How to Take a Tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech
How to Book a Tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech
How to take a tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech is the question I asked myself before I visited beautiful Marrakech, Morocco. A guided tour of the Sahara Desert and the dunes of Erg Chebbi had been on my radar for many years, and I was thrilled that I was about to experience this beautiful and remote part of the world.
So the next question I asked myself was, how do I book a tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech? It turned out that booking a tour was fairly easy, as there were many different tour companies and packages that offered Sahara Desert and Erg Chebbi tours.
I chose to book a three-day tour that would make a variety of stops during the nine-hour journey from Marrakech, Morocco, to the town of Merzouga, which serves as the gateway to the Sahara Desert and Erg Chebbi.
I was extremely surprised that this tour was under $200, which included two nights of accommodations and most of our meals. Throughout the three-day tour, I saw beautiful sights and became friends with some wonderful people.
A Video of My Tour of the Sahara Desert
This video highlights my time in the Moroccan Sahara Desert near the dunes of Erg Chebbi. As part of a three-day tour, I was transported by camel from Merzouga to a Berber Camp in the Sahara Desert. Included in this video are scenes from arriving in Merzouga, choosing our camels, the ride to the Berber Camp, singing around the fire at the Berber Camp, watching the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and returning to Merzouga.
How to Take a Tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech - Table of Contents
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A Tour of the Sahara from Marrakech - Day One
My tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, Morocco, started with a 7:00 am pickup in Marrakech. I was staying in the Medina of Marrakech and had to walk about ten minutes to the pickup location, which was located in front of Cafe France. My trip to the Sahara Desert got off to a rough start when I hit my head on a wooden beam atop one of the Medina’s narrow streets.
Despite having quite a headache, I found the van waiting in front of Cafe France. The van had about 13 rows of seats in a two-by-one configuration. I was the first person to arrive and was happy to secure the single seat closest to the door. This seat would come in handy a few hours later.
Within the next twenty minutes, we had a van full of tourists who were excited to be visiting the Moroccan Sahara Desert. Joining our tour was a group of Europeans who had met the day before in their hostel. These tourists, along with our driver/guide Isam, would become my good friends by the end of our three-day tour.
Isam announced that our first stop would be the ancient city of Ait Ben Haddou, which would require driving over the Atlas Mountains. The drive from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou took around four hours and was quite unpleasant. After about two hours of switchbacks, I began to feel sick, and Isam stopped the van just in time for me to exit and vomit. Thankfully, I felt better after emptying my stomach and made it to Ait Ben Haddou with no additional problems.
Touring Ait Ben Haddou - The Filming Location of Many Movies
After about four hours of driving, we stopped at the ancient city of Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified village used to be a key stop on a caravan journey between the Sahara and Marrakech. Today, Ait Ben Haddou is one of the best examples of clay architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.
As we left our tour van, Isam introduced us to our guide who took us into the ksar (fortified city).
Our guide explained that Ait Ben Haddou was the filming location of many blockbuster movies, but because of its UNESCO World Heritage designation, all movie sets needed to be completely dismantled after filming. This dismantling ensured that Ait Ben Haddou would maintain its historical structures.
The exception is a gate to the city that was constructed for the 1985 film, The Jewel of the Nile. This gate was built before the UNESCO designation and is the only movie prop that has not been removed.
Another famous movie that was filmed at Ait Bin Haddou was Gladiator. Our guide told us that one of the key scenes from Gladiator took place just in front of the large mound that is in the photo below.
Below is a list of all of the major movies that have been filmed at Ait Ben Haddou.
We spent about an hour at Ait Ben Haddou. After four hours of driving, it was nice to be able to relax and walk around this historic Ksar. Ait Ben Haddou was built opposite of the Asif Ounila River. During our visit, the river was almost completely dry. Our guide explained that in the next month, the wet season would begin, and the river would be full of water.
In the photo below, you can see the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou above the Asif Ounila River. On the opposite side of the river is the modern city.
Our guide led us to the top of the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, which provided a great view of the historic clay architecture, as well as the river basin. Opposite of the river was a beautiful arid landscape featuring buttes and mesas.
After touring Ait Ben Haddou, we had about 45 minutes to eat lunch. After lunch, Isam explained that we would be driving about 45 minutes to the city of Ouarzazate.
A Quick Stop in Ouarzazate
About 45 minutes later, our Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech, Morocco, stopped at its next stop, the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate. At Ouarzazate, we were given two choices, tour the Ouarzazate Cinema Museum or walk around the Taourirt Kasbah. The two attractions were across the street from each other, and most of our group decided to walk around the Kasbah.
Like Ait Ben Haddou, the Taourirt Kasbah was built using Moroccan clay architecture. Although parts of the Kasbah date back to the 17th century, much of it today has been restored.
During the visit to the Taourirt Kasbah, I walked around the narrow streets with a few of the other members of our Sahara Desert tour group.
It was an enjoyable experience walking the narrow streets of the Taourirt Kasbah. At one point, we almost got lost, but thankfully, we were able to find our way back to the parking lot.
