3-Day Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga by Way of Dadès Valley plus Erg Chebbi Camel Trek
Overview
- 3-day tour to Merzouga, the Dadès Valley and Erg Chebbi from Marrakech
- Traverse the High Atlas Mountains via the magnificent Tizi-n-Tichka pass
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou kasbah with a guide
- Discover lush palm groves in the desert at Skoura
- Admire the Todra Gorge and follow the Dadès River to Boumalne du Dadès
- Take a camel trek from Merzouga to Erg Chebbi and enjoy dinner under the stars at a Berber desert camp
- Tour includes some meals and round-trip travel from Marrakech
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
From $128.64 USD
Lowest Price GuaranteeStart the first day with a pickup from your Marrakech accommodation, continuing into the Atlas Mountains as you pass Berber villages and cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aït Benhaddou kashbah, a historic meeting place and trading site, and check out the desert oasis at Skoura before spending the night in Bourmaine du Dadès.
On day two travel the “Road of 1,000 Kashbahs” to the Todra Gorge, stopping at the holy city of Rissani in the afternoon. Then climb aboard a camel for an unforgettable ride in the late afternoon sun toward Erg Chebbi and your evening camping accommodations in the desert. Spend the evening enjoying dinner and serenades of traditional music from local nomads under the stars. On day three you’ll ride your camel back to Mezrouga, heading back through the High Atlas Mountains to your Marrakech accommodations to finish the trip.
For a full run-down of the trip itinerary as well as more details about overnight accommodation choices, please read the details below.
Itinerary
Following a morning pickup from your accommodation in Marrakech, head deep into the High Atlas Mountains in your air-conditioned minivan to begin your tour. Travel along the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and past rural Berber villages, where local shepherds herd their flocks the way they have for thousands of years.
First, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou kasbah, where locals and travelers alike have met to socialize and trade down the centuries. Soak up the atmosphere at your leisure, then head onward with your guide to Ouarzazate for lunch in a local cafe (own expense). Perhaps visit Taourirte Kasbah — a popular meeting place for people from the Atlas, Drâa and Dadès Valleys.
In the afternoon, head onward with your guide to the oasis at Skoura. Pause to admire the lush, green palm trees rising like a mirage in the dry desert, then continue on along the Dadès River through deep gorges, where the ruins of ancient kasbahs lie among traditional Berber villages.
Arrive in Boumalne du Dadès in the evening, where your dinner and accommodation await.
Overnight: Hôtel du Vieux Château du Dadès in Boumalne du Dadès.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Boumalne du Dadès – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
After breakfast at your hotel, hop back aboard your minivan and travel out along the famous ‘Road of 1000 Kasbahs’ to nearby Tinghir. Stroll through the oasis to the mighty Todra Gorge, where a deep crevasse in the orange limestone provides spectacular views, then sit down to lunch at your leisure (own expense) in one of the local cafes.
In the afternoon, visit the holy town of Rissani — birthplace of Morocco’s ruling royal family and the age-old capital of the Tafilalt region. Continue on to Merzouga, a small village sitting on the borders of the Sahara Desert. Meet your camel caravan and, with the sun slowly moving across the afternoon sky, set off toward Erg Chebbi and your camp in the heart of the desert.
With traditional music from local nomads to entertain you, enjoy dinner and an evening under the stars before retiring to bed.
Overnight: campsite in the Sahara Desert.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Erg Chebbi – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Following an early-morning stroll before breakfast to enjoy sunrise among the sand dunes (optional), ride your camel back to Merzouga and meet your driver for the start of your return journey to Marrakech.
Stop for lunch in Ouarzazate (own expense), then head onward through the spectacular scenery of the High Atlas Mountains. Arrive back at your Marrakech accommodation in the mid-evening to conclude your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast
Please note: There are two different accommodation options for this tour:
Standard accommodation: You will stay a standard en-suite room at Hotel du Vieux Chateau du Dades (or similar) with air-condition not being guaranteed; the desert camp will be in a shared tent with camp beds and basic washing/toilet facilities (no shower). Private accommodation is not guaranteed, it might be double, 3-bed or 4-bed room and tent.
Deluxe accommodation: You will stay in an en-suite room Western standard bathrooms and air-condition at Auberge Ait Oudinar (or similar). In the desert, a private tent with a bed is guaranteed and there are Western-standard bathroom facilities (hot shower).
After the ride back to Merzouga on day 3 you will have the opportunity to take a shower and freshen up at a private room in the hotel.
Reviews
Viator Traveler's Reviews
Overall really good experience and great value.
Positive things:
- Picked up and dropped off next to our riad,
- Slept under the stars in the Sahara, saw the sunset and sunrise in the desert,
- All of the places that we stopped off to visit were nice even for someone like me who has never watched a single episode of GoT. The guides were friendly and informative,
- Really good value when you think about what you pay and what you get.
