A 4-Day Journey on a Morocco Desert Tour
A trip to Morocco really feels like stepping into a different world. We had an incredible trip on a four-day, three-night Morocco Desert Tour to the stunning Sahara desert. The journey from Marrakesh through the Atlas mountains to the Sahara desert is an unbelievable and unique trip that I would recommend to anyone who has not explored a desert before. We added two nights in Marrakesh, which was also great for exploring the main tourist city.
Important Notes for your Morocco Desert Trip:
Along our 4-day journey, the police stopped our car twice to check documents. The driver from the tour had to produce over a dozen documents. This is not a country that I would recommend going on a self-guided tour. It is a country that is worth paying for an official tour of, as the bureaucracy and roads are not easy for a foreigner to navigate. Our tour was fantastic, and we splurged for a private tour to go at our pace. There is a lot of time in the car, so if you can afford it, the private tour was worth the money for setting our own schedule and music.
Morocco has a lot of bureaucracy and many different entities overseeing its security. You will see this right away at the airport. It will take you at least an hour to land and go through passport control, arrival security, and duplicate checks of passport and security. Leave time in your schedule for a long arrival process at the airport.
We used this time to activate our eSim with Airalo. As mentioned before, there is a lot of time in transit, so we were happy to have internet access to pass the time in the car. We definitely needed it for our last few days in Marrakesh, as it is a maze in the city. We are really happy with Airalo and have used it in many countries to get a local SIM without wasting time and money when you arrive.
Morocco is still a cash culture. Very few places accept credit cards, so get cash out at the ATM in the airport.
Morocco Desert Tour Options:
We booked this private tour, and I would definitely recommend it if you can afford it:
Private Option:
Budget Option:
Day 1: From Marrakech to Dades Valley
We started our adventure in Marrakech, where our driver picked us up directly from the airport. As mentioned above, before you leave the airport, leave time in your schedule for getting through the arrival process at the Marrakesh Airport, get out a lot of cash since it is a cash-heavy culture, and get an eSim working before you leave the airport, as you will have a lot of time in the car.
The driver will take you out of the city and onto the majestic High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N’tichka pass, the views of the mountains are incredible throughout the trip.
Our first major stop is the iconic Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its cinematic history—think Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones. This ancient fortress is a must-visit! The entire town is made out of pressed earth with unique designs and stunning views. Make your way to the top of the casbah for a great view of the surrounding area. We took the private tour and had time to stop for a Moroccan tea and enjoy the view slowly.
The tour will also include stays at small boutique hotels called riads, which are stunning. The smell of jasmine greets you in a magical wave. The Raids usually serve dinner and breakfast on-site, so it is very relaxing to enjoy the serenity of the raid.
Day 2: Todra Gorges and Riding Camels in the Sahara Desert
After breakfast at the riad, we started the last part of the drive to Merzouga. We stopped along the way at the breathtaking Todra Gorges. It is a beautiful Gorge with a short walk along the river. Nothing makes you feel smaller than a gorge with rocks towering around you. It was such a beautiful stop along the way.
We finally arrived at the desert! We stopped on the edge of the desert and mounted a dromedary (fun fact: dromedaries have one hump, and camels have 2 humps). A berber guided us in a 45-minute ride to camp. The Berber guide was our photographer, taking so many photos along the way while we rode completely mesmerized by the golden dunes at sunset in all directions. We could not believe how beautiful everything was in the Erg Chebbi Dunes. We climbed one of the dunes to watch the sunset and the last moments of golden hour over the desert.
When we arrived at the camp, we were completely shocked by its structure. It was an oasis in the middle of the desert with a full bed! They served us a delicious meal, and then we enjoyed some traditional Berber music by the fire with the rest of the campers.
We stayed after the music to enjoy the stars, some of the brightest I have ever seen, with the Milky Way across the entire sky. The stars were even brighter than our trip to the middle of nowhere Sweden to see the Northern Lights in Kiruna. It was truly spectacular to see in Morocco and I would highly recommend the desert trip for this unbelievable night sky. The sunset and stars in the desert were the highlight of our Morocco Desert Tour.-
Day 3: Discover Rissani and the Draa Valley
We woke up early to watch the stunning sunrise over the dunes, which was just beautiful. After breakfast at camp, we had the choice of a car, a dromedary, or walking back. We chose to walk, and it was absolutely the right choice! The walk goes through a much quieter path, so you can enjoy the walk without the four-wheelers driving around.
Our first stop is Rissani, home to the largest traditional medina in southern Morocco. We enjoyed some traditional Moroccan music there. We then stopped at a fossil museum, which was fascinating. Morocco is a hotbed of fossils from the original life forms on Earth dating back to Pangea. It was fascinating to learn about the different types of fossils, and they are even affordable to buy and take home. We then ventured into the picturesque Draa Valley, where you can admire the largest lush palm groves in North Africa.
Our day concluded in Ouarzazate, where we spent the night in a comfortable Riad that also served a beautiful dinner.
Day 4: Return to Marrakesh
After breakfast, we stopped first at Atlas Studios on our final day. It was a surprise to us that Morocco is a big location for filming moves. They call Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco. We took an hour to tour the movie sets at Atlas Studios, and it was really interesting to see how they make movie sets so quickly. I had no idea Morocco had so many movies filmed there, but it was cool to see the sets of Gladiator, The Mummy, Cleopatra, and so many more.
We drove through the Atlas Mountains again, taking in the breathtaking views of the lush valleys and charming villages. Upon reaching Marrakech, our journey concluded with two nights in Marrakesh to enjoy the main tourist city before we left.
Souvenirs on the Morocco Desert Tour
Our driver stopped at a lot of little stops along the way to buy Moroccan Products. The stops that were worth it:
- Valley of Roses – the perfume I bought here is fragrant and long-lasting. I smell the roses (literally) for hours longer than my designer perfume
- Berber Clothing adds to the experience, so at least buy a scarf to wrap around your head for the Morocco Desert Tour. The scarfs were something like 3 euros, so it was well worth it to play the part
- Fossil Museum – we bought some fossils here since it was just really cool.
Morocco Desert Tour Options
We booked this private tour, and I would definitely recommend it if you can afford it:
Private Option:
Budget Option:
When to go on a Morocco Desert Tour?
The best time to visit Morocco is during the spring (mid-March to May) or fall (September to October). The temperatures are warm but very manageable then.
Few tips for Marrakesh
- The Hamman experience was just incredible. Book in advance as they tend to fill up.
- The walking tour was helpful as he gave good tips about the city.
- The best part is just to get lost walking around.
Conclusion – An Incredible Morocco Desert Tour Experience
The trip to the Sahara desert is an incredible experience into the heart of Morocco’s natural wonders and culture. Whether you’re capturing stunning photographs, gazing at the most beautiful and clear sky, or enjoying the Moroccan design, it was a unique and incredible trip that I highly recommend.
