Sahara Desert Tours from Marrakech: 3 and 4 Day Routes

Your Sahara options from Marrakech

There are three realistic ways to experience the desert from Marrakech. The first is a day trip to the Agafay, a stone desert 40 minutes from the city, with a camel ride, quad or buggy and a sunset dinner. The second is a 3 or 4 day journey to the dunes of Merzouga, across the High Atlas and the valleys of the south. The third is a private or comfort version of that journey, with a private vehicle and a camp with proper beds and bathrooms.

No honest operator offers the big Sahara dunes as a day trip from Marrakech. The distance is about 560 kilometres each way, and the drive alone takes most of two days.

3 day Sahara desert tour to Merzouga

The classic route crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass, stops at Aït Benhaddou, follows the kasbah road to the Dades valley and the Todra gorge, and reaches Erg Chebbi in time for a camel ride at sunset and a night in a camp. The return takes the whole of the third day. Our 3 day Sahara itinerary describes each day, with drive times and what to ask before you book.

4 day Morocco desert tour

Adding a fourth day splits the long return drive, gives you a free morning in the dunes and leaves time to see Aït Benhaddou properly. For most travellers it is the better trip. See our 4 day Sahara itinerary.

Luxury and private Sahara experiences

A private vehicle and a comfort camp remove the hardest parts of the trip: the crowded minibus, the shared bathroom and the rushed stops. Our guide to the luxury Sahara desert experience explains what to ask for, how to choose the camp and how to add a sunrise balloon flight in Marrakech.

The Agafay desert: a day in the desert from Marrakech

If you have a day, the Agafay is the answer. Its stony hills and long views are different from the dunes of Merzouga, but the experience is real: a camel ride in the late afternoon, a sunset, a dinner under the stars and a drive back to your hotel the same night. See the experiences on this page, and read our guide to Agafay versus Merzouga for an honest comparison.

Merzouga or Zagora?

Merzouga and its Erg Chebbi dunes are higher and more dramatic, with more comfort camps, but need more driving. Zagora and M'Hamid are closer, quieter and more remote at the end of the road, with lower dunes. If you have three days, either works. If you have four, Merzouga is the better choice. Our Sahara from Marrakech guide compares both in detail.

The best time for a Sahara trip

October to April for comfortable days and cool nights, with cold evenings in winter. Spring and autumn are the best balance. June to August is very hot in the south, and a camel ride in the dunes at midday is not advisable. See the best time to visit Morocco.

How we help

We run the desert experiences around Marrakech ourselves, every week, and we help you plan the longer routes. You write to us, we reply by email with what we can arrange for your dates and the price, and you pay nothing on the website.

Frequently asked questions