The 4-day desert tour to Merzouga
Itinerary
Day 1: From the Heart of the City into the Vastness of the Atlas Marrakesh to Oasis Skoura
✨Your Day at a Glance
- • You journey across the stunning Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m), taking in sweeping mountain views and traditional Berber villages
- • You explore the ancient earthen city of Aït Ben Haddou – a UNESCO Word Heritage site rich in history and atmosphere
- • If you wish, you can visit the legendary Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate – filming location of many iconic movies
- • In the afternoon, you arrive at the lush Skoura Oasis and settle into a tranquil guesthouse nestled among palm groves
- • Your day ends with a traditional Moroccan dinner and the quiet magic of star-filled desert sky
Our journey begins early in the morning – Marrakesh slowly fades behind us as the land ahead begins to open. We travel along the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, one of Morocco’s most breathtaking mountain roads, winding through the majestic High Atlas. The crisp morning air, the clear light, the dramatic rock formations – we pause often. Not just for photos, but to simply take it in.
Beyond the pass, we arrive at Aït Ben Haddou – an ancient ksar resting on the hillside, silent and timeless. Its heritage can be felt in every wall, every pathway. Once a stop for caravans, today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and film location for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Indiana Jones.
In Ouarzazate, we step into the world of cinema with a visit to the film studios – a place where landscapes meet imagination.
By evening, a different kind of magic awaits us in the oasis of Skoura. A quiet world of date palms, earthen architecture and soft light. Here, our first day ends – wide open, calm, and full of images.
Day 2: Through Valleys, Gorges, and into the Stillness of the Desert Skoura to Desert Merzouga
✨Your Day at a Glanc
- • You travel through the picturesque Valley of Roses, where fields of blossoms and small rosewater workshops line your path
- • You journey into the dramatic landscapes of the Dades and Todra Gorges – towering cliffs and winding canyons carved by time
- • In Erfoud, you discover a traditional underground well system, offering a glimpse into the region’s ingenious water heritage
- • By late afternoon, you arrive in Merzouga and trade wheels for hooves – riding camels into the golden silence of the Sahara
- • As the sun sets behind the dunes, you take in the stillness before enjoying a traditional dinner and fireside music under the stars
After breakfast, we leave the oasis of Skoura and follow the road through the Valley of
Roses. In El Kelaâ M’Gouna – known for its fragrant blossoms and traditional rosewater – fields, villages, and small workshops line our way.
We continue to Boumalne Dades and follow the course of the Dades River through steep gorges and impressive rock formations. Later, we reach the Todra Gorge – a narrow canyon with cliffs rising up to 300 meters, creating a truly striking sight.
In Erfoud, we visit a traditional well system – a quiet reminder of the ancient water
techniques of this region.
By afternoon, we arrive in Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara. From here, we switch to camels and ride into the calm of the dunes. As the day draws to a close, we climb a ridge of sand and settle in to watch the sunset – a quiet moment where the light softens and the desert slowly comes to rest.
At the desert camp, a traditional dinner awaits. Afterwards, we gather around the fire, listen to the rhythms of traditional music, and gaze up at the stars – a peaceful ending to a day fullof impressions.
Day 3: Across Southern Tracks – From the Dunes to Zagora Desert Merzouga to Zagora
✨Your Day at a Glance
- • You leave the golden dunes of the Sahara behind after a peaceful desert morning.
- • You travel off the beaten path, following unpaved tracks through vast rocky • plateaus, dry riverbeds, and scattered palm oases.
- • You pass through traditional mud-brick villages, where time seems to stand still.
- • You pause in remote, open landscapes to breathe in the silence and take in panoramic views of southern Morocco’s raw beauty.
- • You arrive in Zagora by late afternoon, a tranquil oasis town nestled at the gateway to the Draa Valley.
- • You end the day immersed in the stillness of the desert, where the pace slows and the sky stretches endlessly.
After a traditional breakfast at the camp, we leave the Sahara dunes behind. Today’s route leads mostly along unpaved tracks – through vast, stony plains, dry riverbeds, small oases, and scattered mud-brick
villages.
Beyond Ouzina, the asphalt ends, and we continue deeper into a landscape marked by raw beauty and wide, open space.
We pause along the way – to take in the silence, enjoy the sweeping views, and capture the vastness in photographs.
By late afternoon, we arrive in Zagora, an oasis town on the edge of the Draa Valley. We spend the night here and end the day in the quiet of the southern desert.
Day 4: Return to Marrakech – A Time to Reflect
After breakfast, we set off on our journey back to Marrakech. The landscape passes by – the silence and vastness of the desert slowly giving way to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
This longer drive offers time to pause and reflect, letting the memories of the past days settle. Images of endless dunes, narrow gorges, and vibrant oases mingle with the changing scenery outside the window.
By evening, we arrive in Marrakech, where our journey ends – but the experiences and memories stay with us.