Negative things:
- Be aware that road safety doesn't really exist in Morocco seriously. So probably not for you if you're scared of dying in a road traffic accident,
- The places they take you to eat at lunchtime are basically Moroccan equivalents to motorway service stations. In general you pay about 10 euros for an awful meal,
- The hotel on the first night was, er, quite average. Didn't have hot water when we showered,
- A lot of time spent in a minibus. I was aware of that when I booked so no complaints. But minibuses are difficult when you're over 6ft and you're sat there for 12 hours as is the case on the 3rd day. The air conditioning in the minibus wasn't great i.e. didn't keep me cool either,
Neither positive nor negative:
- Some people in the group were pretty negative about the desert camp we didn't take the luxury option. I thought it was ok. I wouldn't have wanted to sleep inside, but dragging the bed up a sand dune and sleeping up there was just fine really nice even. Not sure the sheets ever get washed, but I just slept in my clothes. If you are used to comfy hotels and can't exist without a shower and flush toilet then maybe take the luxury camp option,
- Probably best not to try and see the whole thing from the camel's point of view. Just enjoy the ride.
So overall a good trip and excellent value. The negative points are just a reflection of the fact that the trip is really inexpensive. Except the one about road safety, that's generally applicable to Morocco.
It was definitely worth it driver Mohammed was extremely nice, first hotel stay was good, but the first tour to the movie set uniesco village where they shot gladiator and GOT the guide was total ripoff. He barely gave any tour and took so much tip from us... The second tour guide for Berber village on the 2nd day was extremely funny and nice though.
We just did this tour a couple of weeks ago. Our tour was managed by Ando Travel. We loved everything about the Marrakech tour to Erg Chebbi. We did spend the extra for the luxury camping. It is a long trip and you are in a minibus for many hours over the 3 days but the trip is broken up with many stops along the way. Our driver Louis would make stops for everyone to accommodate bathrooms, ATM, shopping for Argan/Olive oils, rose water, cofffee etc. We booked the tour to take the camel ride and camp in the desert. I was not expecting the breathtaking and stunning views throughout the Atlas Mountains. Ait Benhaddou kasbah where Games of Thrones is filmed was also a unique stop. The Todra Gorge was also spectacular! The terrain and scenery throughout this tour was such a pleasant surprise. The hotel for the overnight stay was ok. We did AC and private amenities. The stop at the Berber village where we saw local's farming, learned about the agriculture, and saw a carpet demonstration were engaging and great learning experiences. Finally we made it to the Sahara for the camel ride to camp. The sunset over the desert was beautiful and the color changes of the sand in the light was simply magical! The desert was AMAZING! Our tent was also more than expected! So glad we paid for the deluxe. It was so nice! We had a quick sleep and we were back up and off to see the sunrise and trek back on the camels to meet the van. The last day was spent driving back to Marrakech. We had plenty of stops for lunch, bathroom, and shopping along the way. All along our tour, the guides were so knowledgeable and friendly. I cant say enough good things about them. The spoke so many languages and made it fun for everyone. And the food was delicious! I have a deep respect and appreciation for the Moroccans who worked to cook and feed us all during Ramadan! That could not have been easy! I guess the only regret is that I wish we had booked two nights in the desert to really experience the Sahara! It was not long enough to enjoy the beauty given the long drive. Lastly, I would not let the touristy aspects deter you from this trip. The scenery is worth every minute. You dont have to shop and buy things in the stalls that they take you to, and you can also go eat at different locations from the places you are taken. Food wasnt so expensive as some other commenters stated. Lunch for 10-15 US/pp is quite reasonable especially given that there were several courses. Just have alot of small change in Dirhams to pay for bathroom stops and tips. Enjoy!
Loved the Marrakech tour to Erg Chebbi and the luxury camp plus camel ride. It is a long trip and you are in a minibus for 8 hours but the trip is broken up with several stops along the way, like coffee at the stunning Atlas Mountains where the temperature plummets. To lunch at the Ait Benhaddou kasbah where Games of Thrones is filmed, along with many other famous films. Stopping at the Todra Gorge for an overnight hotel stay and dinner which included air con and private amenities. Before heading out for another drive stopping at a Berber town where you see how the local's farm which includes a carpet demonstration and sale. Then the last dash to make the Sahara, jump on the camels, to reach base camp, to watch the sunset followed by dinner. Loved the tent, double bed and private amenities, necessary for a good nights sleep before waking for sunrise and the camel ride back. Then back in the minivan back to Marrakech which is also broken up again with lunch and toilet stops along the way. I only wish I had booked two nights in the desert, to really experience the Saraha, as it was not long enough, given the long drive. Meeting people from around the world was also another highlight of the tour, sharing insights into what makes us similar, yet different and sharing an experience where I made new friends.
