Three days links Errachidia and Marrakech by way of the Merzouga desert. You visit nomads in their tents, enjoy the Gnaoua music and dance of the Khamlia people, take a look at an old eyeliner mine, and see the wild lake of Merzouga a few kilometres from the dunes. You also stroll in a palm grove, ride camels, and enjoy the sunset and sunrise over the sand, with a night in a camp in the middle of the Sahara. You then visit Ouarzazate and the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, and cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass. The tour ends in Marrakech.
You drive from Errachidia to Merzouga on the first day, spend a full day exploring the region by 4×4 and ride camels to the camp for the second night, then run west through Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou and over the High Atlas to Marrakech on the last day.
You are collected from Errachidia (ERH) airport or your accommodation and driven south to the Sahara dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in Merzouga.
Flight option: domestic flights from Marrakech operate three days a week (Ryanair), arriving between 7am and 3pm; domestic flights from Casablanca operate seven days a week (Royal Air Maroc), arriving at midnight. The itinerary can be adjusted to suit your arrival time.
Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Merzouga
After breakfast the day is given to exploring the Merzouga desert (Erg Chebbi) — sand dunes, a seasonal wild lake, fossil sites, small mines, and oases.
You start with an off-road drive to an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, then visit nomads in their woven tents over Berber tea. You continue to Khamlia for Gnaoua music and dance. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon you stroll through a palm grove and drive to the wild lake of Merzouga, the flamingo lake.
Later you switch to camels to cross the dunes, stopping on a high dune for the sunset, then continue to the luxury camp for Berber drumming under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.
Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
Wake early for the sunrise in the heart of the desert. After breakfast you return to Merzouga, meet your driver, and head west, with stops for viewpoints and café breaks before reaching Ouarzazate, where you have free time for lunch.
After lunch you continue toward Marrakech via the famous ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass through the High Atlas to arrive in Marrakech, then transfer to the airport or your accommodation.
Note: if the long drive feels too much, the tour can instead end at Errachidia airport, or add a day with the 4-day from Errachidia to Merzouga and Marrakech.
Approx. 9 hours driving
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It is a private experience: only the travellers who make the enquiry take part, with no one else joining. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised trips, which is why we mainly run private tours.
The camel ride runs from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you stay in. If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that carries people and luggage in and out. ATVs can also be arranged at extra cost.
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has a private bathroom with hot running water.
Either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both air-conditioned. The 4×4 is a Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 passengers); minivans are a Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo, or similar (up to 8 passengers). For groups larger than 8, a minibus for up to 18 can be provided.
Yes, it suits travellers of all ages, though one day includes about nine hours of driving. The vehicles are modern and comfortable and we make regular stops; if you aren’t used to longer drive times, we can extend or customise the itinerary.