Desert Tours From Marrakech
Every desert route out of Marrakech crosses the High Atlas first, then splits south toward Merzouga, Erg Chigaga or Zagora. The itineraries below are the ones we actually run, with real durations and overnight stops.
- Duration
- 2–10 days
- Deserts
- Erg Chebbi · Erg Chigaga · Zagora
- Route
- Over the Tizi n'Tichka
- Season
- Year-round
Marrakech is the busiest doorway to the Sahara, and the choice is simpler than it looks: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) for the biggest dunes and a full day of driving each way, Erg Chigaga for the quietest and furthest camp, Zagora for the shortest loop when time is tight.
Routes break the drive with a night in the Dades Valley or at the Todra Gorges, so nobody arrives at the dunes exhausted. Private car and driver, two or three nights, breakfast and dinner at the camp.
The routes, trip by trip
3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga and Back
Across the High Atlas, Dades Valley, a night on the Erg Chebbi dunes, then home
3-Day Desert Trip: Zagora and Erg Chigaga
The short Drâa Valley loop to Erg Chigaga, back by Taznakht
3-Day Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
One-way through Aït Benhaddou, the Todra Gorges and Erg Chebbi
4-Day Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
Aït Benhaddou, the Draa Valley and a camel trek to the Chigaga dunes
4-Day Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
Three nights, with the Ziz Valley and the cedar forest on day four
7-Day Marrakech to the Sahara
Cities, the Atlas and a longer desert stay for the ones with a week
8-Day Yoga Desert Journey
Five nights at a fixed nomadic camp in Erg Chigaga with daily yoga
10-Day Erg Chigaga Trekking Tour
Four walking days onto the dunes, camp crew carrying the load
Choosing between the three deserts
The postcard dunes: up to 150 metres, sunrise camel treks, and the busiest of the three in high season.
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)Further south past M'Hamid, fewer camps, less traffic — the one locals call the wilder erg.
Erg ChigagaThe short loop: palm road, camels, and back to Marrakech inside three days.
Zagora and the Draa ValleyErg Chigaga and Merzouga compared honestly — dunes, crowds, drive time and price logic.
Still deciding?Two things worth knowing before you book: nights on the dunes are cold between November and March whatever the daytime temperature says, so pack a layer, and the camp already covers dinner, breakfast and the camel ride in.
Ask for a price
Prices move with dates, group size and camp category. Send your dates and we quote the trip — no fixed price sits on these pages because no two groups travel the same way.