How to visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco: 3-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga

Getting the opportunity to visit the Sahara Desert was never something I was going to be able to pass up. So when we were planning our trip to Marrakech last year and I discovered you could travel to part of the Sahara Desert in Morocco as part of a three-day tour, we immediately extended our trip to add it to our itinerary. It turned out to be a fantastic decision, as, while we loved Marrakech anyway, this definitely ended up being a highlight of our trip!

Marrakech to Merzouga 3-Day Desert Tour

You’ll find numerous tours doing this same trip, so it can be difficult to know which one to choose. For clarity, we booked this Marrakech to Merzouga 3-day desert tour through Get Your Guide, which is the itinerary I’ve detailed below.

We took the standard tour but be aware that the camping is very basic for this price . There is a proper bed in the tend but shared washing facilities and if you want to shower the water is cold (although it’s only one night so you could just skip it).

I honestly thought the tour was incredible value for money at under £100 per person for the whole three days. Almost everything is included – we had to pay for a few meals but these are inexpensive, and also for the guide in Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, but this was only €2, so barely worth mentioning.

We also had to buy a headscarf, which was probably the most money we spent and where we clearly got ripped off. However if you don’t bring your own long scarf which will cover your head (which we hadn’t) then you really have no choice as you definitely will need it for the desert.

Day 1: Marrakech to Tinghir

We started early on the first morning with a pickup in Marrakech, then made our way in the minibus through the stunning Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. The views of the mountain scenery and Berber villages were incredible as we were driving along and we were also given the chance for a photo stop at one of the highest points.

Our first big stop was Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and ancient fortified village that is a popular filming location for Hollywood blockbusters. We had an incredible local guide here, who was one of the few remaining permanent inhabitants and delighted in telling us all about his famous appearances in films like Gladiator II and the upcoming Odyssey film. We were amazed to find that, despite it being so remote, the village has a hotel/B&B and yes, it does have WiFi!

We continued on toward Tinghir, where we stopped at the hotel we would be staying at for our first night. Tinghir is a quiet town that is literally in the middle of nothing. It feels like something out of a film set itself as it’s clearly quite new and has been completely constructed, presumably to accommodate the increasing tourism in the area and the anticipation of further growth in visitors. With a lot of driving involved in this trip, we pretty much checked in, had a tagine dinner and went to bed in anticipation for an early start the next morning.

Day 2: Todra Gorge and the Mergouza Desert

After breakfast, were joined by a local Berber guide, who took us on a nature walk in the area in the morning. This was actually an unexpected activity, as it wasn’t mentioned on the activity, but it was fantastic and our guide was so much fun! We were lucky enough that he accompanied us after this to Todra Gorge, which was another real highlight of the tour. We walked through the gorge and along the river while our guide gave us information about the area.

Later in the afternoon, we travelled to the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Here, we met our camels and got ready for a bumpy ride over some immense sand dunes. As anyone who’s ridden a camel before will know, it’s not a comfortable ride, but worth every single second for the surrounding location. We were dropped amongst the dunes and got to spend several hours there while waiting for the sunset, trying our hand at sandboarding (which I haven’t improved at since I first tried it in Australia) and just enjoying the amazing surroundings.

Once the sun had set we hopped back on our camels for another 30 minutes and headed to the desert camp, where we’d spend the evening. There is supposed to be music and dancing around a campfire but unfortunately due to the very high winds when we visited it wasn’t possible to do this outside, so the traditional music was moved to inside the main tent.

Day 3: Return to Marrakech

This was an incredibly early start as we had to be up and on our way to reach the middle of the dunes before sunrise. After breakfast (and with aching thighs!) we set off on the camels once again just as the sun was coming up. It’s hard to believe, but the sunrise was perhaps even more spectacular than sunset due to the incredible red colours of the sand.

Again, we were given some time to enjoy the dunes, although not as long as on the first day, before heading back on the camels to our minibuses. Then we started the 8 hour drive back to Marrakech. While this was almost a full day on the road, I think with what we’d experienced over the previous three days, everyone agreed that it was worth it.

Things to consider

We chose this tour due to convenience and the fact that we had limited time. There are a couple of things you should definitely bear in mind before booking.

1. There is a lot of driving. The Sahara is right on the edge of Morocco, and it’s the other side to Marrakech. It’s a long drive, which is broken up across the first two days so it’s not too bad, but on the last day it’s pretty much a drive straight back so there’s nearly a whole day spent in the car.
2. The camping is basic. I actually thought the sleeping arrangements were fine but the washing facilities were a little challenging, due to the sheer amount of people sharing. In hindsight, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with that cold shower! Some people did have better tents, which I think are part of the luxury option, so just make sure you choose the right option for you when booking (and note that the photos show the luxury tents!)

Is this trip worth it?

Absolutely. The two points above were honestly so minor in comparison to the whole experience. The sand dunes are impossible to describe, you have to experience them. Even now when I look back at photos, I can’t believe it was real.

Things to bring

If you’re planning your own Sahara desert adventure from Marrakech:

• Pack layers – even if it’s hot in the day, it can be cold at night in the desert.
• Cover your arms and legs – when it’s windy in the desert, it’s easy to get burnt.
• Bring plenty of water and suncream.
• You’ll need a scarf long enough to wrap around your head and face to protect you from the sun and wind. If you don’t have this, there’s an opportunity to buy one on the trip (just be aware you’ll probably pay more than you should). Nearly everyone had to buy one on our trip.
• Wear comfortable footwear to walk in the sand.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for one of Morocco’s most iconic and unforgettable experiences, this 3-day desert trip from Marrakech to Merzouga should be on your list.

If you want to book the same trip as us, here’s the tour we took.

Have you done a Sahara desert trip before, or is this on your travel bucklist? Let me know in the comments!