7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
Read the Itinerary ↓The 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert crosses Morocco from the Atlantic to the dunes and finishes in Fes. It starts with a day at the ocean in Essaouira, climbs the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Erg Chebbi for two desert nights, then heads north through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
Please note one thing before you read the itinerary: this tour ends in Fes, not back in Marrakech. You fly into one city and out of the other, which is why nothing on the route is repeated except the road to Essaouira and back. Everything is private: your own group, an air-conditioned vehicle and the same driver-guide for seven days.
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
|---|---|
| Start | Marrakech (pick-up at your hotel or riad) |
| End | Fes (drop-off at your riad or hotel) |
| Desert | Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga (2 nights in the desert area) |
| Tour style | Private one-way tour, customizable |
| Accommodation | 1 night Marrakech + 1 Ouarzazate + 1 Dades + 2 Merzouga + 1 Ifrane or Midelt (see options) |
| Meals | 6 dinners and 6 breakfasts |
| Total distance | About 1,545 km |
| Price | On request (see what affects the price) |
Key facts about the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
- Where it ends: in Fes. Book your flight home from Fes-Saiss, or take the train on to Casablanca.
- Which desert: Erg Chebbi, next to Merzouga, where the dunes reach about 150 m and run some 28 km from north to south.
- How much driving: about 352 km on day 1 (there and back to Essaouira), 205 km on day 2, 134 km on day 3, 266 km on day 4, a short 4×4 loop on day 5, 407 km on day 6 and 102 km on day 7.
- The three UNESCO sites: the medina of Essaouira (listed in 2001), the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (1987) and the medina of Fes (1981).
- Camel ride: optional. A 4×4 reaches the camp at no extra cost.
- Not included: lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips.
Highlights of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
- Essaouira, whose walled medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, with its fishing harbour and Atlantic light.
- The argan road, where the trees grow only in south-west Morocco and the oil is still pressed by women’s cooperatives.
- Crossing the High Atlas on the Tizi n’Tichka pass, where the sign at the top reads 2,260 m.
- Telouet Kasbah, the mountain palace of the Glaoui family on the old salt road.
- The Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, on the UNESCO list since 1987 and a film location for decades.
- Ouarzazate, the Kasbah of Taourirt and the Atlas Film Studios.
- Skoura and the Kasbah of Amridil, which appeared for years on the 50-dirham banknote.
- Damask roses at Kelaat M’Gouna, where the harvest is celebrated for a week every May.
- The hairpins of the Dades Gorge and the Monkey Fingers rocks.
- The Todgha Gorge, about 10 m wide at its narrowest point.
- A sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi and a night in a desert camp.
- A full day in the Sahara, with nomad families and the Gnawa music of Khamlia.
- Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, and the ruins of Sijilmasa.
- The Ziz Valley, Midelt and the cedar forest near Azrou, home to endangered Barbary macaques.
- Ifrane, built by the French administration in 1929 and still called Little Switzerland.
- Fes, whose medina joined the UNESCO list in 1981 and whose university was founded in 859.
Why seven days, and why it ends in Fes
Seven days is what it takes to see the Atlantic, the Atlas, the Sahara and an imperial city without rushing any of them. The shorter desert tours skip the coast and end where they started. This one uses the extra days to add Essaouira at the beginning and Fes at the end, which means you cross the whole country in one direction instead of doubling back.
That has a practical consequence worth planning for. You need an open-jaw ticket, into Marrakech and out of Fes, or a train from Fes to Casablanca. It usually costs a little more than a return to one city, and it saves you a full day of driving. If you would rather finish back in Marrakech, tell us and we will rebuild the last two days around the Draa Valley instead.
Itinerary of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
The plan below is our standard route for the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert. However, we adjust the stops, the hotels and the camp to your wishes. Driving distances and times come from the road itself and do not include stops.
Day 1: Marrakech – argan road – Essaouira – Marrakech
Your driver-guide picks you up in Marrakech after breakfast. The road west crosses the Chiadma plain, where argan trees grow in the open; this tree lives only in south-west Morocco, and the cooperatives along the road press its oil by hand. Your guide will tell you honestly which stops are worth it and which are for the cameras.
Essaouira appears about 176 km later. Its walled medina has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001, and the grid inside the walls is not accidental: Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah had the town laid out from 1764, with the French engineer Théodore Cornut and then Ahmed El Eulj. Walk the ramparts of the Skala, then the fishing harbour, where the blue boats unload in the afternoon.
