Explore southern Morocco on a 5-day Errachidia to Marrakech desert tour. Enjoy a sunset camel ride and a night in a Sahara camp, discover Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, and visit Skoura and Ait Ben Haddou before crossing the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.
Highlights of 5 Days Errachidia to Marrakech Desert Tour
- Admire panoramic views of the Ziz Valley’s lush palm groves.
- Visit a fossil workshop in Erfoud and explore Rissani’s traditional souk.
- Experience Gnawa music in Khamlia and share tea with a nomadic family,
- Camel trek in the dunes of Merzouga
- Overnight stay in a Sahara desert camp
- Visit Todra Gorge and Dades Valley
- Explore the Valley of Roses, Skoura oasis, and Kasbah Amridil.
- Discover Ouarzazate,
- Explore Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO site)
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka
5 Days Errachidia to Marrakech Desert Tour itinerary
Day 1: Errachidia – Ziz Valley – Erfoud – Rissani – Merzouga
After breakfast, meet your driver at your hotel in Errachidia and begin your journey through the Ziz Valley. Stop at panoramic viewpoints overlooking its palm groves and traditional villages.
Continue to Erfoud, where you can visit a fossil workshop to discover the region’s geological heritage. Next, travel to Rissani and explore its traditional souk, especially lively on market days. Wander past stalls selling spices, dates, and everyday goods for a glimpse of local life.
Arrive in Merzouga during the afternoon. Enjoy a welcoming glass of mint tea and settle into your riad, with time to relax near the dunes.
Overnight: Riad in Merzouga.
Day 2: Merzouga Desert Exploration – Khamlia – Nomad Visit – Camel Ride
After breakfast, set out to explore the landscapes and communities around Erg Chebbi.
Visit Khamlia village, where local musicians share the rhythms and traditions of Gnawa music. Continue through the desert to visit a nomadic family. Share a glass of tea and learn about their daily life and hospitality.
If water levels allow, stop at Merzouga Lake, a seasonal wetland that sometimes attracts birdlife.
Return to Merzouga in the afternoon and prepare for your camel trek across the dunes. Enjoy the changing colours of the sand as the sun sets, with time to stop for photographs.
At your desert camp, settle into your tent and enjoy dinner, followed by traditional drumming beneath the stars.
Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga
Day 3: Merzouga – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Wake early to watch the sunrise over the Sahara before breakfast at the camp. Return to Merzouga by camel or by an arranged 4×4 transfer, then meet your driver for the journey towards Tinghir.
Travel through changing desert landscapes before reaching the Todra Valley, where palm groves and earthen villages line the route. At Todra Gorge, enjoy a walk beneath the towering limestone cliffs and take time for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue to the Dades Valley. Discover its winding roads, traditional kasbahs, and striking rock formations, including those commonly known as the Monkey Fingers.
Arrive at your hotel and unwind over dinner after a day of scenic discoveries.
Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley.
Day 4: Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Ouarzazate
After breakfast, follow the scenic route through the Dades Valley towards Kelaat M’Gouna, known for its rose products. Enjoy stops along the way to photograph villages, kasbahs, and mountain views.
Continue through the Valley of Roses, with the option to visit a local cooperative and learn about rosewater production. The rose harvest is seasonal, while local rose products are available throughout the year.
Travel onwards to Skoura, where palm groves surround historic earthen buildings. Visit Kasbah Amridil to discover traditional architecture and gain an insight into life inside a fortified residence.
Enjoy time for a short walk through the oasis and a lunch stop before continuing to Ouarzazate. Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your riad.
Overnight: Riad in Ouarzazate.
Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech
After breakfast, explore Ouarzazate with a stop at Taourirt Kasbah and an optional visit to Atlas Film Studios. Plan these visits with your driver according to your interests and the day’s timing.
Continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic fortified village celebrated for its earthen architecture. Walk through its narrow lanes and climb towards a viewpoint overlooking the village and surrounding landscape.
After time for lunch, begin your journey across the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Stop along the way to admire mountain scenery and traditional villages.
Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon, with drop-off at your accommodation. Arrival around 5:00 PM is a target and depends on sightseeing stops, traffic, and road conditions.
Included
- Private transport from Errachidia to Marrakech
- Professional driver/guide throughout the tour
- 5 nights accommodation (hotels, riads, and desert camp)
- Camel trek in the Sahara Desert
- Dinner and breakfast
- Fuel
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Excluded
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and attractions
- Personal expenses and tips
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
