4 days from Marrakech to the Merzouga and Ouzina desert

Marrakech, Merzouga

6 photos

Duration

4 Days

Maximum number of people

Minimum age

Tour type

From Marrakech

Overview:

This 4-day trip from Marrakech to the Merzouga and Ouzina desert offers a more comprehensive experience, allowing you to discover both the beauty of the Sahara and the authentic traditions of southern Morocco. The journey begins by crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’Tichka pass, visiting the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and continuing towards Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses, and the picturesque Dades Valley, where the first night is spent surrounded by mountainous landscapes and traditional kasbahs.

The second day takes travelers to the spectacular Todra Gorge, a natural wonder with 300-meter-high rock walls that captivates with its grandeur. From there, the tour ventures into the imposing Merzouga Dunes, where you’ll enjoy a sunset camel ride and a magical night in a Berber tent camp. Under an incomparable starry sky, the evening is accompanied by a traditional dinner and live music, creating unforgettable memories of desert life.

The third day reveals the most authentic and wild side of the Sahara with a visit to Khamlia, a Gnawa village known for its ancestral music, and a journey along the legendary Dakar Rally track to Ouzina. There, visitors share lunch with a Berber family, discover rock carvings, enjoy the oasis, and watch the sunset over the Erg Ouzina dunes. Finally, the fourth day includes the return to Marrakech, passing through Rissani, the majestic Draa Valley, and the Anti-Atlas Mountains, concluding a route that combines history, culture, nature, and the purest essence of the Moroccan Sahara.

Included/Excluded

Transportation and Guide
Accommodation and Meals
Tourist Visits

Meals
Additional Expenses
Travel insurance

Tour Plan

Day 1 Marrakech – High Atlas – Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley

Pick-up at 8:00 AM from your hotel, riad, or the square where you are staying in Marrakech. Departure for a 4-day, 3-night excursion to the Merzouga desert towards the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi N'Tichka pass at approximately 2,260 meters altitude. We will make stops to enjoy spectacular panoramic views and visit an Argan oil cooperative, where we will discover the production process and learn about its numerous health benefits. We will continue south and then turn off onto a 6 km track that will take us to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In this spectacular setting, renowned films such as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile, Sahara, and Lunch in the Village have been filmed. We will then continue our journey to Ouarzazate, considered the gateway to the desert, the starting point for major expeditions and home to the magnificent Kasbah of Taourirt. From there, we will proceed to the Valley of Roses, passing through the vast Skoura palm grove, and finally arriving in the Dades Valley where we will spend the night.

Hotel accommodation with dinner and breakfast.

Day 2 Dades – Todra Valley and Gorges – Merzouga Dunes (Desert):

After breakfast, we'll travel to Merzouga. We'll ascend a path to a strategic mountain viewpoint to admire the gorges, then continue along a road dotted with beautiful Kasbahs, each one unique. After several stops, we'll arrive at one of the highlights of southern Spain: the Todra Gorge. At 300 meters high, the Todra River has carved a stunning canyon with towering vertical walls, a paradise for climbers and a truly unique place. We'll have lunch there and then continue into the desert to reach the impressive Merzouga Dunes, where we'll enjoy a traditional tea and a short rest. We'll leave our luggage at the hotel and depart on a camel caravan, which will take us to the Berber tent camp in about an hour. We'll stop along the way to watch the sunset over the dunes and stretch our legs before continuing to the camp. Before or after dinner, we'll have the opportunity to climb the dunes near the camp to enjoy the peace and quiet and the stars of this famous desert. We'll spend the night in a traditional Berber tent.

Accommodation in Berber tents with dinner and breakfast, and a live Berber music show after dinner.

Day 3 Merzouga – Khamlia – Taouz – Dakar Rally Track – Jdaid Village – Lunch with a Berber family – Ouzina Desert and Sunset in the Erg Ouzina Dunes.

We'll wake up early to watch the sunrise from atop a dune, then have a leisurely breakfast. You can choose to return to the hotel by camel or 4x4. We'll continue along the route, or you can relax by the pool or explore the dunes if the weather is nice. You can also take a quad bike or buggy excursion through the Erg Chebbi dunes. Afterward, we'll take the 4x4 to the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnawa people, musicians of sub-Saharan origin (Black Africa). They'll entertain us with music and dance while we enjoy mint tea (Berber whiskey). You can buy a CD of their music for €10 or give them a tip of at least €5. We'll then continue to Taouz, from where we'll travel along the old Paris-Dakar Rally track to see some wonderful rock engravings. We'll pass through the village of Jdaid, where we'll have lunch at a Berber family's home (Berber pizza and tea). There, you can also get a henna tattoo from a specialist (a tip is customary). If you're interested, you can take a stroll through the village of Ouzina and its oasis. In the afternoon, we'll go to our hotel nestled in the Ouzina desert to drop off our luggage. We can also visit the Ouzina dunes to watch the sunset and enjoy this wild and pristine desert in southern Morocco.

Accommodation at Kasbah Hotel Porte de Sahara Ouzina with dinner and breakfast

Day 4 Ouzina – Taouz – Merzouga – Rissani – Draa Valley – Anti Atlas – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

We will wake up and have breakfast at 8:00 AM. We will then depart from the hotel for Marrakech on a 4-day, 3-night excursion from the Merzouga Desert, passing through Rissani, one of the oldest cities in Morocco and the capital of the Alaouite dynasty. There, we will stop at the edge of town to take a photo of the "gateway to the desert." Continuing through the arid yet fascinating pre-desert landscapes, we will reach the Draa Valley, where we will stop to enjoy this beautiful valley alongside the river of the same name. It is the longest river in Morocco, crossing the entire country into Mauritania, and another section reaches the White Beaches. We will cross the Anti-Atlas Mountains (Ait Sauvage) to reach Ouarzazate, where we will have lunch at a traditional restaurant. In the afternoon we will cross the High Atlas Mountains to reach Marrakech. We'll let you know how far you can drive and that concludes our 4-day, 3-night excursion from Marrakech to the Merzouga Sahara Desert in Morocco.