Sahara desert tour: Marrakech → Merzouga, 3 days
Three days, two nights, and about 1,120 km of driving in total - roughly 560 km each way from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. Day one is the long one at 8 to 9 hours behind the wheel, crossing the High Atlas at Tizi n'Tichka, and it is why this is a 3-day trip rather than a 2-day one. Everything below is what actually happens, hour by hour.
€550 per vehicle
Reviewed September 2026 by Ahlam Giyat, travel editor at Taxi Maroc Aéroport, Marrakech.
Erg Chebbi runs about 28 km north to south and 5–7 km across, with dunes rising some 150 m above the surrounding rocky hamada. Merzouga sits on its western edge.
Day one: Marrakech → Dades, about 8–9 hours
You leave Marrakech in the morning and climb straight into the High Atlas. The Tizi n'Tichka pass is the high point of the day - the roadside sign says 2,260 m, though a 2022 GPS survey put the true summit nearer 2,205 m. Either way it is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa, the road was cut by the French military in 1936, and it runs 54 km of hairpins as National Route 9. Between November and March there can be snow at the top while Marrakech is in shirtsleeves.
Down the far side you stop at Aït Benhaddou, the earthen ksar about 20 km before Ouarzazate that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Around ten families still live inside it. You have seen it before even if you think you have not - Lawrence of Arabia, The Sheltering Sky, Gladiator and a long list since.
The day ends in the Dades valley after passing Ouarzazate and the Skoura palm groves. Night one is in a hotel, not a tent.
Day two: Dades → Merzouga, about 6 hours
The morning runs through the Todra Gorge, where the canyon narrows to about 10 metres across with walls rising some 300 m on either side. Then east along the Ziz valley and the Tafilalet date palms to Merzouga.
You reach the edge of Erg Chebbi in the late afternoon. The dunes rise to 150 m above the surrounding plain, which sits at about 730 m altitude - they are genuinely large, not the modest hills people expect. Camels take you the last stretch to camp for sunset, and night two is under canvas in the desert.
Day three: Merzouga → Marrakech, about 10 hours
Sunrise over the dunes, camel back to the vehicle, then the long return. This is the hardest day of the three and there is no way to shorten it - you are covering 560 km back across the Atlas.
We return via Ouarzazate and Tizi n'Tichka, arriving in Marrakech in the evening. If you have a flight that day, book nothing before 21:00, and tell us the time so we plan the stops around it.
Why 3 days and not 2
A 2-day version exists and it goes to Zagora, not Merzouga - a different, smaller erg about 360 km from Marrakech. It is a legitimate trip and it is cheaper, but the dunes are far less dramatic and you spend proportionally more of it in the car.
If your only free window is two days, take the Zagora trip and enjoy it. If you have three, Merzouga is the one worth doing. We would rather you go to the right desert than the expensive one.
See the full comparison in our 2 days or 3 days guide.
What is included and what is not
- Included: private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all three days, one hotel night in Dades, one night in a desert camp, camel trek at Merzouga, dinner and breakfast at the camp
- Not included: lunches, entrance fees, drinks, guide fees inside Aït Benhaddou, and tips
- Private, not shared - the vehicle is yours and the schedule bends to you
- Free child seats, fitted before departure
- No deposit; free cancellation up to 24 hours before
What to bring, honestly
The desert is cold at night from November to March - often close to freezing, while the same day may reach 25 °C. Bring a fleece and long trousers, not just beach clothes. In summer the daytime figure regularly passes 40 °C and the camp is hot until well after dark.
Also: a head covering, sunglasses, more water than you think, a power bank because the camp has limited electricity, and shoes you do not mind filling with sand.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
About 560 km each way, roughly 1,120 km over the three days.
How long is the drive on each day?
Around 8 to 9 hours on day one, 6 hours on day two, and about 10 hours on day three.
How high are the dunes at Erg Chebbi?
They rise to about 150 metres above the surrounding plain, which sits at roughly 730 m altitude.
How high is the Tizi n'Tichka pass?
The sign at the summit says 2,260 m; a 2022 GPS survey measured it at about 2,205 m. It is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa.
Is 2 days enough for the Sahara?
Only for Zagora, about 360 km away. Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes need three days.
Will I be cold at night?
From November to March, yes - often close to freezing in the desert at night. Bring warm layers even if the day was hot.
Can I fly out on the last day?
Not before 21:00. Tell us your flight time and we plan the return around it.
Sources & official information