Immerse yourself in the very best of South Morocco’s diverse landscapes, fascinating history, and captivating culture. Take in panoramic views of the majestic High Atlas Mountains, visit the formal palatial residence of the Glaouis family’s Kasbah Telouet, and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ksar Ait Benhaddou.
This trip also allows you to get off the beaten track as you pass the date palm trees and mud-brick villages of the Draa Valley as well as the beautiful Todra and Dades gorges. And as with all our desert excursions from Marrakech and luxury desert tours from Fes, the highlight of this four-day adventure is a stay in our Erg Chebbi luxury desert camp.
On this desert trip from Marrakech, you can enjoy the Sahara Desert to its fullest! Gaze up at the breathtaking stars in the night sky, feel the thrill of sandboarding, experience a guided camel ride through the dunes, listen to traditional drum music by a roaring campfire, and so much more. Read through the full itinerary below!
Our South Morocco Tour is great for families with small children as we break up the drive from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi into small sections over multiple days rather than making one long journey.
If you have any questions about this Morocco luxury holiday package, please don’t hesitate to contact us for the answers you need.
Marrakech
This desert excursion from Marrakech is accessible to all and has no minimum age. However, please consider the cumulative driving distances for elderly people and small children.
You do not need to bring any special equipment. If you are traveling in summer, we strongly recommend bringing sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. When riding camels, we advise wearing longer pants instead of shorts and skirts, and light sports shoes are better than sandals as they may slip off.
Winter nights in the desert are cold, so we always recommend bringing warm jackets, layers, and even hats. And sand gets everywhere! If you have any expensive equipment, store it in a zip-lock bag to keep it safe.
Please get in touch if you have any further questions.
On this private tour, your driver collects you from your hotel or the airport. You then leave Marrakech behind, heading to the ragged mountain ranges of the High Atlas on the road to Ouarzazate, the same path used centuries ago on the caravan route. We follow the road along the Ounila Valley, one of the top drives in Morocco. It is full of small villages, walnut groves, and almond trees that bloom beautifully in February and early March. We then visit the former Pasha residence of Kasbah Telouet and the Ksar of Ait BenHaddou, an iconic destination presented on many Morocco brochures.
We pass the town of Ouarzazate and climb the road up and down ridges before descending into the lush green groves of the Draa Valley. Dotted with mud-brick Sub-Saharan Berber villages, this is an area where you can step back in time. We spend the night in an ancient, restored Kasbah or luxury hotel in the oasis of the Draa.
Today has a much shorter drive of around four hours to the beautiful desert dunes of Erg Chebbi by Merzouga. The journey takes us along the valley before the peaks of the volcanic mountains of Sahro lead us to the desert. We will pass some small typical towns such as Nekob and Alnif, eventually arriving at the gateway arch in Rissani. Later, we start seeing the desert dunes from the road. We then arrive at the camp where you can settle in and enjoy a memorable camel trek during sundown.
Dinner and campfire will follow after sunset.
Have fun in the morning in the dunes with our range of desert activities. After breakfast, go sandboarding, for a walk, or just relax as you take in the stunning landscape. Later, we depart towards Erfourd and Tinerhir, continuing to the spectacular Todra Gorge and its huge walls rising above the crystal-clear river. You have some time to explore and stretch your legs. We then continue to Boumalne Dades and Dades Gorge along striking rock creations and the winding road of red and mauve rock.
We depart after breakfast, traveling to Ouarzazate. On our route, we pass the Rose Valley and Skoura oasis where we stop to view the restored Kasbah Amerhidil. Once in Ouarzazate, you may visit the movie studios if you are interested. We then cross the High Atlas Mountains and return to Marrakech.