Night One Accommodations - Citadelle Gorges Hotel
As we departed Ouarzazate, it would be another two hours to our hotel, which would be near the Dades Gorge. By the time we got to the hotel, most of our group was tired from the drive. We had spent about six hours in the van driving toward the Sahara. Thankfully, the stops helped split up the drive.
The hotel the tour company had selected for us was Citadelle Gorges Hotel. I found the hotel comfortable and was happy to have my own room. The only issue I had was that there was no heat in the room, and the temperature that night was in the lower 40s.
We arrived at the hotel around 6:45 pm, and dinner was served at 8:00 pm.
I was pleased that my hotel room had its own bathroom with plenty of hot water. I fell asleep pretty quickly and woke up the next morning at 7:00 am, as breakfast was at 7:30 am.
A Tour of the Sahara from Marrakech - Day Two
Day two of my Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech, Morocco, would take us to the Sahara Desert and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi. To break up the drive, we stopped at a Berber Village as well as the Dades Gorge.
Visiting a Berber Village
After departing our hotel, our Sahara Desert Tour stopped at a Berber Village. We were met by a very unique tour guide who had a very interesting perspective on what it meant to be wealthy and successful. Although he was forceful with his beliefs, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of his village. The guide requested that we not take any pictures of his village and farm, so there are no photos from this part of the tour.
Following the tour, we were invited into the center of the village to see how Berber Carpets are made. At this time, I was told that I was welcome to take photographs and videos. Our Berber guide told us that in his village, the women make carpets as a way to help their village earn money. A typical Berber carpet takes around six months to make if the woman works on it for a few hours each day.
After learning about how the Berber carpets are made, we were treated to a tea ceremony. Our guide said that the carpets were for sale and that we would have to negotiate with his wife if we wanted to purchase a carpet.
I purchased the red Berber carpet, which is in the photo below. The negotiating was done in a small room away from the rest of the tour members. The first quoted price for the Berber carpet was $800, and I countered with $300. After going back and forth, I got the price of the Berber carpet down to $400, but said that $300 was the most I was willing to spend. After threatening not to buy the Berber carpet, the price of $300 was agreed upon, and I paid by using my credit card.
When I returned to the group, one of the women in our group said that she had purchased a similar carpet for $200. I think when negotiating, it is best to have a price in your mind that you are willing to pay. For me, I was willing to pay $300 for the Berber carpet, so I was happy with my purchase.
Dades Gorge
Day two of our Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech, Morocco, continued with a stop at Dades Gorge. The Dades Gorge is lined by giant walls of reddish-orange rock that soar to heights of up to 1,600 feet.
Like Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, Dades Gorge has also been the sight of many movies including The Mummy.
Dades Gorge was created by the Dades River, which is sourced from an underground spring. We spent about thirty minutes at Dades Gorge before heading to lunch. Lunch would be our final stop prior to reaching Merzouga, where we would ride camels through the dunes of Erg Chebbi and the Moroccan Sahara.
Merzouga - The Gateway to Erg Chebbi
After leaving Dades Gorge, and eating our lunch, we drove around four hours before reaching the city of Merzouga. Merzouga is the gateway to the Sahara Desert, and eventually, our van came to a stop on the edge of the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Although we were already a day and a half into our three-day tour, I felt like my tour of the Sahara Desert and the dunes of Erg Chebbi was just beginning. The view below was one of the main reasons that I had come to beautiful Morocco.
Waiting for us in Merzouga was a herd of Sahara Desert camels, known as dromedaries. Dromedaries are camels that only have one hump and would be our method of transportation to our accommodations for the night.
Our cameleer explained that the camels do not have names and that we could name them ourselves. I quickly named my camel David (pronounced Dah-Veed).
The Dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert
Our driver/guide Isam did not join us for this portion of our tour. Instead, we were guided by members of one of the local Berber tribes. The camel ride to our camp took around an hour, and we stopped multiple times for photographs and to watch the sunset.
The camel ride was not very comfortable, but I tried my best to enjoy the views of the Moroccan Sahara and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. When I returned to the United States, I learned that I had partially torn my labrum while riding on the camel. At one point, David had sort of slipped, and I had to strain my arm to keep from falling off my camel. I believe I tore my labrum while holding on for dear life.
During our camel ride through the Erg Chebbi, I enjoyed taking photos of the shadows of our camels as the sun set on the Sahara Desert’s dunes.
Below is one of my favorite photos of my camel ride through the dunes of Erg Chebbi and the Moroccan Sahara. I took this photograph using the widest focal setting on my GoPro, which provided a great point-of-view perspective.
After about thirty minutes of riding the camels, we stopped near some extremely tall dunes to watch the sunset. As the sun set on the dunes of Erg Chebbi, the sand began to exhibit a reddish-colored glow.
While we watched the sunset, some of our tour group members climbed up one of the dunes of Erg Chebbi. I decided to stay at the base of the dune and photograph them from a distance.
As the sun disappeared behind the dunes of Erg Chebbi, we got back on our camels and rode another twenty minutes or so to the Berber Camp, where we would spend the night.
