The Moroccan Desert
The desert is usually the road people ask me about first: the long climb out of Marrakech, the kasbahs, the gorges, and finally the dunes around Merzouga.
What stands out
Why this place stays with people
- Erg Chebbi dunes
- Merzouga camps
- Dades and Todra gorges
- Kasbah roads from Ouarzazate
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are the easiest months. Summer works if we plan the driving and stops around the heat.
From the driver's seat
The desert is not a quick stop from Marrakech. Three days is the shortest version I recommend if you want the drive to feel like part of the trip.
Visitor guide
Your guide to Desert
How long to stay
Three days is the shortest version I recommend from Marrakech. Four or five lets the drive breathe.
Getting there
Everything starts over the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka road. Merzouga is roughly 560 km from Marrakech, which is why we split it over two days.
Worth seeing
- Sunset and sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga
- The fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou
- The narrow walls of the Todra Gorge
- The switchback road above the Dades Valley
- The palm groves of the Draa Valley
Good to know
- Give it three days from Marrakech at the very least. The drive is half of the trip, not the part to rush.
- From October to April the nights in the desert are cold, even after a hot day. Bring a warm layer.
- Carry some cash. Card machines get rare once you leave Ouarzazate.
- A light scarf does a lot of work here: sun, wind and sand.
- For a night at a desert camp, pack a small overnight bag. Your big luggage stays safely in the van.
Routes through here
Ways to make it part of the trip
2 Days · 1 Nights2-Day Zagora Desert Tour from Marrakech
Two Days to Zagora$230–$310 per person · accommodation included
3 Days · 2 Nights3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Marrakech
Three Days to the Dunes$390–$530 per person · accommodation included
3 Days · 2 Nights3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
The High Atlas Crossing$420–$580 per person · accommodation includedDesert, your way
Tell me when you're coming
Send your dates and who's travelling, and I'll suggest the best way to fit it into your trip.