Starting from the legendary gateway city of Ouarzazate — Morocco’s own Hollywood — this 3 Days Ouarzazate Desert Tour takes you on a private journey through the very finest landscapes of the country’s deep south. In three action-packed days, you will discover the UNESCO Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, plunge into the dramatic depths of the Dades and Todra Gorges, ride camels across the golden Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, and spend a night in a desert camp beneath a sky blazing with stars.
The tour is designed to end in Marrakech or Fes — whichever suits your onward travel plans. And if the standard itinerary below doesn’t perfectly match your needs, it can be customised in any way you require.
– Visiting the iconic Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
— a UNESCO World Heritage Site and backdrop to some of cinema’s greatest productions
– Driving along the legendary Road of the Thousand Kasbahs
– Walking beneath the soaring 300-metre cliffs of the Todra Gorge
– Riding camels into the heart of the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
– Spending the night in a desert camp with Berber locals under a vast starlit sky
– Watching the golden light of the desert sunrise from the dunes
– Travelling north through the Ziz Valley (Fes option) or westward through the High Atlas (Marrakech option)
– Spotting Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou (Fes route)
DAY 1: OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → DADES GORGES
Your private driver collects you from Ouarzazate airport or your hotel in the city. The first stop is the magnificent Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou — one of Morocco’s most celebrated monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This extraordinary fortified village of earthen towers has served as the setting for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and many other celebrated productions. Its ancient lanes, communal granaries, and commanding position above the valley make it a deeply atmospheric place.
After lunch in the Ait Ben Haddou village, the road heads east through Ouarzazate and along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs — a route named for the succession of ancient earthen fortifications that punctuate the landscape on either side. By evening you arrive in the Dades Gorges, where your hotel or riad is set among the canyon’s spectacular layered rock walls. Dinner and overnight here.
DAY 2: DADES GORGES → TODRA GORGES → MERZOUGA DESERT
After breakfast, the drive continues east to the Todra Gorge — one of Morocco’s most extraordinary natural environments. The gorge’s sheer limestone walls, rising over 300 metres on either side of a shallow mountain stream, create a narrow and dramatically beautiful corridor. A walk through the canyon floor is one of the most memorable experiences of the journey.
Continuing east through palmeries and pre-Saharan valleys, you arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon. An experienced camel guide and his animals await to carry you across the fabulous dunes of Erg Chebbi, a journey of roughly thirty minutes to reach the desert camp. Spend the evening with Berber hosts around the campfire, listening to traditional music and gazing at the stars from your private tent.
DAY 3 (OPTION A — TO MARRAKECH): MERZOUGA → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → MARRAKECH
After a desert sunrise and breakfast, the return journey heads westward through the canyon landscapes of the south, passing through Ouarzazate and climbing back over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass before descending into Marrakech in the evening.
DAY 3 (OPTION B — TO FES): MERZOUGA → ZIZ VALLEY → MIDELT → AZROU → IFRANE → FES
Departing the desert after breakfast, the road heads north along the scenic Ziz Valley — a long, lush corridor of date palms tracing the river through the pre-Saharan landscape. Lunch is taken in the mountain town of Midelt. The road then climbs into the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques may be spotted in the trees near Azrou. A stop in Ifrane — the elegant alpine town known as Morocco’s “Little Switzerland” — precedes the final drive to Fes, with drop-off at your hotel or riad.
– The ending destination (Marrakech or Fes) is chosen at the time of booking.
– The itinerary is fully customisable — please contact us with any specific requirements.
– Please inform us of any dietary requirements when booking.
– All vehicles are air-conditioned and regularly maintained.
– Pick-up from Ouarzazate airport or your hotel in the city
– Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech or Fes
– Private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver
– Camel trekking to the desert camp
– Private tent in the desert camp
– 2 nights accommodation
– Breakfasts and dinners
– Lunches and beverages
– Entrance fees where applicable
– Tips (optional but appreciated)
Please fill out the form below to contact us, and we will respond as soon as possible. For a faster response please send a WhatsApp: +212 668-342513 message or call us at +212678099129 . We look forward to connecting with you. Email: info@merzougadunestours.com
Paying for your tour is straightforward. A small upfront deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your spot — this can be sent via PayPal, bank transfer, or Wise. The outstanding balance is then settled directly with your driver or guide on the first day of your trip, accepted in euros, US dollars, or Moroccan dirhams.
Morocco’s official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). While major hotels and larger establishments tend to accept credit cards, smaller markets and towns generally operate on a cash-only basis, so it’s advisable to carry local currency.
Absolutely. The tour can be fully tailored to match your preferences — whether that means adding extra destinations, upgrading your accommodation, or switching to alternative transport such as a private 4×4 vehicle.
Yes, camel rides are commonly included in desert tour packages, typically used to cross the dunes on the way to your overnight camp.
Camel rides are a standard part of desert experiences and are used to reach the overnight camp by crossing the dunes.
Guests stay in traditional Berber-style tents within a desert camp setting. Amenities include comfortable bedding, warm blankets, shared or private bathroom facilities (depending on the camp category), and a shared dining area for meals and socializing.
The policy varies based on how far in advance you cancel relative to your departure date. A booking deposit is required to hold your reservation, and partial or full refunds may apply depending on the notice given.
