A private loop from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes: two gorges on the way out, a camel ride at sunset, a night at camp and a quieter road home.
This is the classic Sahara journey, done as a loop so you never drive the same road twice. Day one climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka and stops at the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou before the night in the Dades Gorges. Day two walks into the Todra Gorge, then reaches Merzouga in the afternoon in time to ride out into Erg Chebbi as the light goes. You come home on the western desert road through Alnif and Tazarine, fossil country, with far less traffic than the way in.
We collect you at 7:00 am and climb into the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, 2,260 m. After the pass comes Aït Ben Haddou, the earthen ksar on the UNESCO list, then Ouarzazate and the long road of kasbahs east to the Dades Gorges, where you spend the night.
≈7 h · ≈420 km
A morning walk between the cliffs of the Todra Gorge, then on through Erfoud to Merzouga, arriving in the middle of the afternoon. You ride a camel out into Erg Chebbi as the sun drops, and the evening ends with dinner and Gnawa drums at the camp.
≈5 h · ≈300 km
Up early for sunrise on the dunes, then a camel back to breakfast. The drive home takes the desert road west through Alnif and Tazarine, quiet fossil country, then Ouarzazate and the Tichka pass again. You reach Marrakech in the evening.
≈9 h · ≈560 km
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
2 days / 1 night
Merzouga under the Stars, 2 Days from Marrakech
About 1,100 km by road
€260
per person, for 2 travellers
3 days / 2 nights
Marrakech to Merzouga, 3 Days in the Sahara
About 1,180 km by road
€380
per person, for 2 travellers
4 days / 3 nights
Marrakech to Erg Chebbi, 4 Days at an Easy Pace
About 1,180 km by road
€526
per person, for 2 travellers
Starts from: Marrakech — your hotel or riad
PrivateThe shortest way to a night in the desert from Marrakech: over the Atlas, past Aït Ben Haddou and down the palm groves of the Draa Valley to a camp near Zagora.
PrivateA sunset camel ride into Erg Chebbi, then a night at camp where, on a clear moonless night, the Milky Way is plain to the naked eye.
PrivateThe Marrakech to Erg Chebbi loop paced for families: shorter driving days, hotels with a pool, a family camp in the dunes and camel rides at both ends of the day.
PrivateAn evening in the stony desert outside Marrakech: an hour on a quad, a camel ride at sunset and dinner at a desert camp.
