Journey Overview: Explore the Sahara and the great valleys of southern Morocco on this private 4 days desert tour from Errachidia to Marrakech via Merzouga and Dades. Over 4 days and 3 nights, you’ll discover the desert around Merzouga, visit nomads in their tents, and enjoy the Gnawa music and dance of the people of Khamlia. You’ll also see an old kohl (eyeliner) mine and the wild lake of Merzouga, just a few kilometers from the village. Then it’s time to stroll through a palm grove, ride a camel into the dunes, and watch magical sunsets and sunrises over the sand, with a night at a camp in the heart of the Sahara. From the desert, you’ll head west to the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley, then on to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, before crossing the High Atlas Mountains on the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech. The tour starts at Errachidia (ERH) Airport or your accommodation and ends in Marrakech, and the itinerary can be adjusted to match your flight times.
Tour Highlights:
Your desert tour begins with a pick-up from Errachidia (ERH) Airport or your accommodation in the city. From there, we drive south to the Sahara dunes of Merzouga, where you’ll spend the night.
Flight options: domestic flights from Marrakech, operated by Ryanair, run three days a week, arriving at around 7 am or 3 pm. Domestic flights from Casablanca, operated by Royal Air Maroc, run every day and arrive at midnight. We’re happy to adjust the itinerary to suit your arrival time.
After breakfast, the whole day is dedicated to exploring the Merzouga desert and the Erg Chebbi dunes. The area is full of variety, with sand dunes, a seasonal wild lake, fossil sites, small mines and lovely oases, making it perfect for easy outdoor activities. We begin with an off-road drive to an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, then visit nomads in their woven tents to learn about their way of life over a glass of Berber tea. Next, we continue to Khamlia to enjoy Gnawa music and dance; many of the villagers have roots in Mali, Sudan and Niger. You’ll have free time for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a stroll through a palm grove, then drive a few kilometers to the wild lake of Merzouga, often known as the flamingos’ lake. Later, you’ll swap the car for a camel and ride across the dunes, stopping on a high dune to watch the sunset before continuing to the luxury camp. Enjoy Berber drumming around the campfire under a sky full of stars, followed by dinner and a night at the camp.
After breakfast, we leave the desert for Rissani, the historic capital of Tafilalet and still an important trading town, with a large, lively souk on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. After a walk through the market, we continue to Erfoud to visit a fossil marble workshop. We then drive through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad to reach the Todra Gorges, where the Todra River has carved a dramatic canyon with high red cliffs through the mountains, a favorite spot for rock climbers. Take your time to wander through the gorge and enjoy the landscape, with free time for lunch at a restaurant. From there, we continue to the Dades Valley via Boumalne Dades, with must-see stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and a mountaintop viewpoint overlooking the valley. Dinner and the night are spent at your hotel.
On the last day of your tour, we drive to Kelaat M’Gouna to visit the Rose Valley, where a Rose Festival is held every May and locals sell their rose products, from perfume, rose water and oil to cosmetics. We then pass through the palm groves of Skoura before reaching Ouarzazate, known as the “Gateway to the Desert,” where we visit the film studios in which many famous movies were shot. Next, we head to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has appeared in many films, including Gladiator, Alexander and The Mummy, as well as TV series such as Game of Thrones. We then continue to Marrakech through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains and over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, stopping for lunch and for photos at the best spots along the way. On arrival, your 4 days desert tour from Errachidia to Marrakech via Merzouga and Dades ends with a drop-off at the airport or your accommodation.
