2-Day Ouarzazate to Merzouga Desert Tour
Skip the long drive from Marrakech and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes from Ouarzazate in a single afternoon, with a night in the desert camp.
Introduction
If you are already in Ouarzazate — perhaps after a film-studio visit or a few days in the kasbah country — there is no need to backtrack to Marrakech to see the Sahara. This 2-day Ouarzazate to Merzouga tour takes you straight east to the Erg Chebbi dunes, with the gorges and kasbah valleys along the way, a night in our luxury desert camp, and a Sahara sunrise before you head back. Below is the full itinerary, what's included, the best time to go and our local team's tips.
Overview
This 2-day tour is the quickest way to the big Sahara dunes if you are based in Ouarzazate. You leave the film city in the morning, follow the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs east, walk the Todra Gorge, and reach Merzouga in time for a sunset camel trek to our desert camp. The next morning you watch the sun rise over Erg Chebbi and drive back to Ouarzazate.
Why choose this tour
Why start from Ouarzazate:
- Less driving, more desert. You skip the 4-hour Marrakech leg over the Atlas and reach the dunes the same day.
- Run by us at the desert end — our own camp, camels and guides at Erg Chebbi.
- Private and flexible — finish in Ouarzazate, Marrakech or Fes.
Highlights
- Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs and the Dades Valley
- Todra Gorge — 300 m walls over a clear river
- Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- A night in our private luxury desert camp
- Sahara sunrise before the return drive
- Run in-house by local Berber guides
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1: Ouarzazate → Skoura → Dades → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → camel trek → camp
Morning. Leave Ouarzazate around 8:00 am, passing the Skoura palm grove and the kasbahs of the Dades Valley. Midday: the Dades Gorge rock formations, then the towering Todra Gorge near Tinghir, with time to walk the canyon floor. Lunch in Tinghir (own account).
Afternoon and evening. Through Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga, then a one-hour camel trek at sunset to our luxury camp for dinner and Berber music. Driving: ~5 hours · distance: ~300 km. Dinner and breakfast included.
Day 2Day 2: Sahara sunrise → Merzouga → return to Ouarzazate (or onward to Marrakech)
Morning. Wake for sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast at the camp and the return drive to Ouarzazate, retracing the gorges with photo stops. We can also drop you in Marrakech or Fes. Driving: ~5 hours · distance: ~300 km. Breakfast included.
Tour route map
Accommodation
You sleep in comfortable kasbah-style hotels on the route and one night in our own private luxury desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes — a private en-suite tent with a real bed, a hot shower and plenty of blankets. Family tents and a decorated honeymoon tent are available. See the luxury desert camp page for full details.
Transport
Transport is by private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an experienced English/French/Spanish-speaking driver-guide throughout. Roads on this route are paved and in good condition; the only off-road section is the short, gentle approach to the camp by camel (or 4x4 if you prefer).
Pick-up & meeting point
We collect you directly from your hotel or riad, with the exact time confirmed by WhatsApp the evening before. Need an airport transfer the night before? We arrange those too.
Included & not included
- ✓Private 4x4 with fuel and driver-guide
- ✓Pickup and drop-off in Ouarzazate
- ✓1 night in our luxury Erg Chebbi desert camp
- ✓Sunset and sunrise camel trek
- ✓Dinner and breakfast (half board)
- ✓Multilingual driver
- ✓Bottled water
- ✗Lunches and drinks
- ✗Monument entrance fees
- ✗Tips
- ✗Travel insurance
Pricing
Per person for the private tour; ask about ending the tour in Marrakech or Fes.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €680 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €540 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €450 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
This tour runs all year. The most comfortable months are March to May and September to November, with warm days and cool nights. Winter days are pleasant but nights near Erg Chebbi can drop close to freezing, so bring a warm layer. July and August are hot at midday, so we time the camel trek for sunrise and sunset. See our best time to visit guide.
What to pack
Bring light layers for the day and a warm jacket for cold desert nights, a scarf for sun and blowing sand, closed shoes, sunglasses, a hat, high-SPF sun cream, a refillable water bottle, a head-torch and a power bank. For the camp night, a small overnight bag is easier than a full case. Full list: Morocco packing list.
Travel tips
What to expect: this is a road trip with real driving distances on good but winding mountain and desert roads — bring something for motion sickness if you're prone to it. Insider tips: carry small dirham notes for lunches, entry fees and tips (few ATMs once you leave the main towns), and keep onward flights to the evening of the final day or later.
How booking works
Tell us your dates, group size and starting city by the enquiry form or WhatsApp and you hear back personally, usually within a few hours, with a clear all-in price. A small deposit holds your dates and you pay the balance on arrival, so you never prepay in full. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, and we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the night before.
Booking direct with our Berber family
Hotel Les Roches is our own — we were born at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes and have run it since 2004. You deal with the same family that owns the hotel, runs the desert camp and leads the camels, so there is no agency markup, nothing is subcontracted, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
What a night at our camp is like
After the sunset camel trek you reach our private camp as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. The tents are proper rooms — a real bed with warm blankets and an en-suite hot shower — and dinner is a home-cooked tagine under the stars, followed by Berber drums around the fire. With no light for a hundred kilometres the Milky Way is astonishing, and you wake early to climb a dune for sunrise.
What our guests say
★★★★★
The hotel is lovely, next to the dunes. We stayed in a reasonably priced, lovely suite. Everything was beautiful and cosy.
JP and Maria · Tripadvisor · 2025
★★★★★
I don't know how you can go wrong with this: a hotel by the dunes, camel rides to a luxury camp, food and entertainment provided. The staff and guides were so happy to make a night of it.
Tyler Findlay · Tripadvisor · 2025
★★★★★
The staff was welcoming, the room cosy, and the camel trek unforgettable. The desert views were breathtaking, and watching the sunrise and sunset was simply magical. Highly recommended.
Robert G. · Tripadvisor · 2024
Related
LuxuryGuideFrequently asked questions
How long is the drive each day?
About 5 hours each way, broken with stops at the gorges and kasbahs.
Can I start this tour in Marrakech instead?
If you're in Marrakech, our 3-day tour is the better fit; this 2-day version is designed for travellers already in Ouarzazate.
Is the camel ride included?
Yes — a sunset trek in and a sunrise option out. We can also drive you to the camp by 4x4.
Can you finish in Fes?
Yes, at no extra distance cost — just ask when booking.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech, and how long is the drive?
It's about 560 km and 8–9 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which is why the journey is spread over 2–3 days with stops at Aït Ben Haddou, the gorges and the Ziz Valley rather than driven in one go.
How comfortable is the desert camp?
Very — our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi has en-suite tents with real beds, hot showers, private bathrooms, rugs and plenty of blankets for the cool desert night, plus a Berber dinner under the stars.
Are your tours private or shared?
Every tour is private by default — your own vehicle, driver-guide and flexible pace. Shared group departures are offered only on the Marrakech–Merzouga–Marrakech and Marrakech–Merzouga–Fes routes.
Is the tour suitable for families and older travellers?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the camel ride is optional (we can drive you to camp by 4x4 instead), and we adapt for children and any mobility needs — just tell us when you book.
When is the best time of year to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable, with warm days and cool nights. Winter nights are cold and summer is hot at midday, so we run camel treks at sunrise and sunset.
Have a question before you book?
Message the team directly — we usually reply within a couple of hours.
⚡ Spring & autumn dates fill fast — book ahead. · ✓ Free cancellation up to 48h before arrival.