Marrakech is a city in Morocco. It is a popular tourist destination, and it has a lot of tours to offer. One of the most famous tours in Marrakech is the desert tour which shows you the different types of natural beauty that it has to offer. The best thing about Marrakech Desert Tours is that they are not only educational but also an adventure at the same time. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Marrakech desert tours.
There are tons of stunning deserts surrounding Marrakech and many tours to choose from. Taking a tour is one of the best ways to enjoy a magical trip to the deserts, it’s a unique adventure that’s also a rich cultural experience on top of a camel or a jeep.
The Sahara desert is the world’s largest hot desert. It covers most of the northern part of Africa. The Sahara is an inhospitable place with intense heat and little rainfall, just like any other desert. But it has a lot to offer in terms of culture, history, and natural beauty.
10 Best Marrakech Desert Tours
3-Day Tour from Marrakech to Fes
An exciting desert tour from Marrakech to Fes and through the desert with many stunning stops for you to enjoy the rich landscape the desert has to offer. This unique 3-day tour will make you discover the southern part of Morocco, departing from Marrakech you’ll be able to spot mountains, immense gorges, and traditional buildings in villages and fortified villages.
If you’re wondering where you’ll be spending the nights, you’ll be sleeping at a traditional and comfy hotel and on a luxury camp, where you’ll have your own tent with all the amenities you need to sleep in the desert, with a bathroom and shower.
Tour highlights
- Atlas Mountains and the Tizi Ntichka pass
- UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Ben Hadou
- Dades Gorges
- The Todgha Gorges and drive across Erfoud To Desert
- Camel Ride in Merzouga
- Erg Chebbi Sahara camp
- Drive through the Ziz valley To Fes
Included: Airport or hotel pickup and drop off, private transport, English guide, dinner and breakfast, camel trekking per person
Not Included: Drinks, lunches, and entrance fee to monuments visited along the journey.
3-Day Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
By far the most popular Marrakech desert tours, an exciting 3-day journey from Marrakech to Merzouga where you’ll be able to check all the top attractions of the Moroccan desert. You’ll be able to ride camels on the Erg Chebbi Dunes, explore an ancient fortress, and gorges traditional villages and towns. Spending nights at traditional hotels with comfy beds, and at the luxury desert camp, while eating delicious traditional food.
Tour Highlights
- Atlas Mountains
- Ait-Ben-Haddou
- Ouarzazate
- Boumalne Dades
- Tinghir
- Todra Gorges
- Merzouga
- Erg Chebbi.
Included: Airport or hotel pickup and drop off, private transport, english guide, dinner and breakfast, camel trekking per person
Not Included: Drinks, lunches and entrance fee to monuments visited along the journey.
2-Day Zagora Desert Trip
In this epic 2-day tour, you’ll be able to truly immerse in the traditional Berber lifestyle with a desert safari from Marrakech to Zagora and spot all the highlights Morocco has to offer. From Ait-Ben-Haddou to camel rides on dunes and campfires on a luxury and traditional desert camp in the Sahara.
On the first day, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Marrakech and head to the stunning Atlas Mountains, after that you can enjoy a nice lunch at Ouarzazate, and visit Agdez oasis and the Draa Valley.
The next day, you can wake up earlier to enjoy the unique desert sunrise. Head back to Marrakech and explore Ait-Ben-Haddou on your way back.
Tour Highlights
- Atlas Mountains
- Ouarzazate
- Agdez
- Draa Valley
- Zagora
- Sahara Desert
- Ait Ben Haddou
Quad Bike Tour in Marrakech Palm Grove
If you’re willing to have even more adventure, this tour is for you, you’ll head to the outskirts of Marrakech for an epic two hours quad tour. You’ll be crossing traditional villages, the Palm Grove, and Rock Desert.
The Atlas Mountains make the landscape even more exciting, imagine traveling through the traditional buildings in the heat of the desert while feeling the wind blowing. Right in the middle of your adventure, you’ll be able to sit down and enjoy a traditional tea with some snacks.
2-Day Tour from Marrakech to Ait-Ben-Haddou and Ouarzazate
This amazing 2-day tour allows you to spend a night at the stunning Ait-Ben-Haddou and enjoy a sunset and sunrise over the fortress. Start your journey from the red city of Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains, driving on the Tizi n’Tichka pass with a stop at Telouet Kasbah to have lunch. Next you’ll be arriving to the fortress to have a delicious meal.
On day 2 you’ll have breakfast, and head to the Ouarzazate town, where popular movies like Gladiator and Star Wars were filmed. Before returning to Marrakech you’ll head to Fint oasis and enjoy a traditional Moroccan mint tea in the village.
