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Sahara Desert Tours & Trips

Morocco desert tours with a local team

Our Morocco desert tours take you from the medinas of Marrakech or Fes to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, with a camel ride at sunset and a night under the stars in a Sahara camp. We are a local team based in Marrakech, and for over a decade we have been driving travellers along these routes in our own vehicles with our own drivers.

Every trip is planned around your dates and your pace. You can travel privately with a driver who stays with you from the first hotel pick-up to the last drop-off, or join a small-group departure and share the road with other travellers.

Choosing your Sahara desert tour

The right trip depends on two things: where you start and how many days you have. The Sahara is a long way from Morocco’s big cities, so the journey itself is a large part of the experience.

Where to start

  • From Marrakech – the most popular route. Merzouga is about 560 km away (9–10 hours of driving), so the trip is split over two days across the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge.
  • From Fes – the shortest road to the dunes, around 470 km (7–8 hours) through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, Ifrane and the palm groves of the Ziz Valley.
  • From Casablanca, Tangier or Agadir – longer itineraries that combine the desert with the imperial cities, Chefchaouen or the south.
  • Already in Merzouga – book a camel trek, a quad bike ride or a dune buggy excursion on its own.

How many days you need

What a desert tour includes

Unless you ask for something different, a typical trip includes hotel or airport pick-up, transport in a comfortable vehicle with an experienced driver, overnight stays in riads or guesthouses, a camel ride into the dunes, dinner and breakfast in the camp and plenty of photo stops on the way. You choose between standard or luxury accommodation, and you can add guided visits or extra nights.

Browse the tours below by departure city. Each tour page shows the full day-by-day itinerary, what is included and live prices.

Nomad life around Merzouga
Camel caravan crossing the Sahara dunes

Sahara desert tours from Marrakech

Merzouga desert tours from Fes

Excursions in the Erg Chebbi dunes

Desert tours from Casablanca

Desert tours from Agadir

Desert tours from Tangier

Erg Chebbi or Zagora?

Morocco has two main areas of Sahara dunes that are reachable on a short trip. Erg Chebbi, next to the village of Merzouga, is a sea of orange sand with dunes rising to around 150 m – the scenery most people imagine when they picture the Sahara. Zagora is closer to Marrakech, but its dunes are small and scattered.

If walking on high dunes and watching the sunrise over a real sand sea matters to you, choose Merzouga. Zagora only makes sense when you have very little time and are happy with a shorter taste of the desert.

Desert mesas seen on an off-road tour
Desert mesas seen on an off-road tour

A night in a desert camp in Morocco

Late in the afternoon you leave the vehicle at the edge of the dunes and ride a camel to the camp, usually for around an hour to an hour and a half. If you prefer not to ride, the camp can also be reached by 4x4.

  • Standard camps – comfortable Berber tents with proper beds, blankets and shared bathrooms.
  • Luxury camps – spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and more refined dinners; see our luxury Morocco tours if you want this level throughout the trip.

Evenings are spent around the fire with tea, a tagine dinner and often traditional drumming. Wake early: sunrise from the top of a dune is one of the highlights of any trip to Morocco. Want more time on a camel? Take a look at our camel trekking in Morocco options.

4x4 off-road tour in the Moroccan desert
4x4 off-road tour in the Moroccan desert

Best time for a Morocco desert tour

  • Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) – the most pleasant months, with warm days and mild nights.
  • Winter (December–February) – sunny days but cold nights in the desert, sometimes close to freezing. Camps provide heavy blankets; bring warm clothes. Snow can occasionally close the High Atlas passes for a few hours.
  • Summer (June–August) – daytime heat in Merzouga often goes above 40°C. Tours still run, with the camel ride and activities planned around sunset and sunrise.
Off-road tracks across the desert
Off-road tracks across the desert

Private or shared desert tour?

On private Morocco tours the vehicle and driver are yours alone: you choose the departure date, the pace and where to stop for photos, lunch or a short walk. They suit couples, families and anyone who wants flexibility.

Shared departures are the budget-friendly choice and a good way to meet other travellers; you follow a fixed itinerary in a shared vehicle. Read more about our Morocco small group tours. Both options include the camel ride and a night in a desert camp. If none of our routes fits, we can build a tailor-made Morocco tour around your plans.

Land Rover on a desert off-road excursion
Land Rover on a desert off-road excursion

What to pack for the Sahara

  • A warm layer or fleece for the evening, even in summer.
  • Sunglasses, sun cream, a hat and a scarf against sun and wind-blown sand.
  • Comfortable shoes or sandals that are easy to empty of sand.
  • A small overnight bag – your main luggage stays safely in the vehicle.
  • A power bank, as charging in camps can be limited.
Quad biking on the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga
Quad biking on the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga

How booking works

Pick a tour, choose your date and accommodation level, and book online with a 10% deposit by PayPal or card; the balance is paid on the first day of the trip. If you would like to change the route or ask a question first, request a free quote or contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +212 673 55 54 08, or by email at [email protected].

Quad biking on the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga
Quad biking on the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for a desert tour in Morocco?

Three days is the minimum for a trip from Marrakech or Fes to the Erg Chebbi dunes and back, with one night in a camp. Four or five days gives you a more relaxed pace and more time in the gorges and around Merzouga.

What is the best time to visit the Sahara in Morocco?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Winter days are pleasant but desert nights are cold from November to March, and summer is very hot, so activities are planned for early morning and sunset.

How much does a Morocco desert tour cost?

The price depends on the number of travellers, the level of accommodation, the length of the tour and the season. Each tour page shows live prices, and you can book online or ask for a free quote.

Is a desert tour in Morocco safe?

Yes. The routes to Merzouga are well travelled, and you are with an experienced local driver throughout. Camps are run by established local teams and are used to welcoming travellers of all ages.

Do I need to be fit to ride a camel?

No. The ride is slow and suitable for most ages. If you prefer not to ride, you can reach the camp by 4x4.

Are there toilets and showers in the desert camp?

Standard camps have shared bathrooms, while luxury camps have private en-suite bathrooms with hot showers in each tent.

Let’s plan your Morocco trip

Tell us your dates and wishes. A local expert replies with a tailor-made itinerary and price, free of charge.

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