3-day private desert trip from Marrakech to Merzouga with overnight in Bedouin camp

3 days + 2 nights
3 meals included
Moderate intensity
Hotel, Desert tent

The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga rise over 150 metres from the flat desert floor, their colour shifting from burnt orange at midday to deep red as the sun goes down. This private three-day trip from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas Mountains, threads through ancient kasbahs and palm groves, and ends with a camel ride straight into the heart of the dunes. You sleep one night in a hotel along the route and one in a Berber nomad camp surrounded by nothing but sand and stars.

Your route

What makes the night special

The Berber nomad camp sits deep within the Erg Chebbi dunes, far from any road or village. After arriving by camel, you’ll sit down to dinner as traditional drumming fills the evening. The tents are simple and authentic, inspired by those used by Berber nomads across the Sahara for generations. When the drums fade, the desert falls completely quiet. Wake before dawn to watch the dunes shift from dark to gold as the first light appears.

Leave Marrakech early and climb into the High Atlas via the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, one of Morocco’s most dramatic mountain roads. The route winds past remote Berber villages before reaching Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed kasbah known for its appearances in films such as Gladiator and The Mummy. After exploring the fortified village, continue south through the Skoura palm groves, where hundreds of thousands of date palms fill the valley floor. Arrive at your hotel by evening.

The morning takes you through the towering walls of the Todra Gorges, where sheer rock faces rise on either side of a narrow riverbed. From there the route continues through the towns of Tinghir, Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud as the landscape flattens and the Sahara opens up ahead. At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes you swap your vehicle for a camel and ride across the golden sands as the sun drops towards the horizon. There is also the chance to try sandboarding from the higher dunes. By evening you reach the Berber nomad camp, where dinner and traditional drumming music are waiting.

Wake before dawn for sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, watching the sand shift from deep orange to soft pink as the light spreads across the desert. After breakfast at camp, begin the journey back to Marrakech, travelling through Morocco’s changing landscapes before arriving in the city by evening.

Why you’ll love this…

You’ll spend the night in traditional Berber nomad tents with drumming music beneath the Sahara stars
Camel rides and sandboarding across the Erg Chebbi dunes bring the desert to life in the most unforgettable way
You’ll witness the shifting colours and shadows of the Sahara from sunrise through to sunset
The journey takes you through the Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorges and vast palm groves of southern Morocco
An immersive overnight stay in the heart of the Sahara lets you experience authentic desert life and hospitality

Important to know

Know in advance:

Please leave your accommodation details at checkout and confirm these with the local operator after booking. You will find their contact details in the voucher you will receive after booking
The tour price works as the options below:
Option 1: From 2 to 3 people, they can book
Option 2: From 4 to 6 people, they can book
Option 3: From 7 to 15 people, they can book
Children's prices are as follows:
From 1 Year to 6 years: Free (€0)
From 7 to 10 Years: Half Adult Price

Remember to bring:

One night will be spent in a hotel and the other in Berber nomad tents; bring your luggage for the hotel, but take only a small bag with essentials for the night in the desert

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What’s included

One night in a hotel and the other night in a Berber tent
Dinner for 2 nights and breakfast
Transportation with private driver/guide
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Camel ride

What’s not included

Drinks
Lunch

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

Meeting point:

You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech as per details given at checkout and confirmed with the local operator after booking.

Provider

Tilila Travel

What people say about this experience

At the moment there are no reviews for this experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This is a private guided tour run by Tilila Travel, an established local operator. You travel in a private vehicle with a driver who knows the route, and the Berber camp is a staffed site used regularly for overnight guests. The operator provides contact details on your voucher after booking so you can confirm pickup logistics directly. The minimum group size is two participants.

You will be away from your Marrakech accommodation for two nights. Simply let your hotel or riad know you will be away. There is no need to cancel your Marrakech booking. Night 1 is spent in a hotel along the route and night 2 in Berber nomad tents in the Erg Chebbi dunes. You return to Marrakech on the evening of day 3. The operator recommends bringing your main luggage for the hotel night and packing a small bag with essentials for the desert camp.

The tour includes private return transport from Marrakech, one hotel night along the route, and one night in Berber nomad tents in the Erg Chebbi dunes. A camel trek across the dunes, dinner at the desert camp and breakfast on day 3 are also included. An English, French, Spanish or Arabic-speaking guide accompanies you throughout. Sandboarding on the dunes is included too. Lunch each day and any entrance fees to sites along the route are not included.

The most comfortable months for the Merzouga desert are October to April, when daytime temperatures are warm without being extreme. Nights in the desert can be cold between December and February, so a warm layer is useful for the camp. Summer months bring intense heat that makes long drives and camel trekking less pleasant.

A moderate level of fitness is helpful. The most active part is the camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes on day 2, plus optional sandboarding from the higher dunes. The rest of the trip is by vehicle. You should be comfortable sitting in a car for several hours and walking short distances on sand. The tour accepts children aged 1 and above.