# Sahara desert trip to Merzouga: 3 days, 2 nights

URL: https://soukytours.com/trips/sahara-desert-trip-merzouga
Type: Multi-day trip. Duration: 3 days, 2 nights (4-day version ending in Fes). Group: 1 to 6 people. Start: Your riad or hotel in Marrakesh. Price: On request.

Three days with Soukayna from Marrakesh to the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, via Aït Benhaddou and the Dadès and Todra gorges. You sleep in the dunes.

## Highlights

- The Tizi n'Tichka pass and the ksar of Aït Benhaddou on day one
- The Dadès Gorge and the Todra Gorge, with a walk between the rock walls
- Riding a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset
- A night in a camp in the dunes, with a bed and a bathroom
- Sunrise on a dune, then breakfast
- Two long driving days, with Soukayna at the wheel and stops where you want them

The Sahara of the sand dunes, 150 meters high, is near Merzouga in southeastern Morocco. That is far from Marrakesh: nine to ten hours of driving in one go. So it is not a day trip; this trip takes three days. Along the way you pass the Tizi n'Tichka, [Aït Benhaddou](/en/destinations/ait-benhaddou-and-ouarzazate) and the Dadès and Todra gorges. Soukayna drives the whole trip herself. She knows the camps and the kasbahs and stops where you want her to.

## The program

Day one is long. You leave at seven and drive over the pass in the [Atlas Mountains](/en/destinations/atlas-mountains) to Aït Benhaddou, for a walk through the ksar with a guide and lunch with a view. Then you go through Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses to the Dadès Gorge, where you sleep in a kasbah by the river. You get there around six.

Day two starts with the Todra Gorge: a walk between rock walls 300 meters high, where the water is cold. After lunch in Tinghir you drive to Merzouga. At the end of the afternoon you get on a camel and ride into the dunes for an hour, all the way to the camp. You watch the sun set from a dune and eat by the fire, with music if you enjoy that. You sleep in a tent with a real bed and your own bathroom.

On day three you get up early for the sunrise. After breakfast you go back to the edge of the dunes. Then comes the drive back to Marrakesh, nine to ten hours with stops. You are back at your riad in the evening. If that is too long for you, choose the four-day version and drive to [Fes](/en/destinations/fes) through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas.

## Who it's for

For anyone who has the Sahara on their list and takes the time for it, and who enjoys being on the road and watching the landscape change. The trip is less suitable if you get carsick easily or are only in Morocco for four days. In that case, look at the [Agafay desert](/en/trips/agafay-desert-day-trip), 45 minutes from the city.

## Good to know

Bring a small bag for the night in the camp; the big suitcase stays in the car. Pack it with warm clothes for the evening, a scarf against the sand, a flashlight and wet wipes. Our [packing list](/en/practical/packing-list) has a separate list for the desert. Also check the [best time to visit](/en/practical/best-time-to-visit): October through April is good, summer is not.

The price depends on the number of people and the type of camp; there are simple camps and more luxurious ones. You get a total amount up front. Through the [contact page](/en/contact), let us know whether you want three or four days and what kind of camp you are looking for.

## Program step by step

- **Day 1: Marrakesh, Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Benhaddou, Dadès Valley** Departure at seven. You drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Aït Benhaddou, where a guide takes you through the ksar. Lunch with a view. Then you go via Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses to the Dadès Gorge, where you spend the night in a kasbah by the river. Driving time: about 7 hours without stops, count on an 11-hour day.
- **Day 2: Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Merzouga and the dunes** After breakfast you go to the Todra Gorge for a walk between rock walls 300 meters high. Lunch in Tinghir. Then you drive on to Merzouga, about 4 hours. At the end of the afternoon you ride a camel into the dunes, about 1 hour, all the way to the camp. You watch the sun set from a dune and eat by the fire, with music if you like. You sleep in a tent with a bed and your own bathroom.
- **Day 3: sunrise and back to Marrakesh** You get up early for the sunrise. After breakfast in the camp you go back to the edge of the dunes by camel or 4x4. Then comes the long drive back to Marrakesh, about 9 to 10 hours with stops. You arrive in the evening. If that is too long for you, choose the four-day version.
- **Four-day version: days 3 and 4 to Fes** Day 3: from Merzouga through the Ziz Valley and over the Middle Atlas to Fes (about 7 hours), with a stop in the cedar forest near Azrou. Day 4: Fes with a local guide, or free. You fly home from Fes, or Soukayna drives you back to Marrakesh on day 5.

## Included

- Private transport with Soukayna for the whole trip
- Pickup at your riad or hotel in Marrakesh
- 1 night in a riad or kasbah in the Dadès Valley, with breakfast and dinner
- 1 night in a desert camp near Merzouga, with breakfast and dinner
- Camel ride to the camp and back (or by 4x4 if you would rather not ride)
- A local guide in Aït Benhaddou
- Water in the car

## Not included

- Lunches
- Entrance fees
- Drinks at dinner
- Tips for camel handlers and guides
- Travel and cancellation insurance

## Frequently asked questions

**How many hours will I be in the car?**

A lot. On day one you drive about seven hours, on day two four to five and on day three nine to ten. Merzouga is simply far away. Soukayna stops where you want, and the landscapes along the way are a big part of the trip. If it is too long for you, take the four-day version ending in Fes.

**How cold is it at night in the desert?**

In spring and fall it is pleasant, around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. From December to February it can drop to around freezing; the tents then have thick blankets and the camps we work with are well equipped. In summer it is above 40 degrees during the day and we advise against this trip.

**Can I skip the camel ride?**

Yes. You can be taken to the camp by 4x4. The camel ride takes about an hour at walking pace, and you may find twenty minutes is plenty. Just say so.

**Is this trip safe for women traveling alone?**

Yes. You travel with Soukayna the whole time, sleep in camps and kasbahs we know, and someone you know is always nearby. Also read our page on safety for women.


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Source: https://soukytours.com/trips/sahara-desert-trip-merzouga
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