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You'll leave Marrakech for three days on the road to Merzouga, home to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Kasbahs, gorges and valleys fill the days between the High Atlas and the Sahara. A sunset camel trek takes you into the dunes, and you'll spend the night in a desert camp under the stars.
Day one crosses the Tizi n'Tichka Pass to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, with an overnight hotel stay before you continue the following morning. Day two winds through Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, also known as the Valley of the Roses. You'll reach the edge of the Sahara in the late afternoon for a camel trek at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes.
That night you'll stay in a bivouac camp among the dunes, with a traditional Moroccan dinner and live music under a dark sky. Day three starts with an optional sunrise over the dunes before the return journey to Marrakech. We'll drop you back in the city in the evening.
The route runs from Marrakech across the High Atlas to Ouarzazate, then east through the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge to Merzouga. Merzouga sits on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dune field near the Algerian border. It is one of Morocco's classic overland desert routes.
Along the way, kasbahs, gorges and valleys give a strong sense of the country's variety before you reach the dunes themselves. Your English-speaking guide stays with you across this longer road journey.
No specific fitness level is required, though the trip involves long days of driving and a camel trek. Most people find the ride comfortable, though some may find it tiring if they are unused to riding.
Pack layers, as desert mornings and nights can be cold even when daytime temperatures are warm. Closed shoes suited to sand are useful for the camp and the dunes.
We're a Marrakech-based team with local knowledge of this desert road. Your English-speaking driver and guide stay with you throughout the trip, and we arrange the transport, hotel stay, bivouac camp and meals as one itinerary. Pickup is from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, and we'll drop you back at the nearest accessible point to your accommodation on the evening of day three.
This short itinerary is built around one night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, reached by a sunset camel trek. You get the High Atlas crossing, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley on the same loop, without having to book each stop separately.
Pickup from your Marrakech hotel or riad is around 7am. Day one crosses the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, with stops at Telouet, the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, before continuing to the Dades Valley for the night.
You stay in a valley hotel, the kind of panorama-facing stop used on this road, with dinner included. Long driving days are part of reaching the dunes without skipping the High Atlas.
Day two continues through Todra Gorge and on toward Merzouga. In the late afternoon you swap the vehicle for camels and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
No prior camel experience is needed. Mention any back or joint concerns when you enquire. The ride typically lasts around an hour into the dunes.
Overnight is at a bivouac camp among the dunes, with a traditional Moroccan dinner and live music under a dark sky. Facilities are simple but staffed. Pack warm layers, because desert nights can be cold even in summer.
A headlamp is useful. Some camps have limited lighting. Closed shoes suited to sand help around the tents.
Day three can start with optional sunrise over the dunes before breakfast. The return to Marrakech runs via the Draa Valley and Agdez, with drop-off in the city in the evening.
Breakfast and dinner are included throughout, plus lunch on all three days. Entry fees to attractions visited are included. Tips and souvenirs are not.
You are collected from your hotel or riad in Marrakech around 7am on day one for the drive towards Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. Many riads sit on pedestrian lanes, so the driver may park nearby and meet you on foot, or a nearby pickup point can be arranged if you are staying in the medina.
At the end of day three you are dropped back at the nearest accessible point to your Marrakech accommodation in the evening. Share your hotel or riad name and a mobile number when you enquire so pickup logistics stay simple across all three days.
You are collected from your hotel or riad in Marrakech around 7am on day one, with a nearby pickup point arranged if you are staying in the medina.
Share your accommodation details when you enquire so pickup can be confirmed for your date.
Day one crosses the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate with an overnight hotel stay. Day two continues through the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge to Merzouga for the camel trek and desert camp. Day three returns to Marrakech.
The exact stops and pace can be adjusted slightly depending on group preferences and time of year.
You spend one night in a bivouac camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes, with dinner and live music included as part of the stay.
Facilities are simple but comfortable, designed to give a genuine desert camping experience.
No, the camel trek is guided and suitable for beginners, taking you into the dunes at sunset for around an hour.
Most people find the pace comfortable, though it is worth mentioning any back or joint concerns when you enquire.
Breakfast and dinner are included throughout on a half-board basis, along with lunch on all three days, including a traditional Moroccan dinner at the desert camp.
Specific dietary requirements can usually be accommodated with advance notice before you travel.
Desert nights can be genuinely cold, even in summer, so packing warm layers is important regardless of the season you travel.
A headlamp or flashlight is also useful, as some camps have limited lighting.
Yes, though the long driving days and the physical nature of the camel trek should be considered for very young children.
Share ages when you enquire so the team can advise on suitability for your group.
Both options are available. Shared group tours are a more budget-friendly way to make the journey while meeting other travellers, while private tours offer more flexibility.
Let the team know your preference when you enquire.
Layered clothing for cold mornings and nights, closed shoes suited to sand, a headlamp, and protection for electronics against dust are all worth packing.
A camera is essential, as sunrise and sunset over the dunes are a highlight of the trip.
Yes, this route can sometimes be extended into a longer loop or combined with other regions depending on your onward travel plans.
Mention any interest in extending the trip when you enquire so the team can advise on options.
About the centre
Marrakech
Operated by Barbaro Tours Morocco, a partner of adventuro.
Central & Atlas Mountains, Morocco
From €85
Central & Atlas Mountains, Morocco
From €950