5-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech 2026 — High Atlas, Gorges & Erg Chebbi
Five unhurried days through the kasbahs, gorges, oases and dunes of southern Morocco.
Introduction
The 5-day desert tour from Marrakech is our most complete southern-Morocco loop — and the one we recommend to travellers who want to truly understand the desert rather than rush through it. Over five unhurried days you cross the High Atlas, sleep twice in the Sahara at Erg Chebbi, walk the great gorges, and explore the palm oases and kasbahs that shorter tours speed past, all privately and at your own pace. Below is the full day-by-day itinerary, real pricing, what's included, the best time to travel and our local team's planning tips.
Overview
Our 5-day desert tour from Marrakech is the most complete way to see southern Morocco without backtracking. You'll cross the High Atlas, sleep twice in the dunes at Erg Chebbi, wander the great gorges, and visit the palm oases and kasbahs that most tours rush past — all privately, at your own pace, with our own family team.
Where a 3-day trip is a swift taste of the Sahara and a 4-day adds a rest day, the 5-day is the version that lets the desert and the south properly unfold. You spend a full day exploring around Merzouga — nomad camps, the Gnawa village of Khamlia, fossil fields — and on the return you travel a different, slower route through the Todra oasis, Tinghir and the vast Skoura palm grove, with its film-famous Kasbah Amridil. It means you see roughly twice as much landscape and culture as a shorter loop, without ever feeling rushed.
It's the itinerary we recommend most often to couples, photographers, families and older travellers — anyone who would rather understand a place than tick it off. Below you'll find the complete day-by-day itinerary, honest pricing, exactly what's included and excluded, the best time to travel, what to pack and answers to the questions our guests ask most.
Why choose this tour
Why choose the 5-day tour:
- Two nights in the desert. A genuine rest day plus the oases of Skoura and Todra — depth most itineraries skip.
- Owned and operated by us. Our family runs the hotel, camp and camels at Erg Chebbi — no broker chain, consistent quality.
- Relaxed pace, frequent stops. Ideal for families and older travellers; nothing is rushed.
- Finish in Marrakech or Fes, whichever suits your onward plans.
Highlights
- High Atlas & Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate film studios
- Dades & Todra gorges with time to walk
- Merzouga & Erg Chebbi with a luxury camp night
- Nomad families, Khamlia Gnawa music & fossil fields
- Optional finish in Fes
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1: Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Morning. Pickup at ~7:30 am and over the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with a tea-and-photo stop and views over Berber villages and walnut terraces.
Midday — Ait Ben Haddou. Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou (of Gladiator and Game of Thrones fame), then lunch overlooking the ksar (own account).
Afternoon. On to Ouarzazate and its film studios, then the Valley of the Roses to the Dades Valley. Evening: kasbah-hotel night and Moroccan dinner. Travel: ~6–7 h · ~330 km. Tip: left-side seats for Atlas views. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 2Day 2: Dades Gorge → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga → sunset camel trek → camp
Morning. The Dades Gorge switchbacks and 'monkey-finger' rocks, then the towering Todra Gorge (300 m walls) with time to walk the canyon floor.
Afternoon. Through Tinghir, Erfoud (dates & fossils) and Rissani to Merzouga, where the Erg Chebbi dunes appear. Evening: sunset camel trek to our private luxury camp, dinner and Berber music. Travel: ~5 h + camel · ~290 km. Tip: small overnight bag + warm layer. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 3Day 3: A full day in the Sahara — nomads, Khamlia, fossils & a second night
No long drive today. A 4x4 excursion to nomad families, the Gnawa-music village of Khamlia, fossil fields and the seasonal Dayet Srij lake; or sandboard and relax by the pool with dune views. Cultural experience: mint tea with a nomad family. A second night in the dunes. Tip: golden-hour photography from a high dune is memorable. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 4Day 4: Merzouga → Todra oasis → Tinghir → Skoura palm grove → Dades/Skoura
Morning. Sunrise, breakfast, then a scenic return through the palm oases. Stops: the Todra oasis, Tinghir and the vast Skoura palm grove with its old kasbahs (Kasbah Amridil). History: these oases were the lifeblood of the caravan routes. Evening: overnight near Skoura/Dades. Travel: ~4–5 h with stops. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 5Day 5: Skoura → Ouarzazate → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech (or Fes)
Morning. A final kasbah or rose-valley stop, then back over the Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech, with lunch en route (own account). Arrival: Marrakech by late afternoon/early evening — or finish in Fes at no extra cost. Travel: ~5–6 h · ~300 km. Tip: keep onward travel to the evening of Day 5. Breakfast.
Tour route map
Accommodation
Four nights: three in kasbah-style hotels (Dades, the Merzouga desert hotel, and near Skoura/Dades on the return) and one in our private luxury desert camp — a private en-suite tent with a real bed, hot shower and blankets. Family and honeymoon tents are available. Full details on the luxury desert camp page.
Transport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with fuel and an experienced multilingual driver-guide throughout. Roads are paved; the only off-road is the gentle camel (or 4x4) approach to the camp. The 5-day pacing keeps daily drives short and adds a full day off the road.
Pick-up & meeting point
Collection from your Marrakech riad or hotel around 7:30 am on Day 1, confirmed by WhatsApp the night before. Need an airport transfer the evening before? We'll arrange it.
Included & not included
- ✓Private 4x4 with fuel & driver-guide
- ✓Hotel pick-up & drop-off
- ✓3 nights kasbah hotels + 1 night luxury camp
- ✓Camel trek
- ✓Half board daily
- ✓Multilingual driver
- ✓Bottled water
- ✗Lunches & drinks
- ✗Entrance fees
- ✗Tips
- ✗Insurance
Pricing
Per person, private tour.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €980 | Private tour |
| 3–4 people | €780 | Private tour |
| 5+ people | €650 | Private tour |
Best time to travel
Year-round, with spring and autumn the most comfortable. The extra desert day makes the 5-day especially good in the cooler months when midday exploration is pleasant. See our best time to visit the Sahara guide.
What to pack
Light layers, a warm jacket for desert nights, a scarf, closed shoes, sun protection, a refillable bottle, a head-torch, a power bank and a swimsuit. A small overnight bag is handy for the camp night. Full list: Morocco packing list.
Travel tips
Insider tips: spend the rest day on the 4x4 to Khamlia and the nomads; carry small dirham notes past Ouarzazate; and consider this 5-day in reverse from Fes (just ask). Short on time instead? See the 4-day or 3-day tour.
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
★★★★★
Hassan and the hosts made me feel at home. The food was like a culinary journey and the location against the Sahara dunes was stunning. Watching the sunset over the dunes was a magical moment.
Joel Harris · Google · 2025
★★★★★
A great experience at Auberge Les Roches and their camp. The camel desert ride and camping experience was amazing. Special mention for their food and the friendliness of the guys at the camp.
Carlos Sousa · Google · 2024
★★★★★
We travelled all over Morocco and liked Auberge Les Roches especially. They arranged an awesome overnight camel tour, and the camp was deluxe with its own shower, hot water and toilet. The best people.
Ilya · Google · 2023
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Luxury
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the 4-day tour?
An extra day means deeper exploration — oases, Skoura, more nomad encounters — and a gentler pace.
Can we finish in Fes?
Yes, easily, at no extra cost.
Is it suitable for older travellers?
Very much — the pace is relaxed with frequent stops.
Is everything private?
Yes, just your group, your guide and a flexible schedule.
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.