation required.
- Has a gender equality policy.
- Has a carbon footprint offset policy.
Provider
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Maroc Expedition
Corporate name: Maroc Expedition Travel S.A.R.L
Pets
Not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
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Q - Can children ride the camels?
A - Yes, although children under 10 must ride with their parent or guardian.
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Q - Can you bring luggage on the excursion?
A - Yes. The luggage will always be in the vehicle or back at the hotel. When you're travelling by camel you can only bring a backpack.
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Q - How much is the additional sandboarding activity?
A - The price is €15 per person, although, for customers who book the quad activity, sandboarding is free of charge.
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Q - Is there WiFi available in the campsite?
A - WiFi is available in the luxury category, but you should be aware that it only works for receiving and sending messages. Therefore, we recommend that you purchase a SIM card for Internet access. Please be aware that Wifi isn't available at all campsites.
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Q - Are there plugs in the haimas in the standard camp?
A - No, only in the restaurant.
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Q - Is the transport air-conditioned?
A - Yes
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Q - Is it possible to be picked up form our hotel and dropped off at a different destination?
A - Yes, as long as the hotel is outside the medina.
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Q - Is there soap and shampoo?
A - No.
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Q - Is there hot water at the Haimas camp?
A - There is hot water but it takes a while to heat up, as it uses solar energy.
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Q - Are there towels in the standard haimas
A - Yes.
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Q - How many people are in a group?
A - It depends on how many people book this tour, but the groups tend to be between 6 and 16 people.
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Q - Can we do one way by camel and return by quad bike?
A - Yes, it costs 50 EUR (also payable in Dirhams) for drivers and 20 EUR for passengers to hire quad bikes.
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Q - What is the average price of meals not included in the tour?
A - Meals usually cost between 7 and 12 EUR depending on the menu.
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Q - Is it possible to end the tour in Ouarzazate?
A - Yes, but please indicate so when making your reservation and let your guide know on the day.
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Q - In which hotels is free pick up available?
A - We will contact you to specify the exact pick up time and place.
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Q - Is there WiFi in the camp?
A - No. If you need an internet connection we recommend that you buy a local sim card, to have 3G in the camp.
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Q - Does this excursion visit Erg Chebbi?
A - Yes, Erg Chebbi and the Merzouga desert are two names for the same desert.
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Q - Does the menu include gluten free and vegetarian options?
A - Yes, please indicate this special requirement in the comment section when making the reservation on the first day of the excursion.
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Q - Is there an alternative way to do the desert excursion, without riding the camel?
A - Yes, you can do the journey by car instead of by camel. Please advise the chauffer in the moening of the second day of the excursion.
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Q - How long will we have in Ourzazate and the Dadès Gorges?
A - Half an hour in each of the two.
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Q - Is there heating in the hotel/haima?
A - The hotel on the first night has heating. In the camp there is no heating, but there are plenty of blankets and duvets, so you won't get cold.
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Q - How many hours in the car are included in this excursion?
A - On the first and second day there are approximately 8 hours of driving. On the last day approximately 10.
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Q - What time do the activities begin in the morning?
A - Around 8 am.
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Q - Is it possible to do a desert quad bike tour during the excursion, and how long does it last?
A - Yes, you can contract this, and other, activities in the destination. The guide will take you to the quad rental place so you can enjoy this activity. The activity lasts around an hour.
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Q - How long is the camel ride?
A - The camel ride to get to the camp takes about an hour. The next day you'll make the same journey back.
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Q - Is it possible to pay by card in the places visited?
A - We recommend that you bring cash, not all of the places will accept card.
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Q - How many people can ride on one camel?
A - 1 person per camel.
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Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?
A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.
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Q - How to book?
A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.
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Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?
A - This activity requires a minimum of 4 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.
If you have any other questions please contact us.
Free cancellation
Café de France, Jemaa el-Fnaa Square
