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.
Accommodation Options
When booking, you'll be asked to choose your preferred type of accommodation:
- Standard Shared Accommodation: this is the best option if you want to live the experience in the purest desert style. In this case, you'll share the haima with up to 4 other tour participants who also choose this option. And if you're travelling alone, you'll avoid paying the single supplement for private accommodation, which is the cheapest option! Please note that, whenever possible, we try to separate men and women, and that children under the age of 18 are not allowed in this option.
- Standard Private Accommodation: On the second night, you'll stay in a private room with shared bathrooms and showers. The haimas in this category can accommodate a maximum of 4 people.
- Superior Private Accommodation: On the second night, you'll stay in a camp where each haima has a private bathroom and shower. This option also offers upgraded interior decor and a higher-quality dining experience compared to the standard camp. The haimas in this category can accommodate a maximum of 5 people.
On the first night, all guests will stay in Dades, with accommodation at Dar Essyaha, Hotel Babylon, Hotel Le Vieux Chateau, Kasbah Tifawen, or similar.
The second night will be spent in a haima camp in Merzouga, where the standard and superior camps are completely separate. In addition to the difference in bathroom facilities, the superior camp also offers enhanced meals and interior decor.
On the third day, both categories will have breakfast and access to showers at the camp before departure.
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$ 11.19) to € 40 (US$ 44.78), 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$ 7.83)
Guide at Aït Benhaddou: € 2 (US$ 2.23) per person
Lunch and drinks
Air conditioning: € 30 (US$ 33.59) per haima
Mineral water: between € 1 (US$ 1.11) and € 1.50 (US$ 1.67) 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.
- Promotes local employment.
Pets
No permitidas.
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 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 clothes should I bring?
A - We recommend wearing comfortable, lightweight clothing during the day, as temperatures are pleasant. At night, warm clothing is advisable, as it gets cold in the Dades Valley and the desert. Comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also recommended
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Q - ¿Con qué operador realizaré el tour?
A - Maroc Expedition Corporate name: Maroc Expedition Travel S.A.R.L Registered Office: apar 13 rue ibn khaldoun Medina, Marrakech, Morocco Tax Identification Number (VAT ID): 06990568 Contact information: Send an email to the provider o call
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Q - How many people can stay in a haima?
A - The standard camp haimas can accommodate up to 4 people, while the upper camp haimas allow up to 5 people.
If you have any other questions please contact us.
Free cancellation
Café de France, Jemaa el-Fnaa Square
