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5 Day itinerary in Morocco, Africa

Morocco Desert Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga

This private trip by Youssef is an Easy, everyone-welcome journey operated in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, with GUIDANCE from a Tour Leader, Tour Guide, Driver as a Guide, and Driver. Your 5 day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga starts/ends in Marrakesh and strings together the Hi... Read More

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Youssef

By Youssef

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, French, Portuguese

GUIDANCE

Tour Leader, Tour Guide, Driver as a Guide, Driver

starting point

Marrakesh

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Rural home stays

Cuisine

Safari

Eco

Sustainable Travel

Sun & Beach

Motorcycle

Hiking

Art

Cultural

Transportation

Adventure

Landscapes & Sceneries

Jeep & 4WD

Walking tour

Day Trips & Excursions

Photography

City Life

Culture & History

Visit markets

Luxury

Multi-Country

VIP & Exclusive

Christmas & New Year

Food & Culinary

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Explore Taourirt Kasbah and the film studios in Ouarzazate

2

Drive the dramatic curves and cliffs of the Dades Valley

3

Ride a camel at sunset across Merzouga’s Erg Chebbi dunes

4

Listen to live Gnaoua music in Khamlia Village

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate

Your 5 day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga begins with your arrival to Marrakech, including an Airport Meet & Greet and Hotel transfer, before you set off from Marrakech on a scenic drive through the High Atlas Mountains. You’ll cross the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass, watching the landscape shift as Berber villages cling to the hillsides along the route.


The day’s standout stop is Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where many Hollywood films were shot. You’ll explore its mud-brick architecture and narrow alleys, a style of fortified settlement known locally as a ksar, traditionally built to protect caravan routes and community life.


Afterward, you continue to Ouarzazate, often called the “Gateway to the Sahara.” Here, you can look forward to landmarks like the Taourirt Kasbah and the nearby Atlas Film Studios, which helped cement the city’s reputation for cinematic desert backdrops. This is your first overnight stop, setting the tone for an unforgettable journey into Morocco’s desert heartland. To keep things effortless, Baboo supports you with locally curated flow and dependable on-the-ground coordination.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 2

place Ouarzazate to Dades Valley and Todra Gorges

Your day begins with exploration of Ouarzazate’s palm groves and desert landscape, then you head into the rugged terrain of the Dades Valley. Nicknamed the “Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs,” the region is filled with crumbling fortresses, lush oases, and dramatic red cliffs that make the drive feel like a moving panorama.


You continue onward toward the Todra Gorges, where vertical canyon walls rise over 150 meters and form a striking natural corridor. Famous for its beauty and popularity with rock climbers, the Todra Gorges are also a photographer’s dream, with some of Morocco’s most dramatic scenery concentrated in one place.


You’ll spend the night near the gorges, listening to the quiet flow of the river beneath towering limestone walls. Historically, these river-carved corridors have supported oasis farming and travel routes through otherwise harsh terrain.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

place Todra Gorges to Merzouga, Camel Ride, Desert Camp

The journey continues from Todra Gorges toward Merzouga, gateway to the Sahara and home of the legendary Erg Chebbi dunes. As you arrive, you’ll visit nearby villages such as Khamlia, known for its soulful Gnaoua music, and Hassilabied, an oasis village nestled among palms.


A visit to Dayet Srij Lake may also reveal seasonal birdlife, including flamingos, depending on conditions. It’s a quiet contrast to the dunes, offering a glimpse of how water shapes life on the desert’s edge.


In the late afternoon, you’ll mount a camel for a magical ride over glowing dunes at sunset, then arrive at your desert camp deep in the Sahara. A warm meal, live music, and the brilliance of the starlit sky await, a classic Sahara-night experience that travelers have cherished for generations.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

place Merzouga to Rissani and Draa Valley to Ouarzazate

Today you visit the bustling market town of Rissani, once a vital stop for trans-Saharan caravans. Known for its traditional souks, old ksars, and date markets, Rissani offers a rich cultural window into desert life and trading traditions that have shaped this region for centuries.


You then continue through desert plateaus and stop in the scenic Draa Valley, home to Morocco’s longest river and lined with endless date palms. The scenery here feels softer and greener, especially as palm groves stretch along the river’s path.


The route back to Ouarzazate is filled with changing landscapes, moving from golden sands to green valleys. You arrive in Ouarzazate for your overnight stay and reflect on the desert landscapes, ancient kasbahs, and oasis life experienced throughout this captivating Moroccan journey.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5

place Ouarzazate to High Atlas and Marrakech Departure

Your final day begins with a morning departure from Ouarzazate. You traverse once again the High Atlas Mountains, where every turn reveals new panoramic views and photogenic villages, giving you one last sweep of Morocco’s mountain grandeur.


You arrive in Marrakech by early afternoon, depending on road conditions. If time permits, you can enjoy a short panoramic view of key city landmarks or simply relax before your transfer to the airport for departure.


This desert tour wraps up where it began, leaving you with vivid memories of kasbahs, canyon hikes, camel rides, and Sahara nights, and the stories, culture, and natural wonders that define southern Morocco.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (5)
  • Dinner (4)

Transport expand_less

  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off in Marrakech/Marrakech
  • Air-conditioned private transportation
  • All applicable taxes

Activities expand_less

  • Marrakech medina tour with licensed local guide
  • 1 night luxury desert camp (dinner & breakfast)
  • Guided Merzouga desert exploration
  • A unique camel trekking experience (1 camel per person)

Not Included expand_less

  • Lunches throughout the tour
  • All beverages and personal drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments/museums
  • Domestic/international flight tickets
  • Personal expenses & tips
  • Travel insurance

About Youssef

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

Expertise: 

Rural home stays

Yoga

Cuisine

Spa & Wellness

Safari

Nature & Widlife

Wildlife

Educational

Sustainable Travel

Volunteer/Community

Sun & Beach

Motorcycle

Hiking

Bicycle

Cultural

Transportation

Adventure

Backpacking

Landscapes & Sceneries

Jeep & 4WD

Walking tour

Romantic

18 to 30 somethings

Day Trips & Excursions

Deals

Photography

City Life

Culture & History

Meet local people

Visit markets

Cycling

Outdoor Activities and Sports

VIP & Exclusive

Christmas & New Year

Food & Culinary

My name is Youssef and I’m from Morocco Travel 4x4. I was born and raised in Morocco and I’ve spent years showing travelers the true beauty of my country. From Marrakech to the quiet dunes of the Sahara I know every corner of Morocco

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$800.00 USD