Description
Here is a post about my three days shared Sahara desert of Morocco tour experience (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, shared 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 on the way. 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 105 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 on the way.
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 will 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, where he will 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 for the night 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 pm.
