Sahara journeys from Marrakech: private 3-day Merzouga tour, Zagora overnight and a 4-day kasbahs loop, with camel trek and desert camp. From €90.
To sleep in the Sahara from Marrakech you need 2 days for Zagora or 3–4 days for the tall Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. Our journeys cross the High Atlas, stop at kasbahs and oases, and include a sunset camel trek and a night in a desert camp with dinner and breakfast.
Two days (Zagora) is a taste of the desert; three days (Merzouga) is the classic big-dune experience; four days adds Skoura, Rissani and a slower pace. Before you go, read about your first camel trek and stargazing in the Sahara.
A private 3-day tour from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga: Tizi n'Tichka pass, Aït Benhaddou, Dades and Todra gorges, a camel trek and a night in a desert camp.
A 2-day, 1-night desert trip from Marrakech to Zagora via Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Benhaddou and the Draa Valley palm groves, with a camel ride and a night in a desert camp.
A 4-day loop from Marrakech: Aït Benhaddou, Skoura, Dades and Todra gorges, a camel trek and camp night in Merzouga, Rissani market and the Draa Valley on the way back.
When to go, which moon phase to aim for, where the Milky Way sits and the camera settings we use for star photos above the Erg Chebbi dunes.
How a camel ride really feels, how long it lasts, what to wear and pack, and the small tricks that make your first trek into the Sahara dunes comfortable.
How sandboarding works on the Erg Chebbi dunes, what it costs, when to go, and what you really see on a half-day 4x4 drive around Merzouga.
Who the nomad families of the Moroccan Sahara are today, how a respectful tent visit works, and the etiquette on photos, gifts, tea and greetings.
Khamlia, a small village south of Merzouga, keeps Gnawa music alive. Here is its history, the instruments, how a visit works and what to give.
Souk days, the famous donkey park, dates and madfouna, and the ksar route past Sijilmassa and the Moulay Ali Cherif mausoleum, on the road to Merzouga.
Skoura's palm grove and Kasbah Amridil are the best short stop between Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley. Fees, hours, history and how to visit.
What the Moroccan Sahara is really like from December to February: mild sunny days, near-freezing nights, how camps keep you warm and what to pack.