PrivateAgadir to Zagora, 2 Days in the Desert
From the coast to a desert camp near Zagora by Taroudant and the carpet town of Taznakht, then home along the palm groves of the Draa Valley.
- Length
- 2 days
- Starts from
- Agadir
- From
- €195/ person for 5+
Agadir to Merzouga, 3 Days in the Sahara
From the Atlantic to the Erg Chebbi dunes by Taroudant, Taliouine, Aït Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorge, with a sunset camel ride and a night at camp.
- Length
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Starts from
- Agadir — your hotel or riad
- Travelling
- Private · 1–10 people
The journey
Starting from Agadir rather than Marrakech puts two extra places on the way to the desert: the walled town of Taroudant and Taliouine, where Morocco's saffron is grown. From there you join the road east by Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, walk into the Todra Gorge and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga in time for a camel ride at sunset. It crosses the whole width of southern Morocco in three days, so the last day home is a long one.
- A sunset camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- A night at a desert camp, with sunrise over the dunes
- Taroudant and its 16th-century ramparts
- Taliouine, the saffron-growing country
- Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar
- A walk into the Todra Gorge
Day by day
Day 1: Agadir → Taroudant → Taliouine → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
An early start from your Agadir hotel at 6:30 am. An hour later you are in Taroudant to walk its 16th-century ramparts and spice souk. Next comes a short stop in Taliouine, in the heart of saffron country, then Ouarzazate and the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou. You continue into the Dades Valley and reach the hotel around 6:00 pm for dinner and the night.
- Night
- Guesthouse
- Meals
- Dinner
≈8.5 h · ≈480 km
Day 2: Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Erg Chebbi Camp
After breakfast you walk along the floor of the Todra Gorge, between pink limestone cliffs with a stream running through. Then east across the desert plains to Merzouga, where a camel carries you into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. You reach camp as it gets dark, for a tagine dinner, Berber music and the stars.
- Night
- Desert camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
≈5 h · ≈270 km
Day 3: Sahara Sunrise → Merzouga → Agadir
Up at 5:30 am for sunrise over the dunes, a camel back to camp, breakfast and time to freshen up in Merzouga. Then the long drive west through Rissani, Tazarine and N'Kob to Agdz, and on by Tazenakht, Taliouine and Taroudant to Agadir. It is the longest day of the trip, and you arrive late in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
≈12.5 h · ≈680 km
How many days?
Every option below spends one night at the desert camp in Erg Chebbi, Merzouga. Extra days don't add nights in the dunes; they spread the driving over more days.
Driving each day
3 days / 2 nights
Agadir to Merzouga, 3 Days in the Sahara
- Day 1: ≈8.5 h
- Day 2: ≈5 h
- Day 3: ≈12.5 h
About 1,410 km by road
This trip€366
per person, for 2 travellers
4 days / 3 nights
Agadir to Erg Chebbi, 4 Days
- Day 1: ≈8.5 h
- Day 2: ≈5 h
- Day 3: ≈9 h
- Day 4: ≈6.5 h
About 1,490 km by road
See this trip€519
per person, for 2 travellers
The route
Starts from: Agadir — your hotel or riad
What's included
Included
- Air-conditioned 4x4 transport throughout
- English-speaking driver-guide
- 1 night hotel in Dades Valley or Tinghir (dinner + breakfast)
- 1 night Berber desert camp at Erg Chebbi (dinner + breakfast)
- Sunset and sunrise camel treks
- Mineral water and mint tea throughout
Not included
- Lunches on all three days
- Personal travel insurance
- Tips
Frequently asked questions
Do we reach the big dunes of Erg Chebbi?
Yes. You reach Erg Chebbi at Merzouga on the second day, with a night at camp and camel rides at sunset and sunrise.
Where do we stay?
One night in a hotel in the Dades Valley or Tinghir, and one night at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, both with dinner and breakfast.
What is included?
Air-conditioned 4x4 transport, an English speaking driver-guide, both nights with dinner and breakfast, camel rides at sunset and sunrise, and mineral water and mint tea along the way. Lunches, travel insurance and tips are not included.
How long is the drive home?
Long: about 680 km and twelve and a half hours, from the dunes all the way back to Agadir. It is the price of seeing Erg Chebbi from the coast in three days. The first day is also full, around eight and a half hours with stops.
More Desert Adventures
Private
PrivateAgadir to Erg Chegaga, 2 Days in the Desert
From the coast to the dunes of Erg Chegaga by the southern road through Tata and Foum Zguid, with a camel ride at sunset and another at dawn.
- Length
- 2 days
- Starts from
- Agadir
- From
- €320/ person for 5+
PrivateAgadir to Erg Chebbi, 4 Days
A four-day loop from the Atlantic to the Erg Chebbi dunes and back, by Taroudant, Taliouine, Aït Ben Haddou, the Todra Gorge and the old caravan road.
- Length
- 4 days
- Starts from
- Agadir
- From
- €242/ person for 6+
PrivateAgadir to Fes in 4 Days
One way from the Atlantic to Fes, by Marrakech, the Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, the Middle Atlas cedars and a guided day in the old medina.
- Length
- 4 days
- Starts from
- Agadir
- From
- €272/ person for 14+