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 tourist activities, the endless Sahara dunes will leave you with unforgettable memories.
Morocco has so many Sahara desert tour operators; how do you choose the right one? Prices vary, especially when almost everyone offers a very similar programme. It took me a long time to find the best three-day tour operator. I tried the tour myself, and I sent my friends and many travellers. They were all happy! However, if you don’t want a shared tour, check this private amazing 4 days/3 nights private Sahara desert tour with amazing boutique hotels and desert stay.
Disclaimer: I am not organising these shared desert tours myself. They are organised by a trustworthy agency I’ve partnered 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-day 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. It is 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
PRICE
For adults – 120 euro
Discount for kids:
0-5 years: the tour is free
5-10 years: 50% discount
Organised every day.
PICK UP: 7.20 am
(I will send you a customised pickup location, a few minutes walk from your riad).
Back to Marrakech from the tour: around 6- 8.30 pm (depends on the season)
Cancellation policy – cancel up to 48 hours before the tour to get the deposit back.
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 for driver, guides;
- guide at Ait Ben Haddou .
UPGRADES:
- Private luxury tent for 2 people + 170 eur
- Private luxury tent for 4 people + 240 eur
(important: if upgraded, you will be moved to another camp, will not stay with your group) - Transfer from Merzouga to Fez by private taxi + 100 euro (2 people)
- 1-hour quad bike in Merzouga for 1 person + 102 euro
BUS/GROUP SIZE
(depends on the group size, it is impossible to know in advance, many join last minute):
Minibus : 15 Seat
Minibus : 17 Seat
Minibus : 18 Seat
3-days shared SAHARA desert tour to Merzouga itinerary:
1st day, Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Tinghir (6 hours drive)
The tour starts at around 7:20 a.m. The driver will pick you up from the agreed-upon meeting location close to your hotel in Marrakech. During the first part of the day, you will drive through the High Atlas mountains and cross the Tizi n’Tichka (2260m) pass, the highest road mountain in Morocco. The twisty mountain 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 Gorge, 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 around 7-8 pm in the evening.
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:
ADDITIONAL INFO (read before booking)
– Merzouga desert is far away. As you already saw in the itinerary, you will be driving for around 7 hours on the first and last days. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of stops along the way, all of which will help you immerse yourself in the local Moroccan life and atmosphere. The first part of the road goes through twisty High Atlas mountains – if you have road sickness, do not eat breakfast, don’t drink orange juices before the trip – or takes medicine from motion sickness.
– Almost all tours in Morocco, where lunch is not included, will drive you to more expensive (compared to other local places) restaurants, around 10/15 € for lunch. It is not obligatory to eat at the place where the driver stopped, you can bring your own lunch. The lunch options are limited to the place driver will bring you.
– During the tour, a local guide at Tinghir will show you a traditional carpet-weaving place where you will be introduced to different carpet-making techniques. There, you will be welcomed by Moroccan tea and friendly Berbers. There is no pressure to buy something; the tour organisers only try to help local people earn some money. Don’t feel bad not buying anything, but if you buy, you 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 during the day, at night, the temperature can drop even to +2 C degrees. Woollen socks, hat, warm jacket and gloves are musts (December, January, February).
You can take your luggage to the tour bus; there will be space (only if it is not a 30 kg big luggage). Also, if you are returning to Marrakech to the same hotel, you can ask to leave it there, so you can only take a backpack. Important: if you are bigger group and all with big luggage, please inform me in advance,
– If you are vegetarian, please inform the driver (he will ask during the drive) and double-check in the desert camp if they didn’t forget to cook you a delicious vegetarian meal.
– On the first night, you will sleep in a hotel; if you are two/3/4 friends groups, you will get your own rooms. In the desert camp, you might need to share a tent with others, depending on the group size.