Desert
5-day tour
Sahara
Discover the Sahara Desert5-day Tour
5-day tour Sahara DesertOption 2
5 days between serene mountain and desert landscapes. This 5-day adventure takes you through the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains. Get lost in the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and hike the stunning Todra Valley. Journey to the Sahara for a sunset camel ride and an unforgettable camping experience under the starry night sky. Go fossil hunting in the desert and discover The Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate.
5-day tour overview
Welcome to Marrakech!
Your Sahara adventure begins at 8 am. A driver will pick you up at your riad, and you’ll set off in a comfortable, private, air-conditioned vehicle. As you travel, the guide will provide valuable insights about the journey ahead.
On our way to Aït Ben Haddou we make stops along the way to admire panoramic views of the mountains and small berber villages. Visit Aït Ben Haddou, a historic Kasbah that once served as an essential stop for salt caravans crossing the Sahara. This world-famous site was also a filming location for The Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
We continue our journey to Dades Gorges. Along the way we’ll stop for lunch at a local eatery. The route takes you past Ouarzazate, Skoura Oasis, and Rose Valley.
We end the day in Dades Gorges, where you discover breathtaking rock formations in colors ranging from warm sandy hues and golden amber to deep rusty reds and muted lavender grays. There are numerous viewpoints along the way, and at the top of the gorge you admire the road’s twisting progress. You have dinner and spend the night in Dades Gorges.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Visit Dades Gorges
Special Information
- The total travel time for the day is approximately 6 hours.
Route
- Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Gorges
Today we continue to Todra Gorges, one of the most stunning spots in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. You and your guide will set off on a hike through the valley of the Todra Gorges. With canyon walls soaring over 400 meters high, the Todra Gorge has a prehistoric feel.
Journey to the Sahara
As you drive towards the Sahara, you’ll witness the landscape gradually change, from barren mountain slopes to green valleys.
You’ll visit Erfoud, known for its dates. You get the chance to stop by the souk to try these sweet delicacies. Erfoud is also know for its unique and precious fossils. This area, once underwater millions of years ago, now offers a chance to discover various types of fossils. You will be able to wander the landscape looking for your own fossils. Before we enter the Merzouga desert, we visit a traditional tribe in small village on the edge of the desert near the Algerian border.
Upon arrival, embark on your desert adventure aboard your own camel (or a 4X4 if you can’t do camels). You’ll take a one-hour ride across the Erg Chebbi sand dunes as the sun sets, painting the surrounding sea of sand in stunning red-orange hues. The shifting dunes, shaped by the Sahara wind, create beautiful, rolling ridges and valleys.
Back at camp, your hosts will set a campfire and prepare a Moroccan feast with live traditional Berber music. After a musical evening you’ll spend the night in a comfortable tent under the stars.
Accommodation
- Desert Camp (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner in desert camp
Included Activities
- Walk Todra Gorges
- Visit Erfoud’s Souk
- Visit to Erfoud’s fossil sites
- Visit traditional tribe
- Camel ride across Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- Diner in the desert by campfire with live nomadic music
Special Information
- The total travel time for the day is approximately 5 hours.
Route
- Todra Gorges → Erfoud → Gnawa village → Merzouga
Today we’ll go on a thrilling 4 wheel drive desert safari. We’ll set off-road across the Erg Chebbi Desert to uncover some of its hidden gems.
Our journey will then take us to Khamlia, a small village originally settled by people from Mali and Sudan. Here, we’ll meet with locals, and listen to the captivating rhythms of Gnaoua music, a style of drumming unique to the region.
We cross a rugged desert landscape toward a viewpoint that offers a sweeping panorama. From this point, you’ll see the Chebbi Mountains on the Moroccan-Algerian border to the left and an expansive view of the dunes.
Along the way, you’ll encounter ancient fossilized marine life, offering a glimpse into a world that existed millions of years ago.
Our journey through these arid landscapes will lead us to visit some of the remaining nomadic families of the desert. You’ll have the chance to experience their lifestyle firsthand, from their tent settlements to mud-brick homes.
We’ll share a meal together, either with a nomadic family or shaded under a tree in the desert. Our day concludes with a visit to a desert oasis before we return to Merzouga.
Accommodation
- Desert Camp (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner in desert camp
Included Activities
- 4 wheel drive desert safari.
- Visit the village Khamlia, with Gnaoua music
- Visit ancient fossilised marina life.
- Visit a Nomadic family in the desert.
- Visit to the desert oasis
Special Information
- The total travel time for the day is approximately 4 hours.
Route
- Merzouga → Khamlia → Fossil site → Nomadic Family → Merzouga
Rise and shine
For early risers, climb the nearest dune to witness a stunning sunrise over the Sahara Desert. After breakfast, you’ll start your journey to Ouarzazate.
Along the way, visit the authentic souk in Rissani, where locals trade everything from fruits, vegetables, and meat to dates, nuts, spices, and even donkeys, sheep, and goats. The route takes you past Alnif and Tazarine. We’ll stop for a lunch break in Nkob, known as the village of 45 kasbahs.
We’ll then continue our journey to Ouarzazate, where you’ll spend the night.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise over the Sahara desert
- Breakfast at the camp
- Visit Rissani souk
Special Information
- The total travel time today is approximately 4 hours.
Route
- Merzouga → Rissani authentic souk → Alnif → Tazarine -→ Nkob → Ouarzazate
After breakfast, before you’ll begin the journey back to Marrakech, we visit the Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, known as the African Hollywood. Atlas Studios gives you the chance to see for yourself the sets where so many successful films and series have been shot, including “Gladiator”, “Prince of Persia” or “Game of Thrones.”
During the guided visit, you will explore the backstage areas, hear inside anecdotes, and learn about the evolution in construction methods over time. It is not uncommon, during a studio visit, to stumble upon a film shoot in progress, coming face-to- face with real actors in costume.
Your adventure has come to an end and we set off to Marrakech with several panoramic stops along the way. We drive via the impressive Atlas Mountains.
Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Atlas Studios
Special Information
- The total travel time today is approximately 4 hours.
Route
Ouarzazate → Agouim → Marrakech
Included
- Meals
4 x breakfast, 2 x diner, 1 x lunch - Transport
Private vehicle, camel - Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), tented camp (2 night) - Activities
- Guided visit to Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Visit Dades Gorges
- Walk Todra Gorges
- Visit Erfoud’s Souk
- Visit to Erfoud’s fossil sites
- Visit traditional tribe
- Camel ride across Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- Diner in the Erg Chebbi desert by campfire with live nomadic music
- Sunrise in Merzouga desert
- Visit Khamlia village with Gnaoua music
- Visit Nomadic Family
- Visit Desert Oasis
- Visit Rissani souk
- Visit Nkob
- Visit Ouarzazate Atlas Studios
Important information
Prices start from 720€ per person.
You can also book a private tour for 1 person.
Inform with us for the exact price.
Please note that these are private tours, not group tours.
You’ll have the driver and the vehicle exclusively for yourself throughout the entire trip.
The driver will be at the riad at 8:00 AM sharp. Please make sure you are ready and waiting at the reception of the accommodation.
You will return to Marrakech on your last day, with arrival expected between 8:00 and 9:00 PM, depending on traffic. If you have a flight on this day, please schedule it for no earlier than midnight.
Book this trip
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Please note that every tour can be customized to suit your specific needs.