One week you'd cut a trip short to get back for — except it's already the whole trip.
Atlas passes, Berber villages, camel treks into the Sahara, a night under more stars than you've ever counted, and a guide who grew up in this desert.
Not a bus window tour of the desert
Most Marrakesh desert trips are two long driving days with a photo stop at the dunes. This one spends five days actually moving through the country on foot, camelback, horse and quad — Atlas passes, Berber villages, a canyon hike, a night camped in the Sahara, and the Ait Benhaddou kasbah on the way home.
Groups top out at ten people, and several of the trip's best reviews come from solo travelers who ended up with a guide to themselves.
- — Camel trek into the Sahara with an overnight desert camp and campfire
- — Sandboarding and sunrise over the dunes at Merzouga
- — Hike through the Dades Valley canyon, with optional rock climbing at Todra Gorge
- — Horseback riding through the rocky desert at Ait Benhaddou
- — Berber villages, kasbahs and oases along the Atlas Mountains route
Five days, day by day
Meals, activities and overnight stops as run by TouaregTrails. Optional add-ons are noted where the operator offers them.
Marrakech to Dades Valley
- Scenic drive through the Atlas Mountains with stops at agricultural terraces and Berber villages
- Amridil Kasbah in the Skoura Oasis
- Onward through the Roses Valley to Dades Valley
Dades Valley to Merzouga
- Hike through the Dades Valley and canyon
- Tinghir Oasis, past abandoned kasbahs and ksars
- Drive on to the Merzouga sand dunes
Merzouga desert safari
- Camel safari into the Sahara Desert
- Sunset watched from the dunes
- Overnight desert camp with a campfire
- Stargazing far from any town light
Merzouga to Ouarzazate
- Sunrise over the dunes
- Sandboarding
- Camel ride back, or quad biking across the dunes
- Drive through the Draa Valley and Anti Atlas Mountains
Ouarzazate to Marrakech
- Horseback riding through the rocky desert at Ait Benhaddou
- Time in the ksar's streets, artisan shops and bazaars
- Return drive over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech
What's included
- Accommodation for 4 nights, including one desert camp
- English-speaking guide throughout (French & Spanish on request)
- Transport in a private vehicle
- Meals as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Camel trek and listed included activities
Not included
- Flights to and from Morocco
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities noted in the itinerary (rock climbing, off-road driving, hot air balloon, etc.)
- Additional services arranged directly with the operator
What past travelers say
182 reviews, averaging 5.0 across itinerary, guide, transport and accommodation.
Jill traveled solo and said it felt like exploring Morocco with a friend rather than on a scheduled tour — she singled out her guide, Mohamed, for how personally he shared the country.
Amy ended up with a private guide, Houssain, and described the pace as relaxed and well-organized from the first day, with food and hospitality she didn't expect going in.
Rebecca, traveling solo, felt safe throughout and called the five days a genuinely full look at Marrakesh and its surrounding activities — she noted it's a busy schedule, so come ready to move.
Michaela was nervous about traveling solo before the trip, but said her guide Mohamed made her comfortable quickly — the camels, the climbing and the desert nights stood out most.
Daniel brought his 17-year-old grandson and said the itinerary's pace suited them both, with knowledgeable narration throughout and hotels that were consistently good quality.
Susan compared it to the short three-day desert dash from Marrakesh and said this longer route actually lets you get to know the country, including a visit to a nomad family.
Good to know
- Starts & ends
- Marrakesh
- Group size
- 1–10 travelers
- Physical level
- Medium intensity
- Languages
- English, French, Spanish
- Payment
- 20% deposit outside peak dates
- Cancellation
- Operator paid only after departure