1 / 6Everything about a Sahara trip from Marrakech: the route, a night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, seasons, what to pack and how the 3-day tours work.
For most travellers, a night among the Sahara dunes is the highlight of a trip to Morocco. The classic destination is Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, a sea of wind-blown sand dunes on the far western edge of the Sahara. In places the dunes rise 150 m above the surrounding rocky desert, stretching about 28 km north to south along the Algerian border. From Marrakech, the usual way to get there is a 3-day tour.
A typical 3-day Merzouga tour from Marrakech runs like this (routes differ slightly by tour): • Day 1: Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then a night near the Dades Gorge. • Day 2: the Todra Gorge, then on to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp. • Day 3: sunrise over the dunes, then the return to Marrakech — a long driving day of about 9–10 hours. The camps are permanent sites on the outer edge of the erg. Some tours end in Fes instead of Marrakech, which suits travellers continuing north.
Zagora and M'Hamid are closer to Marrakech and are often visited on 2-day tours, while Merzouga's Erg Chebbi has the tallest, most famous dunes. Another large dune area, Erg Chigaga, lies near M'Hamid. If you have three days, Merzouga is the classic choice; with only two, look at Zagora. For a desert taste in a single afternoon, see our Agafay guide.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer days are extremely hot; winter nights in the desert are cold, so camps provide blankets. Snow can close the Tizi n'Tichka pass between November and March on rare occasions, which may change a tour's route or date.
Merzouga is far from Marrakech — about 550–560 km by road — so the drive is split over several days. The nearest sizeable town is Erfoud, about 60 km north, and Rissani, about 40 km away, was once the seat of the Sijilmassa kingdom that controlled the caravan routes. Our Sahara tours include transport in a vehicle with a driver from Marrakech; the pickup details are on each tour page.
A Sahara tour suits travellers with at least three days to spare, couples and friends looking for an unforgettable night under the stars, and families with children who can cope with long drives. It is less suited to travellers who dislike long hours in a vehicle, or who need hotel-level comfort every night — although luxury camps exist for those who want more comfort. If you only have one free day, an evening in the Agafay Desert gives you a taste of the desert without the long drive.
After the sunset camel ride, you arrive at the camp: tents set around a central area, with dinner served in the evening — usually Moroccan dishes such as tagine — and often music around a fire. With almost no light pollution, the night sky is spectacular on a clear night. Standard camps have shared facilities; comfort and luxury camps have private bathrooms. Early risers climb a dune for sunrise before breakfast and the ride back.
Of the 466 Merzouga and the Sahara experiences in our catalogue, 55 are described as private and the rest are shared or small-group formats. 362 are multi-day or overnight programmes, 8 mention lunch and 30 mention dinner in their title or duration. 321 can be booked and paid online straight away; the others start with a request and an exact quote. A shared tour is the most economical way to go and a good way to meet other travellers; a private tour costs more but lets you set the pace, stop where you like and travel only with your own group. Whichever you choose, compare three things on the tour page before booking: what is included (transfers, meals, activities, entry fees), the total duration including the drive, and the cancellation terms. If two tours look alike, the one with more ratings on booking partner platforms has simply been taken by more travellers — it is not a ranking of quality by us.
Our catalogue currently lists 466 experiences for Merzouga and the Sahara. Listed starting prices run from €15.40 to €4566.65, and half of them start below €145.20. Shared 3-day tours with a standard camp are the most affordable; private tours and luxury camps cost considerably more. Every price on our site is shown in euros and is calculated on our server; the total you see before paying — for your date, option and number of adults and children — is the amount PayPal charges. Children pay 90% of the adult price on per-person tours unless the tour states otherwise.
