7-Day Desert Trip Marrakech to Merzouga

Detailed Day Wise Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival at Marrakech » Transfer to the Hotel

  Here's what our tour schedule looks like: We'll begin by picking you up from the airport when you arrive, and then we'll take you to a nice riad or hotel in the heart of Marrakesh, right by the historic center. It's only a short two-minute stroll from the famous Jamaa El-Fna square.

  In the afternoon, you'll have the option to explore the historic center by yourself. You can head to the square, which comes alive in the evening with storytellers, jugglers, fortune-tellers, snake charmers, dancers, and other fascinating performers. After your exploration, you'll spend the night at your hotel or riad in Marrakech.

• Day 2: Marrakech » High Atlas » Ait Benhaddou Kasbah » Ouarzazate » Dades Valley[345Km]

  At 8 o'clock in the morning, we'll pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech and start our journey to the High Atlas, which is a part of the Moroccan Atlas mountains. We'll drive through Tizi N'Tichka pass, making stops along the way to enjoy the beautiful views and snap some photos of the small Berber villages that blend into the landscape.

  Next, we'll head south to a place called Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a special fortified village that's so famous it's been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. You might recognize it from movies like Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penélope Cruz. You'll have some free time to grab lunch in town.

  Then, we'll continue on to Ouarzazate, known as "The Gate of the Desert", where you'll see the Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most spectacular villages in Morocco. Our next stop on this 7-day desert tour Marrakech to Merzouga is the Rose Valley, which we'll reach by passing through the big Skoura palm grove. This place is full of over 700,000 palm trees and many kasbahs in the area. In this valley, they grow roses for cosmetic purposes, like making precious rosewater. There's also a Rose Festival held here every May, which is a big deal in Moroccan culture.

  Finally, we'll get to the Dades Valley, where we'll spend the night.

• Day 3: Dades Valley » Todra Gorges » Merzouga » Camel Trek[271Km]

  After breakfast, we'll head to a special spot in the mountains that offers a stunning view of the Dades Valley. You can see all the kasbahs and the unique features of each one from here. Then, we'll hit the road on a good, smooth path that goes from Tineghir to the Todra Gorges and finally to the Sahara desert at Erg Chebbi. Along the way, we'll make a few stops to take in the sights.

  When we reach the Todra Gorges, you're in for a treat. The view is amazing, and you'll see local folks living in the area in their mudbrick villages. These gorges are a hit with rock climbers because of their rocky, uneven sides. After a short walk in the Todra Gorges, you'll have some free time to have lunch in Tinejdad or Touroug.

  Then, we'll continue our journey to the Sahara desert and arrive at the stunning Merzouga dunes. Once we get there, we'll switch to camels for a one-hour ride to our nomad camp near the sea of dunes, called Erg Chebbi. This is where you'll spend your night in the desert. Before dinner, we'll take in the beautiful sight of the sunset from the top of a dune, and then you'll sleep in a tent under the incredible starry sky.

• Day 4: Merzouga Desert » Ziz Valley » Azrou or Michlifen » Fes[481Km]

  Early in the morning, we'll have a special treat - watching the sunrise in the desert. It's a must-do, and it's really amazing. We'll head to the top of a dune near the camp to catch the most spectacular sunrise you've ever seen. After that, you'll ride camels back to Merzouga, where your driver is waiting for you.

  Once we're all set, we'll start our fourth day in the 7-day tour from Marrakech. We'll go north through the Tafilalet palm grove, which happens to be the biggest one in the world. You'll be amazed by the thousands of palm trees lining the 20-kilometer road. This road takes us to the Ziz Valley, where the river flows down from the High Atlas and feeds the palm grove. We'll stop for a while and enjoy a fantastic view of the valley and the town of Aoufous from a high spot.

  Our journey continues, and we'll make another stop in Midelt, right in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. Here, you'll have some free time to have lunch and rest a bit. In the afternoon, we'll keep going through the Cedar Woods, and if we're lucky, we might spot some monkeys.

  Our next stop is the city of Ifrane, which sits on the northwestern side of the Middle Atlas at 1630 meters above sea level. It's a unique place with wide streets, tidy urban planning, lovely gardens, green spaces, and Swiss-style architecture. It might make you feel like you're in Switzerland, and funnily enough, they even have a ski resort called Michlifen. Around 6 PM, we'll arrive in Fez.

• Day 5: Fes » Rabat » Casablanca[295Km]

  We're starting our day around 9 in the morning, and our first stop is the city of Fez. Fez is known as the cultural and religious heart of the country. You can choose to have a guided tour, and during this visit, you'll have time to see the Royal Palace and its different neighborhoods, like Mellah, La Nouvelle Ville (Villa Nueva), and Fez-El-Bali, which is the old part inside the walls of the medina.

  As you wander through the narrow streets of Fez, you'll notice that donkeys are the main way to carry things around. You'll get a close look at the work of potters, blacksmiths, tanners, weavers, and more. It really feels like you're stepping back in time. You'll also learn that Fez is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, where they focus on studying Arabic and religion. The buildings are beautiful and make you feel like you're in another world. It's a truly unique experience.

  After our time in Fez, we'll keep going to Rabat, where you can visit the Mausoleum of Mohamed V. It's located in the courtyard of the Hassan Tower and houses the tomb of the King and his two children. The mausoleum stands out with its classic Arab-Andalusian style, showing off traditional Moroccan art. Finally, we'll wrap up our day as we head to the city of Casablanca.

• Day 6: Casablanca » Marrakech[244Km]

  After breakfast, we'll explore Casablanca. Our first stop is the Hassan II Mosque, which was completed in 1993. It's perched on a platform overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This mosque is pretty special - it's the second-largest in the world, and you can actually visit it even if you're not Muslim. They offer guided tours that last about an hour.

  Next, we'll head to La Corniche, which is in the same area as the Hassan II Mosque. It's a beachfront neighborhood with lots of places to eat, and you can even find pools and access to the beach. After our visit to Casablanca, we'll continue on our way to Marrakech. Night in Marrakech.

• Day 7: Marrakech » Transfer to the Airport

  We'll pick you up from your riad or hotel and take you to the airport, marking the end of our 7-day desert tour Marrakech to Merzouga. We hope you've had a wonderful time exploring Morocco, and we wish you a safe and pleasant journey back home. If you ever decide to return, we'll be here to welcome you with more adventures and great experiences. Thank you for choosing to travel with us!