The 3 days/2 nights shared Sahara desert tour Morocco from Marrakech experience should be on everyone’s bucket list. 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 for the shared Sahara desert tour Morocco. I tried the tour myself and sent my friends and many travellers. They were all happy!
I’ve personally taken this desert tour multiple times, testing it every season to ensure its quality remains consistent. You can read my honest review in my blog post: Sahara Desert Tour in Morocco: My 3 days experience.
Keep in mind that the Sahara 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 for coffee or toilet.
Disclaimer: I am not organising these Morocco Sahara desert shared tours from Marrakech myself. They are organised by a trustworthy agency I’ve partnered with for 10 years.
BOOK THE TOUR
If you have additional questions about this tour, please contact me rasa@blondieinmorocco.com
To book shared Sahara desert tour Morocco, please fill out the booking form.
PRICE
Adults: €120
Kids (0-5 years): Free
Kids (5-10 years): 50% off
PAYMENT:
20% deposit required before the tour (I will send you a link), with the remaining balance paid in cash upon pick-up.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Available daily
PICK-UP: 7:20 AM
You’ll receive a customized pickup point a few minutes’ walk from your riad in Medina, as vehicles can’t access the narrow streets.
RETURN: Around 7 PM (varies by season)
LUGGAGE: You can take your luggage to the tour bus.
CANCELATION:
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour for a full deposit refund.
INCLUDED
– Air-conditioned vehicle
– Driver (English/French speaking)
– 2 dinners and 2 breakfast
– 1st night in the hotel at Tinghir
– 2nd night in the standard 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
and for 4 people € 240
Upgrading moves you to a different camp, separate from your group.
– Transfer from Merzouga to Fez € 100 (2 people)
– Transfer from Merzouga to Agadir €200
– 1-hour quad bike for 1 person € 102
GROUP SIZE
Standard vehicles used for this tour:
Minibus : 15, 17 or 18 Seats
ACCOMMODATIONS
On the first night, you will sleep in a hotel; if you are 2/3/4 friends group, you will get your own rooms. In the desert camp, you might need to share a tent with others, depending on the group size.
3-days Shared Sahara desert tour Morocco itinerary
1st day, Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Tinghir (6 hours drive)
EARLY MORNING START
Your Morocco Sahara tour from Marrakech adventure begins at 7:20 a.m., when your driver will pick you up from a designated meeting point near your hotel or riad in Marrakech. Since this is a shared tour, the driver will collect other travelers along the way. Expect to depart around 8:00 a.m. (In some cases, you may first be transferred by a separate driver to the main tour vehicle to speed up the pick-ups).
STUNNING MOUNTAIN ROAD
The journey takes you through the stunning High Atlas Mountains, where you’ll cross the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m) — the highest road pass in Morocco. As you wind through breathtaking mountain landscapes, you’ll have opportunities to stop for photos and enjoy a coffee break.
MY ADVACE: 🚨 If you have a motion/road sickness, avoid eating breakfast or drinking orange juice before the tour. The Tizi n’Tichka Mountain Pass is quite twisty, and this precaution can help ensure a more comfortable journey.
AIT BEN HADDOU VISIT
By noon, you’ll arrive at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a 12th-century fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Morocco’s most iconic landmarks, it is built entirely of earthen clay, blending into the desert landscape. Over time, weather has caused parts of the kasbah to erode, adding to its charm. Ait Ben Haddou has been the backdrop for many films and series, including Gladiator, Babel, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia, and episodes of Game of Thrones, Prison Break: Sequel, and Homeland. In Ait Ben Haddou, you’ll meet a local guide who will take you through the kasbah’s narrow alleys.
FIRST NIGHT
After the Kasbah tour, you will have lunch before continuing the journey northeast, the route will pass through the Valley of Roses, known for producing rose water for the entire country. In the evening, you will arrive in Tinghir, where your hotel and a warm dinner will be waiting.
MY ADVICE REGARDING LUNCHES:
In most tours across Morocco where lunch is not included, drivers usually stop at more expensive restaurants, typically costing around 10–15€ per meal, with a somewhat limited menu. This is mainly because there are few places along the route that can accommodate larger groups. If you prefer, you are always welcome to bring your own lunch for the tour.
2nd day, Tinghir oasis – Toudra- Merzouga (4.30-hour drive)
On the second day, you will visit Todgha Gorge, where you will meet your other local guide. Todra Gorge is series of limestone river canyons, some reaching 400 meters in height, is a well-known natural site in Morocco. The last 600 meters of the gorge are the most visited, with rock walls narrowing to just 10 meters apart in some areas and rising up to 160 meters on each side.
GUIDED TOUR
During the tour, your guide in Tinghir will take you to a traditional carpet-weaving workshop, where you will learn about different carpet-making techniques. You will be welcomed with Moroccan tea and have the chance to meet local Berber artisans. There is no pressure to buy anything—the visit is meant to support local craftspeople. If you do choose to purchase a carpet, your contribution will help support local families.
FINALLY, SAHARA DESERT
After lunch, you will arrive in Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. Your first stop will be a local guesthouse, where you will be welcomed with tea. After a short rest, you will be assigned a camel and begin a slow ride into the desert dunes.
You will cross the sands of Erg Chebbi, a vast expanse of dunes stretching 22 kilometers in length and 5 kilometers in width, with some dunes reaching heights of up to 150 meters. The camels will drop you off near the high dunes, where you will have free time to explore the landscape. You can also climb one of the highest dunes to watch the sunset over the desert.
Afterwards, you will return to the desert camp and be welcomed with tea. Your evening will be spent at a Berber camp, where you will enjoy a dinner of tagines, followed by tea and traditional drum music around the fire.
Accommodation will be in a basic desert camp, with tents for sleeping and shared outdoor facilities, including toilets and sinks for washing up.
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.
WHAT TO WEAR TO THE SAHARA DESERT?
WINTER ADVICE: Bring enough warm clothes if you are going on a desert tour in the winter. Even though it can be sunny and warm during the day, at night, the temperature can drop even to +2 C degrees. Woollen socks, a hat, a warm jacket and gloves are musts (for December, January, and February). You can read more on what to bring to your desert tour in my blog post What to bring for the night in the Sahara desert of Morocco. Consider having some warm termo blouse under your clothes for the night/morning. And yesss, gloves, hat is must!
SUMMER ADVICE: in July/August, it gets extremely hot in Marrakech and Sahara desert, even around +45/50C. Even though you can still do the tour in August (the tour bus has air conditioning), I suggest, if possible, rearranging your travel plans so you avoid August in Marrakech and the Sahara desert. Read more about the weather in Morocco in my blog post. Weather in Morocco. When Is the Best Time to visit?