Ranked by how many ratings each received on booking partner platforms — not by our own sales: • From Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga and Sahara Desert Tour — 3 days; listed from €127.12; rated 4.9 from 23,326 ratings on booking partner platforms. • Merzouga 3-Day Desert Safari with Food — 3 days; listed from €118.58; rated 4.7 from 15,098 ratings on booking partner platforms. • Marrakech: 3 Day Luxury Merzouga Tour With Private tent Inc — 3 days; listed from €66.35; rated 4.7 from 2,558 ratings on booking partner platforms. • From Marrakech: 3-Day Sahara Tour with Private tent & Meals — 3 days; listed from €43.55; rated 4.7 from 2,418 ratings on booking partner platforms. • Marrakech: 3-Days Morocco Sahara Desert Tour Via Merzouga — 3 days; listed from €117.58; rated 4.9 from 2,375 ratings on booking partner platforms. • 2-Day Sahara Tour to Zagora & Ait Ben Haddou — 2 days; listed from €68.97; rated 4.5 from 2,327 ratings on booking partner platforms. • From Fez: Sahara Desert 2-Day Tour with Merzouga Camp Stay — 2 days; listed from €104.20; rated 4.8 from 2,093 ratings on booking partner platforms. • 3-Day Sahara Desert Adventure to Fes — 3 days; listed from €104.81; rated 4.6 from 2,018 ratings on booking partner platforms. • From Marrakech: 3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour with Private Tent — 3 days; listed from €116.13; rated 4.6 from 1,116 ratings on booking partner platforms. • From Marrakech: 3 Day Round Trip To Merzouga Desert & Camel — 3 days; listed from €99.69; rated 4.9 from 996 ratings on booking partner platforms. • From Marrakech: 3-Day Sahara Tour to Agadir & Camel Trek — 3 days; listed from €137.90; rated 4.8 from 885 ratings on booking partner platforms. • Fes To Marrakech: 3-Days Merzouga Desert Tour & Luxury Camp — 3 days; listed from €106.58; rated 4.7 from 846 ratings on booking partner platforms. The eight most-reviewed of these, with booking buttons, are shown at the end of this guide, followed by a link to every tour for this destination.
• Pack light: you usually take only a small bag into the camp. • Bring a warm layer for the night, sunglasses, sunscreen and a scarf for wind and sand. • Expect long driving days; the scenery on the way is part of the trip. • Check what's included: hotel nights, dinners, breakfasts, camel rides and lunches differ between tours. • Keep phones and cameras in a bag on the camels — sand gets everywhere.
How long does it take to get from Marrakech to Merzouga? The drive is long — about 550–560 km — so tours split it over three days with stops and a night on the way.
How high are the dunes at Erg Chebbi? In places the dunes rise about 150 m above the surrounding rocky desert.
Is a 3-day Sahara tour worth it? For most travellers, yes: a night in a camp among real sand dunes is a highlight of Morocco. It involves long drives, so it suits people who enjoy road trips.
What should I pack for the Sahara? A small overnight bag, warm clothes for the night, sun protection, a scarf and comfortable shoes.
Can I end the tour in Fes? Yes. Several tours in our catalogue run from Marrakech to Fes through the desert.
Choose a tour, pick your date and tell us how many adults and children are travelling, with each child's age. Tours with instant booking show the full euro total and can be paid straight away by PayPal or card. Other tours start as a request: we confirm availability and send an exact euro quote, and you pay on your private booking page. Your booking is confirmed only after the payment has been verified — a WhatsApp chat or an enquiry does not confirm a booking on its own.
• Erg Chebbi — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erg_Chebbi • Tizi n'Tichka — Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tizi_n'Tichka • Marrakech monthly weather averages (CRU / Met Office data): https://www.weather2travel.com/morocco/marrakech/climate/ Tour details, durations, ratings and prices come from our own catalogue on the date of publication.
Merzouga & Sahara
A three-day road journey from Marrakech over the High Atlas to the golden Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. You stop at the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, sleep in the Dades Valley, walk into the Todra Gorge and spend a night at a desert camp after a camel ride at sunset.
4.9· 23,326 external ratings
From €127.12per person
Final price depends on the selected option and availability.
Merzouga & Sahara
Discover the magic of the Merzouga Desert on a 3-day journey from Marrakech. Explore nomadic life, ride camels, watch stunning sunsets, and sleep under the stars in a Bedouin camp for an unforgettable desert adventure.
4.7· 15,098 external ratings
From €118.58per person
Final price depends on the selected option and availability.
Merzouga & Sahara
A more comfortable three-day journey from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes. You travel over the High Atlas, visit Ait Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorge with a local guide, spend a night in the Dades area and a night at a luxury desert camp after a sunset camel ride.
4.7· 2,558 external ratings
From €240per person
Final price depends on the selected option and availability.
Merzouga & Sahara
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades/Tinghir/Kelaat M'Gouna Your 3-day Morocco desert tour begins with a pickup in Marrakech. Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m), offering panoramic views of Berber villages and spectacular mountain landscapes.
4.7· 2,418 external ratings
From €43.55per person
Final price depends on the selected option and availability.
WhatsApp +212 655 786 616 · Contacting us on WhatsApp does not confirm a booking; confirmation follows verified payment.
Destination Guides
Everything you need to plan a half day or evening in the Agafay Desert: activities, seasons, transport, prices, practical tips and answers to common questions.
8 min readUpdated 10 October 2026
Destination Guides
Plan a day at Morocco's best-known waterfalls: the hike, the boat ride, the long drive, the best season and what each tour includes.
7 min readUpdated 10 October 2026
Destination Guides
How to spend a day in Essaouira: the fortified medina, the fishing port, the beach, the drive from Marrakech and what tours include.
7 min readUpdated 10 October 2026