Morocco has several gateways to the Sahara. Which one to choose depends mainly on how many days you have.
If you have 4 or 5 days: Merzouga
If time and budget allow, the ideal is a 4 or 5-day tour to the Merzouga desert and the great Erg Chebbi dunes. It is a magical place that deserves to be enjoyed slowly, and on the way you pass spectacular landscapes: Ait Ben Haddou, the Valley of Roses, the Dades Gorges, the Draa Valley and the Todra Gorges. The journey is worth as much as the desert itself.
If you have fewer days: Zagora
If you want to spend less time on the desert, Zagora is the shortest option from Marrakech: in two days you can sleep a night in a desert tent. The dunes are smaller than in Merzouga, but a night in the Sahara is still special.
What a desert tour is like
The desert is not the only highlight: these tours cross very different landscapes with plenty to see. Once there, you usually ride a dromedary to camp (or go by 4×4 if you prefer) and spend the night in a Berber tent, with a traditional dinner and often music around the fire. Sunset and sunrise over the dunes are the most moving moments of the trip.
See our desert tours from Marrakech, those from Zagora, or ask us for a tailor-made trip.
More about Sahara on Wikipedia.
Keep reading
3 min readWhat to see in Merzouga, the heart of the desertWhat to see and do in Merzouga: the Erg Chebbi dunes, a night in a desert camp, Khamlia, oases, 4x4 trips and practical tips for the…Read article →
2 min readMerzouga and Erg Chebbi: a desert guideGuide to Erg Chebbi in Merzouga: where it is, how to visit, hotel or desert camp, the best time to go and tours from Marrakech with…Read article →
1 min readAgafay or Merzouga: which desert should you choose?Agafay, Merzouga or Zagora? How Morocco's deserts differ: distance from Marrakech, landscape, dunes and how many days you need for each.Read article →