This 5 day desert tour from Marrakech begins with a journey through the beautiful High Atlas Mountains. You will visit famous old Kasbahs that look like sandcastles and drive through the long Draa Valley, which is full of millions of palm trees. Your first taste of the desert will be in Zagora, leading you toward the wild and beautiful dunes of Erg Chigaga.
On this Marrakech to Sahara desert tour, you will also follow parts of the famous Dakar Rally track. You will explore the remote area of Tafraout Sidi Ali before reaching the giant Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. Here, you will see the famous golden dunes and enjoy a magical night under the stars in a desert camp.
The trip continues to the traditional Rissani market and the tall rock walls of the Todra Gorge. You will then travel through the fragrant Rose Valley and stop in Ouarzazate to see the film studios. Finally, you will return across the mountains to your accommodation in Marrakech, finishing a journey full of culture and adventure.
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Explore our comprehensive plan for spending 8 days in Morocco, covering the best destinations from the desert to the imperial cities. Dive into the full itinerary below to see how we’ve organized every detail of this 8 day Morocco tour for an unforgettable experience.
Your 5 day desert tour from Marrakech starts in the morning. Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle to begin the adventure. You will leave the city and drive up into the High Atlas Mountains. You will cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass, where you can see amazing views of the mountain peaks and small Berber villages.
Next, you will visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou, an ancient fortified village made of mud and stone. This place is protected by UNESCO and is very famous because many big movies were filmed here. You can walk through the narrow doors and climb to the top of the village to see the river and the dry hills all around you.
You will stop in Ouarzazate for lunch to enjoy a delicious meal. After eating, you will cross the Ait Saoun mountains to see the beautiful rock shapes. You will stop at a top viewpoint to see the Draa Valley from above. It is a wonderful place to see the green palm trees before you drive down into the valley.
In the late afternoon, you arrive in Zagora. Here, you will ride a camel into the dunes to see a beautiful sunset. You will stay at a desert camp where you will drink hot mint tea and eat a tasty dinner. At night, you can listen to Berber music and look at the many stars in the sky before you sleep in your tent.
After breakfast, you will leave Zagora to start your desert journey along the famous tracks of the Paris-Dakar rally. You will drive through the wide, open desert and pass the small village of Taghbalt and the remote area of Oumjrane. The landscape here is very unique and looks like the surface of the moon with its dark stones and quiet plains.
Next, you will arrive in Tafraout Sidi Ali and stay at a historical Kasbah. This traditional building is in a beautiful location overlooking the green trees and the desert mountains. It is a very peaceful place where you can feel the history and the calm of the Sahara, far away from the busy cities.
In the late afternoon, your driver will take you to a panoramic view on a high point to enjoy a beautiful sunset and the peaceful feeling of the area. You will see an amazing view of the rocks and the desert horizon. Afterward, you will return to the Kasbah to enjoy a delicious home-cooked dinner with the guesthouse family and sleep under the stars.
After a tasty breakfast, you will leave the family and the historical Kasbah to continue your 5 days Marrakech desert tours. You will travel along the sandy tracks of the Paris-Dakar rally and cross the dry lake of Maider. The road is very quiet, with beautiful desert mountains and wide plains all around you as you drive toward the remote village of Ramlia.
Next, you will cross the sandy river of Gheris and drive through the orange dunes of Ouzina. Along the way, you might see nomadic families with their goats and camels living in the heart of the Sahara. You will enjoy the peaceful feeling of the deep desert as you travel toward the high sand hills.
Upon your arrival at the famous Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, you can choose to go to the camp by camel or by your 4×4 vehicle. Once you are at the camp, you will watch a magical sunset over the golden dunes. You will spend the night there, where you will enjoy a traditional dinner and live Berber music around the campfire under the stars.
Today, we recommend waking up early to see an amazing sunrise over the gold dunes. After a delicious breakfast at the desert camp, you will leave the high dunes of Merzouga to continue your Marrakech desert tours 5 days. You will pass through the town of Rissani, which is famous for its traditional market and history.
Next, you will reach Tinghir for a beautiful panoramic view. From here, you can see the huge green palm groves and many old Kasbahs stretching across the valley.
You will stop in Todra Gorge for a walk through the deep canyon. The cliffs rise to 300 meters high, where you can enjoy the fresh air and the narrow path between the massive rock walls.
The journey continues to the Boumalne Dades to see the famous “monkey fingers” rock shapes and the winding road. Then, your driver will take you to your hotel to enjoy a delicious dinner and rest in the peaceful atmosphere of the valley.
After breakfast, you will leave the Boumalne Dades and travel through the Kalaat M’Gouna, where you will stop to visit a rose cooperative to see how they make local rose water and products.
You will also stop in Ouarzazate to see the impressive Taourirt Kasbah, a historic mud-brick fortress. Then, you will visit a film studio, where you can see the massive sets used for many famous international movies.
Finally, you will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass to arrive in Marrakech. Your driver will drop you off at your accommodation with warm wishes, ending your 5 day tour from Marrakech filled with culture, beauty, and adventure.
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Find answers to the most common questions about our 8 day Morocco tour. We’ve gathered all the essential details to help you prepare for your journey and ensure you have a clear understanding of what to expect.
Your comfort and rest are our top priority. For this trip, we offer a very comfortable 4×4 vehicle with air conditioning. These vehicles are perfect for the mountain roads and the desert tracks, ensuring you have a smooth and relaxing journey from start to finish.
Yes, usually these tours are private, so you have your own car and driver.
The best time is Autumn and Spring, specifically from September to March. During these months, the weather is much more comfortable for traveling. It is not too hot during the day, which makes exploring the desert and the mountains very pleasant for everyone.
Yes, if you don’t want to ride a camel, a 4×4 car can take you to the camp.
Yes, the desert regions are very safe, and people are very friendly.
Take a look at the experiences of travelers who joined our 8 day tour from Marrakech. These reviews offer a real insight into what to expect from our Morocco 8 day itinerary, from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara desert
We chose this 5-day adventure to truly explore the deep desert, visiting both Erg Chigaga and Merzouga. A truly special part of the trip was the village of Tafraout Sidi Ali; it is an incredible place where we spent a night with a local family who showed us amazing hospitality. We loved hearing fun stories about the area from Mustapha, and our driver, Mohamed, was so much fun and very friendly, making the long drives feel easy. We highly recommend this amazing trip to anyone looking for a real Moroccan experience.
This was our second time doing this trip with To Marrakech Desert Tours, and it was another amazing 5 days in Morocco! The desert is truly special, especially Tafraout Sidi Ali; it is such a peaceful and relaxing place to escape the crowds. The Merzouga desert is also wonderful with its massive golden dunes. We really enjoyed every moment of this trip with our driver, Mohamed, who made the journey even better. If you love adventure and the desert, just choose this 5-day tour—you will not regret it!
From the high Atlas Mountains to the deep sand dunes, every stop was amazing. The Todra Gorges are huge and beautiful. We saw so much in 5 days! The car was very comfortable and had great air conditioning. We also loved the wild desert of Tafraout Sidi Ali; it was so quiet and peaceful, and we felt like real explorers far away from the crowds.
Merzouga was a truly special part of the trip. Spending the night in the desert under a sky full of stars was like a dream. The golden dunes are massive, and the silence of the night is something I will never forget. A big thanks to our driver, who was so professional and made the long journey feel very easy and fun.
Looking for something a bit different? If this 5 day desert tour from Marrakech is not exactly what you had in mind, we are here to help. Contact us today, and we will craft a personalized journey based on your specific needs and requirements. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to making your trip unique.