sahara desert camels sand dunes morocco berbers

The Sahara desert tour of Morocco experience should be on everyone’s bucket list when travelling to this exotic country. Even if you are sceptical about popular touristic activities, the endless Sahara dunes will leave you with unforgettable memories.

There are so many Sahara desert tour operators in Morocco; how to choose the right one?  Especially when almost everyone is offering a very similar programme, only the prices vary. It took me a long time to find the best three-day tour operator. I tried the tour myself, sent my friends and many travellers. They were all happy!

Disclaimer: I am not organising these shared desert tours myself. They are organised by a trustful agency I’ve been partnering with for 7 years. 

Here is a post about my three-day shared Sahara desert of Morocco tour experiences (I test this tour every season to ensure nothing changes).

What I love about the three days shared desert trip is that you meet other travellers, share your experience, laugh, and make new friends.  The size of the group can vary from small to bigger one. This desert trip is not only about the desert; you see many other places. The breathtaking High Atlas mountains scenery, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, Valley of Roses, Dades Valley, Tighir oasis, Todgha gorges and of course, the stunning Sahara desert in Merzouga. A great deal for only 130 euros, where two nights’ accommodations, dinners and breakfasts, and camel rides are included.

The full description and honest opinion of my three days shared the desert trip experience you can read here


3-days shared SAHARA desert tour to Merzouga itinerary:

You can book this trip every day except Sunday.


1st day,  Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Tinghir (6 hours drive)

The tour starts at around 7.20 am.  The driver will pick you up from the agreed meeting location close to your hotel in Marrakech. During the first part of the day, you will drive through the High Atlas mountains, crosse the Tizi n’Tichka (2260m) pass, the highest road mountain in Morocco.  The twisty mountains road is breathtaking; you will stop for pictures and a coffee break.

The first stop is at the UNESCO World Heritage site listed Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, dating to the 12th Century and one of the most iconic Morocco monuments. Many Hollywood and international films were shot in Ait Ben Haddou. You will meet the local English-speaking guide there, who will guide you to the Kasbah. After lunch, on the way, you will visit a movie studio (if there is enough time left) and will continue the journey northeast.  Before sunset, you will reach your first night’s comfortable hotel in Tinghir.  After dinner, you can share day memories with your travel companions. 

2nd day, Tinghir oasis – Toudra- Merzouga (4.30-hour drive)

Your second day will start with a delicious breakfast and a short trip to Todgha gorges, where you will meet a local guide. He will introduce you to the oasis of Todgha and guide you to the gorges – a series of limestone river canyons. Some of them are up to 400 metres high.

Finally, you are on the way to Merzouga, passing the cities of Erfoud and Rissani. The driver will drop you at the local guesthouse and transfer you to the desert guides. You don’t need to take much for the night in the desert, so pack the essentials (a small backpack, warmer clothes, and a camera) and the rest of your belongings left on the tour bus.

Comfortably sitting on camel backs, you will have a slow walk to the desert; you will pass the sands of Erg Chebbi, a large sea of dunes of the Sahara Desert. In some places, the dunes of Erg Chebbi reach up to 150 meters high, twenty-two kilometres long and five kilometres wide. After about 1 hour ride on the camel, you will have free time to climb on the highest dune for the sunset. Afterwards, you will return to the desert camp for a welcoming tea. Your day will finish in the Berber camp with an evening full of tagines, tea and drum music. 

3rd day,  Merzouga – Marrakech (8.30 hours driving )

You will wake up early to meet the sunrise on your camelback. Then, you will ride back to the main guest house. After breakfast in the main camp, you will have a long drive back to Marrakech. With many stops, you will return home in the evening, around 7-8 pm.

Book the tour

If you have additional questions about this tour or would like to book it, please contact me rasa@blondieinmorocco.com    or Whatsapp  number: +212695274252 or You can also fill out the booking form:

3-day shared desert trip from Marrakech to Merzouga price – 120  euros.
Organised every day except Sunday.
Discount for kids:
0-5 years: the tour is free
5-10 years: 50% discount

Pick up:  7.20 am
Back to Marrakech from the tour: around  6- 7.30 pm in the summer/spring/fall season and around 8.30-9 pm in the winter.

Included:
– Air-conditioned transport
– Driver (English/French speaking)
– 2 dinners
– 2 breakfast
– 1st night in the hotel at Tinghir
– 2nd night in the desert camp
– Riding a camel at sunset and sunrise
Not included: 3 lunches, drinks, tips, guide at Ait Ben Haddou and entrance fee at Ait Ben Haddou.

UPGRADES:

  • Private luxury tent for 2 people + 170 eur
  • Private luxury tent for 4 people + 240 eur
  • Transfer from Merzouga to Fez by private taxi  + 100 euro (2 people)
  • 1-hour quad bike in Merzouga for 1 person + 65 euro

Busses are one of these sizes (depends on the group size):

Minibus : 15 Seat
Minibus : 17 Seat
Minibus : 18 Seat

Cancellation policy – cancel up to 48 hours before the tour the full refund.

ADDITIONAL INFO

  • Merzouga desert is really far away. As you already seen in the itinerary, the first and last day you will be driving for around 7 hours. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of stops along the way, all of them will help you to immerse in the local Moroccan life and atmosphere.
  • Almost all tours in Morocco, where lunch is not included, will drive you to more expensive (comparing to other local places) restaurants, around 10 € for lunch.  If are travelling on the low budget, bring your own lunch. It is not obligatory to eat at the place where the driver stopped.
  • During the tour, local guide at Tinghir will show you a traditional carpet weaving place where you will be introduced with different carpet making techniques. There, you will be welcomed by the Moroccan tea and friendly Berbers. There is no pressure to buy something, the tour organisers only try to help local people to earn some money. Don’t feel bad not buying anything, but if you buy, will support local families.
  • If you are going to the desert tour in the winter season, take enough warm clothes. Even though it can be sunny and warm in the day, at night the temperature can drop even till +2 C degrees.  Woollen socks, hat, warm jacket and gloves are musts (December, January, February).
  • To protect yourself from the sandy desert winds, bring some bigger scarf.  Or, when you stop at the local shops, buy the traditional Berber nomad turban/scarf.  In the desert, ask your camel guides to wrap it as they do it.
  • If you are travelling with luggage, you can always leave it in your hotel; maybe they would not mind to hold it for you till you back. Or, you can always take and store your luggage on the tour bus (only if it is not a 30 kg big luggage).
  • In Merzouga, you will leave your luggage on the tour bus. You will only take the necessary things for the night in the desert. It is not comfortable to ride a camel with luggage, so if you have a small backpack, would be great!
  • If you are vegetarian, please inform the driver and double-check in the desert camp if they didn’t forget to cook you a delicious vegetarian meal.
  • There is an option to finish the tour in Fez instead of coming back to Marrakech. The tour driver would pass you to another driver in Merzouga and he would drive you to Fez. This is an additional service, costs 60 eur/person extra (you also have to pay the full price for the desert tour, even though you are not coming back to Marrakech). However, it is a great option if you are travelling with a few friends and planning to head to Fez anyway.