Marrakech Desert Tours
Sahara Trips
3 to 10 Days · Erg Chebbi · Fes · Casablanca
Plan My Sahara TripMarrakech Desert Tours
Marrakech is the most popular departure point for Morocco desert tours. From the medina it is a four-hour drive to Ait Ben Haddou, six hours to Ouarzazate, and eight hours to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. Every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass — at 2,260 metres, one of the most dramatic mountain roads in North Africa.
Pro Morocco Tours has been running Marrakech desert tours since 2010. Every Sahara trip on this page is personally driven and tested by Hassan, born and raised near the Erg Chebbi dunes, before it appears here. Nothing goes on the itinerary that does not deliver.
Which tour length suits you?
Three days is the minimum for a meaningful Sahara trip from Marrakech. Four to five days gives you proper time at Erg Chebbi without rushing the gorge stops. Seven to ten days adds the imperial cities, Chefchaouen, or the Atlantic coast to the route. Every length runs as a round trip back to Marrakech or a one-way crossing to Fes or Casablanca.
What is included?
Every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech includes an air-conditioned vehicle, English-speaking driver-guide, all overnight accommodation, the sunset camel trek at Erg Chebbi, dinner and breakfast at the desert camp, and all fuel and road tolls. Entry fees to monuments and personal expenses are not included.
How far is the Sahara from Marrakech?
The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga are roughly 560 kilometres from Marrakech — around 8 to 9 hours of driving including stops. Every Morocco desert tour covers the distance over two days, with an overnight stop in the Dades Valley on the way east. The return uses a completely different road so nothing is repeated.
Marrakech Desert Tours
Why start your Morocco desert tour in Marrakech?
Marrakech sits at the foot of the High Atlas, which means every Morocco desert tour south crosses one of the most scenic mountain roads in Africa before reaching the desert. It is also Morocco’s most visited city and the natural starting point for most international visitors.
Can I return to Marrakech after the desert?
Yes. Several tours on this page are round trips, returning via a completely different route so no road is repeated. One-way tours to Fes or Casablanca are also available if your flights use different airports.
Marrakech Desert Tours — 3 to 10 Days
Eleven Morocco desert tours from Marrakech, from a 3-day round trip to Erg Chebbi to a complete 10-day Morocco circuit. Every tour is fully customisable, any date.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Marrakech
3 Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Round Trip
High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge, one night at Erg Chebbi, and a return via the Dades Valley. The most popular 3-day round trip from Marrakech — no road repeated.
Marrakech → Sahara → Fes
3 Day Marrakech to Fes via Sahara
One Way
Ait Ben Haddou, sunset camel trek at Erg Chebbi, and the cedar forest near Ifrane. The most popular one-way desert crossing between Morocco’s two great imperial cities.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Marrakech
4 Day Marrakech to Merzouga Round Trip
Round Trip
Ouarzazate, Todra Gorge, one night at Erg Chebbi, and a scenic return through Alnif, Agdez, and the Draa Valley. More relaxed than the 3-day with fewer early starts.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Fes
4 Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
One Way
Todra Gorge, Erg Chebbi Sahara camp, Tafilalet, and the Ziz Valley before arriving in Fes. The full southern crossing with an extra desert day.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Fes
Marrakech to Fes 4 Day Desert Tour
One Way
4-day crossing from Marrakech to Fes via Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, and one Sahara night at Erg Chebbi. Drop-off at your Fes riad on Day 4.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Marrakech
5 Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Two Sahara Nights
Two nights at Erg Chebbi with a full free day in the desert. The best option if you want real time in the Sahara rather than a single overnight.
Marrakech → Merzouga → Fes
5 Day Marrakech to Fes via Erg Chebbi
One Way
Two nights near the desert, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, and the cedar forest route into Fes. More time at each stop than the 3-day crossing.
Marrakech → Sahara → Fes → Casablanca
6 Day Marrakech to Casablanca Tour
One Way
Ait Ben Haddou, Erg Chebbi, Fes medina, and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. A compact one-way Morocco itinerary from Marrakech for travellers with limited time.
Marrakech → Sahara → Fes → Casablanca
7 Day Marrakech to Casablanca Morocco Tour
One-Week Morocco Itinerary
Ait Ben Haddou, Erg Chebbi, Fes medina, Chefchaouen, Rabat, and the Hassan II Mosque. A complete one-week Morocco itinerary ending in Casablanca.
