2-day private tour · Marrakech → Merzouga
2-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga & Back
A private 2-day desert tour from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga and back — cross the High Atlas and Ait Ben Haddou, ride a camel at sunset and sleep in a Sahara camp, then return via the Todra route.
About This Tour
2 days - 1 night · Marrakech → Merzouga
Short on time in Marrakech but set on sleeping in the Sahara? This private 2-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga and back is the express route to the great Erg Chebbi dunes a sunset camel trek, a night under a sky full of stars, and the warm welcome of a Berber desert camp, all in 48 hours.
Along the way you’ll cross the dramatic High Atlas Mountains and stop at UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s most photographed kasbahs. It’s fully private, and you can add sandboarding or upgrade to a luxury camp.
Tour Highlights
The best of this journey
Photo Gallery
2-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga & Back
Tour Itinerary
Day by day, 2 days
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Day 1: Marrakech → High Atlas → Merzouga (sunset camel trek & desert night)
Your Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour begins with an early pickup from your hotel or riad. Leaving Marrakech, you’ll climb through the stunning High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, pausing to take in the views before a scenic lunch stop on the way to Merzouga.
In the afternoon, camels are waiting to lead you into the Erg Chebbi dunes. You’ll pause atop a high dune for a mesmerising sunset, then ride on to your desert camp and your private tent. After freshening up, enjoy a hearty dinner and gather around a campfire for drumming and Berber songs.
The desert takes the second half of the day: a camel ride into the dunes timed for the light, with the sand turning from gold to deep orange as the sun drops.
Dinner is at camp under a sky with no light pollution at all, usually with drums around the fire, and the night is spent in a tent before the sunrise back over the dunes.
Dinner at camp is tagine cooked over the fire, and the drums usually come out once the plates are cleared.
The tents have proper beds and rugs rather than sleeping mats, and the larger camps have private bathrooms.
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Day 2: Merzouga → Ait Ben Haddou kasbah → Marrakech
Wake early for a magnificent sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast you’ll leave camp by 4x4 for the town of Merzouga, then begin the journey back to Marrakech with several scenic stops and a lunch break.
A memorable highlight is the panoramic viewpoint over the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and a favourite filming location for productions including Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia and Game of Thrones. You’ll arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon, dropped at your riad — the end of your 2-day desert tour.
A full day out in the Sahara: the nomad families who still live in the black tents around the erg, the old Mascara galleries where kohl was mined, the village of Khamlia and its Gnawa musicians, whose sung history came north with the caravans from Mali.
The fossil beds around Erfoud were a shallow sea 400 million years ago, and the black marble cut there is full of orthoceras and trilobites.
Sunset is watched from a high dune, and the sand shifts through gold, orange and finally a deep red as the light goes.
The nomad families around the erg still move with their herds and still take visitors in for tea, which is a real household rather than a display.
What the Price Includes
Everything covered in the price
Price Includes
- ✓ Door-to-door pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad
- ✓ Private, air-conditioned modern vehicle — exclusively yours for the whole trip
- ✓ Experienced, English-speaking driver-guide who knows the routes, roads and local culture
- ✓ All fuel, tolls and vehicle running costs
- ✓ Camel trek into the dunes — one camel per person, led by a local guide
- ✓ Sunset camel trek across the golden Erg Chebbi dunes
- ✓ Overnight in a Sahara desert camp — private tent in your preferred category (standard or luxury with ensuite)
- ✓ (Breakfast & Dinner) x 1
- ✓ 4x4 transfer to and from the desert camp, available as an alternative to the camels
Price Excludes
- ✗ Drinks and bottled water (budget a few euros per day)
- ✗ Lunches — roughly €8–12 each at local restaurants along the route
- ✗ Monument and museum entry fees (e.g. Ait Ben Haddou, Atlas Studios) — optional and paid on the day
- ✗ Tips for your driver-guide and camp staff — at your discretion
If this itinerary does not quite match what you had in mind, tell us your ideas and we will rebuild it around them.
Tour Map
Marrakech → Merzouga
Why Book This Tour
What makes it worth the time
This 2-day desert tour from Marrakech is perfect for travellers who want the essential Sahara experience — camel trek, desert camp, dune sunrise and Ait Ben Haddou — in the shortest possible time. It transports you from the buzz of Marrakech to the serenity of the desert and back.
Everything is private and flexible, and if you decide you want more, the same route easily extends into a 3- or 4-day trip. Just tell us your dates and preferences.
Know Before You Go
Practical travel notes
- Pricing is per person and drops as your group grows — the more of you travel together, the lower the price each. Tell us your group size for an exact quote.
- If you'd like a longer adventure, this tour can be extended into a 3day or 4-day journey from Marrakech to Merzouga.
- Driving times are estimates for the road only — they don’t count photo stops, sightseeing or meals. Because the tour is private, you set the pace and we stop whenever you like.
- Please be aware that Day 2 involves an extended drive as we return from Merzouga to Marrakech.
- Comfortable 4x4 vehicles seat up to four adults; for five or more we provide a spacious air-conditioned minivan — always private to your group.
- We suggest an 8:00 am start on Day 1 to make the most of the light and the drive, but pickup time is flexible — tell us what suits you.
- Sandboards are free to use at your desert camp — try the dunes at sunrise or sunset. Quad bikes and buggy rides can be arranged on request.
- Individual travelers are invited to join our Group 2-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Tour for a shared experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this tour
Are these tours private?
Yes — every tour is 100% private by default. It’s just your group, your driver-guide and your own vehicle, so you experience Morocco entirely at your own pace. Stop whenever you like for photos, a mint tea or a closer look at a village or viewpoint.
Prefer to share costs? We also run small-group departures on popular routes — just contact us and we’ll match you to the right option.
Can the itinerary be customised or changed?
Absolutely. This is your trip — we can adjust the pace, swap or upgrade accommodation, add nights, and build in extra stops or activities. For the smoothest planning, let us know any changes at least two weeks before departure, though we’ll always do our best with last-minute requests too.
Does the price change with group size?
The per-person price goes down as your group grows, because the private vehicle and driver-guide are shared across more travellers. Send us your exact numbers and dates and we’ll send back a clear, all-in quote per person.
Are last-minute bookings cheaper?
Usually not — if anything the opposite. We hand-pick the best riads and desert camps, and the good ones fill up fast, especially in high season (spring and autumn). Booking early secures the best accommodation and a smoother trip.
That said, we do take last-minute bookings when availability allows — message us with your dates and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.
Is Morocco safe for tourists?
Yes. Morocco is one of the most welcoming and stable countries in the region, and tourism is central to its economy, so visitor safety is taken seriously — including dedicated tourist police and government-accredited guides.
On a private tour you’re looked after door to door by a driver-guide who knows the routes and the local etiquette. Serious crime is rare and comparable to many European destinations; normal travel common sense is all that’s needed. Morocco is a great choice for couples, families and solo travellers alike.
Booking, deposit and payment
Once we’ve agreed an itinerary that works for you, a small deposit secures your dates with Let’s Visit Morocco (every tour on the site can be tailored to your needs). You simply pay the remaining balance at the start of your tour in Morocco — no large upfront payment required.
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