4-days Sahara Through Ouarzazate, Dades Gorges, todgha Gorges, to Merzouga desert
This 4-day trip gives you more time to soak in Morocco’s landscapes and heritage on the way to the Sahara. From the kasbahs of Ouarzazate and Skoura to the lush Dades Valley and the towering Todra Gorges, every stop reveals part of Morocco’s history. The journey ends with a camel trek and a magical night under the desert stars in Erg Chebbi before returning to Marrakech.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains & Tizi n’Tichka Pass
- Visit the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah (UNESCO site)
- Discover Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”
- Explore the Dades Valley & Todra Gorge
- Camel trek across the dunes of Merzouga Desert
- Overnight in a Sahara desert camp under the stars
- Stunning sunset & sunrise in the Sahara
Inclusion & Exclusion
| Included |
- Private transport in comfortable A/C vehicle
- English/French/Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- 1 night in a hotel/riad at Dades Gorges (dinner & breakfast)
- 1 night in a desert camp at Merzouga (dinner & breakfast)
- Camel trekking in the Sahara
|
| Not Included |
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees (if any )
- Personal expenses
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Details
This 4-day trip gives you more time to soak in Morocco’s landscapes and heritage on the way to the Sahara. From the kasbahs of Ouarzazate and Skoura to the lush Dades Valley and the towering Todra Gorges, every stop reveals part of Morocco’s history. The journey ends with a camel trek and a magical night under the desert stars in Erg Chebbi before returning to Marrakech.
Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m) – A spectacular drive across the High Atlas Mountains, dotted with Berber villages built from mud and stone.
Aït Benhaddou (UNESCO World Heritage) – A ksar (fortified village) founded in the 11th century on the caravan route from Timbuktu to Marrakech. Its kasbahs (fortified houses) showcase Morocco’s traditional earthen architecture. It became famous as a film set (Gladiator, Game of Thrones).
Ouarzazate – “The Door of the Desert” – Visit Taourirt Kasbah, once owned by the powerful Glaoui family who ruled southern Morocco in the 19th–20th centuries. Option to tour Atlas Film Studios, the largest in Africa. Overnight in Ouarzazate.
Skoura Oasis – Known as the “valley of a thousand kasbahs.” Visit Kasbah Amridil (17th century), one of Morocco’s best-preserved kasbahs, once an important stop on caravan trade routes.
Valley of Roses – Famous for its annual rose festival in May and for producing rose water and cosmetics. The valley has been cultivated since antiquity thanks to its fertile land.
Dades Valley – Carved by the Dades River, the gorge is lined with ancient kasbahs and strange rock formations called “Monkey Fingers.” Historically, Berber tribes used these valleys for defense and agriculture. Overnight in Dades.
Todra Gorges – A dramatic canyon with cliffs up to 300m high, formed by the Todra River. Historically, this was part of caravan trade routes through the Atlas. Today it’s a hub for hikers and climbers.
Tinjdad & Erfoud – Erfoud is famous for its date palms and fossil quarries, where 350-million-year-old marine fossils are found, proving the Sahara was once an ocean.
Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Dunes – The tallest dunes in Morocco (up to 150m). Sunset camel trek into the dunes, just like the nomadic caravans of the Sahara. Overnight in a desert camp with Berber music and stargazing.
Sunrise in the Desert – Watch the dunes turn golden as the sun rises over Erg Chebbi.
Camel ride back to Merzouga, then drive back to Marrakech via the same High Atlas route. Stop in Ouarzazate for lunch or coffee before arriving in Marrakech in the evening.