Spending a Night at a Berber Camp in the Sahara Desert
Our accommodations for night two of our Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech, Morocco, were inside a tented Berber Camp. I was slightly disappointed to learn that the accommodations were shared, meaning I had to share a tent with three other group members. Nowhere in the description of the tour did it say that the accommodations would be shared.
After dinner, our Berber hosts treated us to a musical performance and a bonfire.
It was a surreal experience sitting under the stars of the Sahara Desert. Later that night, I tried to take a few night sky photos. It was difficult without a tripod, but one of them turned out decent.
Each tent at the Berber Camp had four beds and a bathroom with a toilet and shower. Due to a lack of water in the Sahara Desert, the water only worked intermittently. There were multiple outlets in our tent that supplied electricity through solar panels. The electricity did not work after the sun had set.
Overall, the accommodations were comfortable, and I was able to get a good night’s sleep.
A Tour of the Sahara from Marrakech - Day Three
Day three of my tour of the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, Morocco, began with a pre-sunrise breakfast at the Berber Tent Camp, where my tour group had spent the night. After breakfast, we got on the camels and headed into the dunes of Erg Chebbi to watch the sunrise. Following the sunrise, we would return to Merzouga and eventually head back to Marrakech.
Returning to Merzouga from the Berber Tent Camp
It was about a one-hour camel ride from the Berber Tent Camp to Merzouga. I have limited photos from this portion of the ride as much of it was in the dark.
After about 45 minutes on the camels, we stopped at one of the taller dunes of Erg Chebbi and dismounted our camels.
I took this opportunity to climb to the top of one of the dunes of Erg Chebbi. The photo below was taken from the top of the dune and shows how close the dunes are to the city of Merzouga.
After spending about 30 minutes climbing the dunes, it was time to get back on the camels and return to Merzouga.
My three-day tour of the Dunes of Erg Chebbi and the Moroccan Sahara Desert was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This tour had been on my bucket list for many years, and I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to see the beautiful Sahara Desert.
When we arrived back at Merzouga, I thanked my camel, James. James was a larger camel and was much more comfortable than David. I posed for a photo with James, and I was pleased that he gave me a big smile.
Returning to Marrakech from the Dunes of Erg Chebbi and the Moroccan Sahara
Once back in Merzouga, we were greeted by our driver/guide Isam. The ride back to Marrakech was around ten hours. In addition to stopping for lunch, we made three additional stops for snacks and restrooms.
I arrived back at Marrakech around 8:30 pm and was at my hotel by 9:00 pm. My hotel in Marrakech had held my suitcase during my Sahara Desert Tour, so I could travel with only a small backpack to the Sahara. I was pleased to see that my suitcase was already in my hotel room.
If you are searching for a hotel in the Medina of Marrakech, I give my highest recommendation to the Riad Dar Hamid Hotel and Spa. The employees of this hotel went above and beyond, including waking up early to allow me to check out before the hours that their front desk was typically staffed.
Sahara Desert and Erg Chebbi Tours and Packages
The best way to visit the Sahara Desert and the Dunes of Erg Chebbi is to take a tour. Below are a variety of tour packages that should suit many different types of travelers. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour or package using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of November, 2023.
 3 days trip from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi - Merzouga Sahara Desert - $210.07 This 3 days desert tour that starts from Marrakech to Merzouga desert dunes & camel trek & Sandboarding, pass by the Atlas Mountains Tizi-tichka 2260m including stops to visit the Kasbah Ben Haddou and in Ouarzazate, visiting the Roses valley and Dades valley Spend a night in a Private Hotel room traditional Hotel in Dades. start the second-day by visiting Toudgha Gorges and Toudra oasis, Tinjdad, Erfoud to arrive the Sahara Desert for a Luxury night in a Luxury camp under starry Sky |
 Private 3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga & Erg Chebbi - $111.14 The 3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga has been our best seller for years. It is the best desert trip from Marrakech. Our Marrakech to Merzouga 3-day desert safari will allow you discover the real Morocco Sahara desert. Drive past sand dunes, oases, Kasbahs and rocky desert at ease. Enjoy a camel trekking activity in sand dunes and an overnight sleep in your Sahara desert camp in the middle of nowhere! |
 4-Day Tour To Merzouga Desert and Erg Chebbi dunes from Marrakech - $502.33 Experience the Moroccan Sahara Desert on a 4-day safari tour from Marrakech to Merzouga. Spend the night at a Bedouin camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride a camel to watch the sunset and sunrise. See the Kasbah of Ouarzazate, and much more. |
 3 Day Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga by Way of Dades Valley. Erg Chebbi Camel Trek - $120.19 Escape the busy streets of Marrakech’s Medina for the stark beauty of the desert during this 3-day excursion to Mezrouga and Erg Chebbi. Cross through the Atlas Mountains via the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka pass, explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aït Benhaddou kashbah and visit the desert oasis at Skoura. Then discover the Todra Gorge and the sacred city of Rissani before spending the night amidst the stark beauty of the Sahara Desert. This 3-day, 2-night excursion also includes a driver (who also serves as guide), 2 nights of accommodation (one at a desert camp), camel trek, meals as per the itinerary, round-trip air-conditioned transport from your hotel. |
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