5 Days Marrakech Desert Tour

Southern Morocco Nature & Culture: Marrakech, Boumalne Dades & Sahara Desert.

With this exciting 5 days Marrakech desert tour, explore Morocco’s beauty. Visit the enormous sand dunes of the Sahara and the rocky High Atlas mountains. Explore historic kasbahs and desert towns as you meander through medieval medinas and souks, marvel at palaces and mosques, and take in the sights.

Highlights of a 5 days Marrakech desert tour

Fabulous panoramas of the Atlas Mountain range.
Explore the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and the Ouarzazate Film Studio.
Consider spending the night in the stunning Dades gorges.
Take a camel ride in the Merzouga Desert.
Panoramic views of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Enjoy the sun setting over the sand dunes.
Spend the Night Camping in the Merzouga Desert
A hearty dinner and a campfire party (Berber Drums)
Swim in natural pools at the base of the Todra Gorge
Explore oases, hidden valleys and old kasbahs in the desert

Itinerary:

Day 2: Marrakech - Over the High Atlas to Dades Valley

Welcome to Morocco! After reaching Marrakech, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking drive through the High Atlas Mountains. North Africa is home to the ethnic indigenous group known as the Berbers, who live in this starkly beautiful environment. Many Berber villages, farms, and the rivers that allow them access to the rocky, arid terrain will be visible as you travel by them. The Berber people will make you feel welcome and teach you about their way of life if you choose to take an optional tour of one of their typical homes. Take in the expansive views of the seemingly endless peaks and valleys as you cross the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, keeping an eye out for Toubkal, the tallest of them all, in the distance.

The High Atlas also serves as a barrier between the Sahara Desert to the south and the milder Mediterranean climate to the north. The climate changes noticeably as you move closer to Ouarzazate (pronounced “war-za-zat”), where you will arrive. Picturesque Although Ouarzazate was once a significant trading center, it is now better known as the exotic setting for many of your favorite movies and TV shows. From there, you’ll travel to the Dades Valley, a region renowned for its elaborate kasbahs and lush oases. The landed and wealthy constructed the enormous, square kasbahs, which have some of Morocco’s most distinctive architectural features. Spend the night in a welcoming hotel that is tucked away in a serene valley.

Day 2: Dades Valley - Explore Todra Gorge - Merzouga Desert

You’ll travel this morning to the Todra Gorge in the east, where a stunningly steep fault divides the deep golden limestone in two. Watch the lush date palm groves and protruding rock formations as you wind your way to Todra. When you get there, take a stroll along the bottom of the 984-foot (300-meter) ravine by a clear stream, with the impressive rocks towering above. Make your way to the Sahara in the afternoon via the Tinghir oasis towns. spending the night in a charming riad.

As a result of Erfoud’s reputation for fossil preservation, it is possible to pay for an optional visit to a factory where fossils are extracted from the bedrock. Before continuing to the deep amber sands of Erg Chebbi, a vast sea of Saharan sand dunes, take a break for lunch in Rissani and explore the vibrant souk. Some of these dunes are over 650 feet (200 m) high! Before a stunning desert sunset, mount a camel and ride around the dunes. Dinner will feature a sumptuous Bedouin meal, live traditional music, and even a drumming lesson in the Moroccan style.

Day 3: Explore Merzouga - Camel Riding on Erg Chebbi Dunes

Take a Jeep ride through the Erg Chebbi dunes, meet some local nomads, have tea with some neighbors, and stop by the Gnawa house in Khemliya, a genuine Saharan village, to hear some spiritual healing music. You can rent a sandboard in the afternoon and practice on the dune areas. Alternately, go on an ATV quad tour. You’ll navigate the sandy peaks with the aid of a local guide, stopping at breathtaking vistas and intriguing locations.

Switch to your personal camel and start the journey to your Bedouin-style camp over the sand dunes. Take a short hike to the top of a nearby dune to observe the sun setting, before enjoying a warm meal by the fire while listening to traditional music.

Day 4:Merzouga - Draa Valley - Ouarzazate

This morning, you’ll travel to Rissani to visit the Maison Touareg cultural center and bazaar. Learn about the local tribes and the meaning behind the magnificent carpets they weave. There are also many other genuine handicrafts to barter for, such as pewter, leather, and jewelry. From there, you’ll travel west, passing by tribes as you pass through vast desert plains, mountain peaks, and acacia forests.

The landscape turns lush and green as you enter the fertile Draa Valley, which is dotted with farms, fruit trees, and palm groves. Taking a break here will allow you to breathe some fresh air and sample some fruits and vegetables right off the tree. The Tizi-n-Tinififft Pass offers views of beautiful river valleys and a desolate rock landscape once in the Anti Atlas Mountains. Spend the night in a charming riad, a style of lodging with a garden in the interior courtyard, to cap off your day in Ouarzazate.

Day 5: Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou Kasbah - Marrakech

If you’d like a little more time in Ouarzazate, you can choose to spend the morning taking a guided tour of the Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most impressive in the nation. Alternately, go to one of the city’s two movie studios to see where scenes from movies like Lawrence of Arabia and The Gladiator were filmed. You will then travel to Ait Benhaddou, which is located in the foothills of the High Atlas, about 30 minutes to the west of Ouarzazate.

This kasbah, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated along an old trade route used by camel caravans to travel between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is a magnificent illustration of Moroccan earthen clay architecture, with roofs made of tree trunks and bamboo. Explore the maze-like network of alleys and passageways until you find the many talented artisans who produce and sell their goods here. Going back to Marrakech.

Addditional info about 5 days Marrakech desert tour

On request, vegetarian options are available.
Quad biking or Marrakech day trip can be included as an extra.
Instead of riding a camel, you can drive to the desert camp.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
You can simply ask your driver if you wish to miss some of the attractions and spend more time elsewhere.

Travel Insurance:

At the risk of sounding like your parents, buy travel insurance before you leave. It’s one of those items you don’t want to leave the house without. Depending on your travel style, we recommend either World Nomads or Safety Wing.

Before departing on a tour, the client should get personal insurance from a reliable insurer to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation fees, luggage loss, and tour cancellation penalties.

NOTES:

If you wish to change something about the tour, just let us know your ideas and travel plans, and we’ll come up with a comparable or alternative schedule that meets your needs. For further information, please contact us.

DEPOSIT & PAYMENT

To reserve your desert 5 days Marrakech desert tour, we require a deposit via PayPal or bank transfer, with the remainder paid in cash upon your arrival. We are entirely flexible in arranging your customised trip based on your travel preferences and budget.

Cash or credit cards:

We accept cash in Euros(€), Pounds(£), USD($), or local Dirhams(MAD) for the 5 days Marrakech desert tour balance. We recommend paying cash to your guide on the first day of the tour. If you do not want to go with a lot of cash, we propose paying with credit or mastercard, however there is a 6% fee.

Cancellation Policy

We can cancel your 5 days Marrakech desert tour for free if you notify us one week before the tour begins. Simply notify us of your cancellation by email, and we will issue a full refund. Also, if you wish to postpone your trip to a later date.

Plan your trip to Morocco

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5 Days Marrakech Desert Tour