1-Day Agafay Desert and Mountain Tour With Camel Ride
One of the best options in case you can’t make it to the Sahara desert is to head to the Agafay Desert on a 1-day tour where you will be able to experience the beauty and uniqueness of the Moroccan desert. Head to the Atlas Mountains, stopping by traditional Berber villages while riding a camel.
The tour starts from Marrakech early in the morning and makes its way to many ancient villages, with stops to enjoy tea. This tour is an excellent option for those that don’t have too much time to spend and still want to experience an epic journey in the desert.
1-Day Ouzoud Falls Trip From Marrakech Including Optional Boat Ride
If you love the countryside as I do, then you’ll love this 1-day tour that will take you to the Moroccan countryside, head to the Ouzoud Falls, and enjoy the waterfall where you can swim in the pools. You’ll be able to spot some local monkeys on your way to this amazing waterfall.
Enjoy the journey to the falls traveling through the Atlas Mountains and various Berber villages. After arriving at the Ouzoud waterfalls, you can opt for a stunning boat ride and then start your journey to Marrakech.
Sunset Camel Ride in the Marrakech Palmeraie
One of the most popular short Marrakech desert tours, a camel ride from the center of the city is one of the best ways to get immersed in the Moroccan culture. Get on top of a camel and start your one-hour trip and enjoy the stunning spots of the city with palm trees around the area and surroundings. You’ll be able to meet locals and have a cup of tea and some snacks.
4-Day Tour from Marrakech to Fez through Merzouga Desert
If the 3-day tours is not enough for you then this 4-day journey is more suitable! This private tour will give you 4 full days of adventure to enjoy the Moroccan culture at its fullest. You’ll be able to visit some of the best attractions it has to offer, from the Atlas Mountains, including a guided tour to the Atlas Flim Studio and a camel ride on the Merzouga Desert, and much more highlights.
One of the most diverse tours that will take you to the top attractions in Morocco, with camping, traditional hotels, camel rides, and diverse landscapes.
Half-Day Desert Quad & Dromedary Tour in Marrakech
A four-hour trip that is packed with both adventure and relaxation. You’ll spend the first hour wandering around the desert dunes on a dromedary camel. You’ll be able to enjoy the calm desert scenery, and the palm trees moving with the wind.
After your camel ride, you can sit down and have a cup of traditional tea, after that you’ll get on a 4×4 quad bike, for a more exciting adventure, traveling through the desert plains, with stunning backgrounds that will make you feel like in a movie.
What are the best desert tours from Marrakech?
Marrakech is full of amazing desert tours suitable for all kinds of travelers, offering the most authentic experience. Desert safaris are the most popular tour in the city. From Marrakech, you can embark on a 3-day journey to the Merzouga desert or on a 2-day trip to the Zagora desert.
You can experience the adventure on a 4×4 vehicle, quadbikes, or jeeps. Also, you’ll be able to ride a camel and enjoy a cup of tea.
How far is the desert from Marrakech?
Most people think the Sahara Desert is close to Marrakech, but it’s not, that’s why most tours are done in days. The desert is around 360 km to 600 km away from Marrakech.
The closest desert to Marrakech is Zagora Desert, at 360 km from the city. Erg Chebbi which is near to Merzouga is 600 km from Marrakech.
How do I get to the desert from Marrakech?
There are many ways to get to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech, you can get there by car, bus, or even helicopter and plane.
The most popular way to get to the desert from Marrakech is with a private or shared tour, which includes transportation, stops at unique places, a camel ride, a night under the stars, and sometimes accommodations.
How long does it take to get to the Sahara desert from Marrakech?
The average duration to get to the Sahara desert from Marrakech is 4.5 – 13 hours, depending on your transportation. Most tourist head to two main towns first, Zagora and Merzouga.
- Zagora is 7 hours away from Marrakech
- Merzouga is 10 to 13 hours away from Marrakech
Is the Sahara desert worth visiting?
The Sahara is worth visiting if you are looking for an adventure or if you want to explore its rich history and culture, it has some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The sand dunes, mountains and rock formations are breathtaking to see with your own eyes.
You can visit markets where you can buy souvenirs, spices and jewelry from local vendors or take part in a traditional tea ceremony. A trip to the Sahara is something everyone needs to do at least one time in their lifetime. If you are not up for an adventure or don’t have time to spend exploring the Sahara then it’s probably not worth visiting.
Conclusion
Marrakech has a lot to offer, and its main attraction is the desert. The best way to take the most out of your trip is to take a Marrakech desert tour. Tihis is best way to embark on an exotic journey through the Sahara desert in Morocco, where you’ll be able to ride camels in the dunes while celebrating the sunsets in the silence of the desert, camp in a nomad tent, and listen to the drum party around a campfire.
