Four days links Errachidia and Marrakech by way of the Merzouga desert and the southern valleys. 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 the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge, 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 Rissani, Erfoud, and the gorges to the Dades Valley for the third night, and finish through the Roses Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate, and Ait Ben Haddou over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
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
After breakfast you leave the desert for Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet, with a large souk (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays).
After the souk you continue to Erfoud for a fossilised-marble workshop, then through the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves to the Todra Gorge. Free time for lunch. You continue to the Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and a viewpoint over the valley. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Approx. 5 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley
On the last day you continue to Kalaat M’Gouna to visit the Roses Valley. You then drive through the Skoura palm grove and reach Ouarzazate, the gate of the desert, where you visit the film studios.
You then set off to visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You then continue to Marrakech across the Tizi n’Tichka pass and the High Atlas, with stops for lunch and photos. Finally you reach Marrakech and are dropped off at the airport or your accommodation. This is the end of the tour.
Approx. 5.5 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, this tour is suitable for individuals of all ages. The vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops throughout.