Tour bus driver did not speak English or French, through no fault of his own. He was a polite and competent driver, but nothing more and didn't provide any information. The restaurants they take you to are tourist only, anticipate spending about 80-120 MAD per meal for very mediocre food with few options. The stops/tours often require a tip, I wouldn't believe any language that says the money goes to any particularly good cause for the local population but we were responsible tourists and tipped generously regardless. The vehicle itself was a minivan of 7 passengers, 2 of which had two be seated in very uncomfortable middle seats. The scenery in the desert is spectacular but go ahead and book a cheaper tour while in Marrakech. We paid extra due to all the positive reviews but had a very mediocre experience.
Guide was more of a driver than a guide and we were slowest of all tours to leave Marrakech. The program deviated significantly from itinerary, which is irksome cause it impacted my choices on the rest of our trip. The lunch spots were too expensive and beyond our control. I got very sick in the desert and there is no first aid or supervision. The 10 hour bus ride back is too long for one day. There are better desert tours out of Tagounite. First time I have been disappointed with Viator.
If you did your research you will find there are many tours like this one. The classic traps apply to this one as well: the places they take you for lunch are as expensive as they get in Morocco, there will be other short visits during the day with guides which mandatory tip is not included and you will do a lot of driving. However, if you know these are the rules, everything will be absolutely perfect with this trip.
I am not here to describe it, many people already did it, only to say that Guillaume our diver was fantastic. He stopped every time we asked him to, he was nice, a very good driver, an excelent company and did his best to make us have the best time.
Regarding the company: if you provide your Rhiad location they will contact you one day before telling you when you will be picked up. It's pointless to contact them before that, you will only get a generic answer.
If you are reading this and are unsure to hire this one or the same trip provided by another company, there is really no reason for not hiring this one.
This was a great experience, I went with my girlfriend and we were joined in the 7-seater car by a couple of groups of tourists also visiting Marrakech. Our driver Hisham was brilliant - very friendly and laid back and from the traditional Berber people himself. The tour involved lots of driving as there was alot of distance to cover over the 3 days. The stops for toilets and drinks were frequent enough - just be warned that at every single comfort stop there will be a Berber person trying to sell you their wares of rocks, clothes, pottery etc! Once you get the hang of bargaining then it can be quite fun if you see something you truly fancy.
Alot of the meal stops were at very touristic cafes at which the food was quite disappointing and the portions a bit on the small side.
We spent the first night in a hotel which was made with traditional methods with clay walls which we found a bit chilly, however there was plenty of thick blankets on the bed so we slept very well. The second night spent in the Sahara desert was pretty fun as we sat in a circle around the fireplace singing berber songs and banging drums. The guides made sure to get everyone involved which unfortunately subjected my fellow travellers to my awful singing voice!
Highlights of the trip for me were seeing the incredible valleys and mountains, visiting the Western Sahara and experiencing the hospitality of the Berber people. The camel ride to our camp was disappointing - they were really slow and uncomfortable so it was a relief to arrive at the camp.
All in all we had a great time and made wonderful memories, but we both agreed that 3 days was enough time to do so much driving and sight-seeing.
First of all logistic part went well and we had no any issue with picking us up or dropping us at the location we needed. The vehicle should be checked as when I saw the tyres, was a bit concerns. I understand that in this kind of country they wont pay attention on these things as we used to in Europe but maybe Viator should iniciate the quarterly check as the trip is not short and if the vehicle is doing this trip twice a week, there should be some quarterly check of the vehicle conditions.
Food: for 3 days we have been fed by tajin- lunch, dinner- always tajin. I have been told that Morocco has an awesome cuisine but I swear, I won't eat tajin again soon. The trip is made to eat at touristic spots, where the food is very expensive. Me, as vegetarian, have paid for couscous with vegetable 10 Euro per meal this price we are even not paying in Europe for this kind of meal so be ready, that the trip is very expensive in regards to food and restaurants they are taking you to. Plus, be ready, that you will eat tajin all 3 days along. We have been traveling with one couple and they wanted to share the meal but the waiter told them that is not possible and they can go to eat somewhere else. He was very rude! Then they needed to order meal for both of them, I felt sorry cos she wasnt hungry at all but this was the last restaurant we stopped at.
Sahara- once we reached Sahara, was quite late and we jumped on the camels but unfortunately we were not able to experience the sunset and took some pictures. very next day, we woke up early morning and drove our camels back to resort. When I have raised my concerns that I want to stop at some point where I can see only sand and take pictures, the guy won't allow us to do so. So then other people raised their voices that we havent been coming from Marrakesh just for that and we want to take some pictures. At that point the guy stopped our caravana and we had 15 min to take some pics.
in general, we didnt like the trip and i wont recommend it to anyone. When I have been spoken with the guys from our trip as well, they had the same opinion. If you want to do this trip, you are able to rent a car and do it by your own. this is the way what i recommend