Marrakech → Sahara → Fes → Casablanca
8 Day Marrakech to Casablanca Itinerary
Morocco Itinerary
Two Sahara nights, a full day in Fes, Chefchaouen, Meknes, Volubilis, Rabat, and Casablanca. The most comprehensive 8-day Morocco itinerary from Marrakech.
Marrakech → Sahara → Fes → Casablanca
10 Day Morocco Itinerary from Marrakech
Complete Morocco Circuit
Ten days across Morocco: Ait Ben Haddou, two Sahara nights at Erg Chebbi, a guided day in Fes, Chefchaouen, Meknes, Volubilis, Rabat, and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
Why Marrakech Is the Best Starting Point for Morocco Desert Tours
Every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech crosses the same core landscape. Here is what each stop looks like and why it is worth the drive.
High Atlas & Tizi n’Tichka
Every Marrakech desert tour crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres — Morocco’s highest paved road. The switchbacks climb the full face of the High Atlas before the road drops into the pre-Saharan south. In winter there is snow at the summit. In spring the slopes are covered in wildflowers.
Ait Ben Haddou
The UNESCO-listed ksar on the south side of the High Atlas. Its earthen towers have been standing for centuries and have appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and dozens of other productions. A 45-minute walk through the ksar and up to the granary gives you the full circuit.
Dades Valley
The Route of a Thousand Kasbahs runs east from Ouarzazate through rose gardens, ancient earthen forts, and dramatic rock formations. Many Marrakech desert tours spend a night here. The gorge at dawn, before the day trippers arrive, is one of the quieter and more beautiful moments on any Sahara trip.
Todra Gorge
A 300-metre limestone canyon where the walls narrow to just a few metres at the base. The walk along the canyon floor is flat and accessible, taking around 40 minutes. Even in summer, the air inside stays cool. It is a consistent highlight on every Morocco desert tour of three days or more from Marrakech.
Erg Chebbi — Merzouga Sahara
The centrepiece of every Marrakech desert tour. The Erg Chebbi dunes reach 150 metres at their highest point and stretch for 22 kilometres. Every Sahara trip includes a sunset camel trek into the dunes, dinner at the desert camp, Gnawa music around the fire, and a sunrise from the top of the dune the following morning.
Ziz Valley & Middle Atlas
The drive north from Merzouga follows the Ziz Valley — a long palm-lined corridor of ancient ksour — before climbing back into the Middle Atlas cedar forests. Near Azrou, Barbary macaques live wild along the roadside. It is the closing landscape of every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech ending in Fes or Casablanca.
Why Choose Pro Morocco Tours for Your Marrakech Desert Tour
Marrakech Desert Tours — FAQ
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What are the best Morocco desert tours from Marrakech?
The best Morocco desert tour from Marrakech depends on how many days you have. For 3 days, the round trip to Merzouga or the one-way to Fes are the most popular. For 4 to 5 days, a round trip with a Dades Valley overnight gives a fuller experience. For 7 to 10 days, the one-way from Marrakech to Casablanca via Fes covers the best of Morocco in one continuous route.
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How long does a Morocco desert tour from Marrakech take?
Morocco desert tours from Marrakech run from 3 to 10 days. The minimum for a meaningful Sahara trip from Marrakech is 3 days — two days of driving and one night in the desert. For the best experience, 4 to 5 days allows proper time at Erg Chebbi without rushing the gorge stops.
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Do Morocco desert tours from Marrakech include accommodation?
Yes. Every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech includes all accommodation for every night of the trip. Night 1 is typically at a guesthouse in the Dades Valley. Night 2 is at the Erg Chebbi desert camp. For longer tours, subsequent nights are at riads or guesthouses at each stop along the route.
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Can I customise my Morocco desert tour from Marrakech?
Yes. Every Morocco desert tour from Marrakech on this page is a starting point. You can add an extra night in the desert, change the return route, skip a stop, or build a completely bespoke Sahara trip. Contact us with your dates and preferences and we will put together the right itinerary.
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Can I return to Marrakech after the desert tour?
Yes. Several tours on this page are round trips, returning via a completely different route so no road is repeated. One-way tours to Fes or Casablanca are also available if your flights use different cities.