You have the afternoon free for the beach, a seafood lunch at the port or the woodworkers’ souk, which smells of thuya. In the late afternoon you drive back to Marrakech for the night.
- Driving distance: about 352 km, there and back
- Driving time: about 5 hours 40 minutes in total
- Overnight: riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Meals: dinner
Day 2 of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Telouet – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
An early start today, because the mountains take time. The road climbs into the High Atlas through Berber villages, walnut groves and red terraced fields to the Tizi n’Tichka pass; the sign at the top reads 2,260 m, although GPS measurements place the road at roughly 2,205 m.
A side road then drops into the Ounila valley to the Telouet Kasbah. Until 1956 this was the mountain seat of the Glaoui family, who controlled the pass and the salt mines behind it. The outside is crumbling, yet the painted cedar ceilings and zellij rooms inside are still remarkable.
Afterwards you follow the old caravan track down to the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. You can cross the river, climb the lanes of the earthen village and reach the collective granary at the top for a wide view over the palm grove. A short drive then brings you to Ouarzazate for the night.
- Driving distance: about 205 km
- Driving time: about 4 hours 20 minutes
- Overnight: hotel or riad in Ouarzazate
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 3: Ouarzazate – Kasbah Taourirt – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades Gorge
You start with Ouarzazate itself: the Kasbah of Taourirt at the entrance of the old town, and the Atlas Film Studios a short drive away. Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven were all shot around this town, which is why people call it the Hollywood of Morocco.
Then the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs begins. In the palm grove of Skoura you visit the Kasbah of Amridil, whose ksar dates from the 17th century and whose mansion was built in the 19th; it appeared for years on the old 50-dirham banknote, and the Nasiri family still lives in part of it. Water still runs under the gardens through khettara channels.
Later the road reaches Kelaat M’Gouna and the Valley of Roses, where damask roses grow in hedges between the fields and the town holds its rose festival for a week every May. Finally you turn north at Boumalne Dades and climb into the gorge, past the eroded rocks called the Monkey Fingers, to your hotel.
- Driving distance: about 134 km
- Driving time: about 2 hours 40 minutes
- Overnight: hotel or kasbah in the Dades Valley
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 3 is the shortest driving day of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert, so there is time for every stop.
Day 4: Dades – Tinghir – Todgha Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga (camel trek)
This morning you drive east to Tinghir, where a viewpoint looks down on a palm grove that stretches for kilometres along the river. Just above the town lies the Todgha Gorge. In its narrowest section the canyon closes to about 10 m between smooth walls of some 160 m, and elsewhere the cliffs reach 300 to 400 m; you walk along the river bed while climbers work on the rock above.
Afterwards the road crosses stony plains through Tinejdad and Jorf, where rows of khettara wells mark the underground channels of the Ziz. Then comes Erfoud, a town of dates and fossils: the black marble cut in its workshops is full of orthoceras and goniatites from the Devonian, roughly 400 million years old.
In the late afternoon you arrive in Merzouga, at the foot of Erg Chebbi. A camel is waiting, and the trek into the dunes takes about an hour, timed so that you reach the camp for the sunset. Dinner is served under the tents, followed by drums around the fire and a sky with very little light pollution.
- Driving distance: about 266 km
- Driving time: about 4 hours 20 minutes
- Camel ride: about 1 hour to the camp
- Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury)
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Erg Chebbi – nomad families – Khamlia and Gnawa music – Dayet Srji
Wake up early and climb the dune behind the camp for sunrise. After breakfast, a 4×4 takes you around the erg on the tracks the caravans used, past the black volcanic hills, the abandoned galena mines of Mfis and the wells that nomad families depend on.
You stop under a nomad tent for mint tea, and your guide translates while the family explains how they move with the pasture. Afterwards comes Khamlia, a village of about 390 people some 7 km south of Merzouga. Its families descend from sub-Saharan people brought north along the trans-Saharan routes, and their Gnawa music, played on the guembri and metal qraqeb, was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in 2019.
In the afternoon you drive out to Dayet Srji, the seasonal lake west of the dunes, which fills after rare rains and attracts flamingos when it holds water. The rest of the day is free for sandboarding, tea on a terrace or a swim in the hotel pool.
- Driving distance: about 80 km, mostly by 4×4
- Activity time: about 4 hours, plus free time
- Overnight: desert camp or hotel near the dunes
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 5 is the calm day of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert: no long transfer, and you sleep in the same area.
Day 6: Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Errachidia – Midelt – Ifrane
Today is the longest drive, so breakfast is early and the landscape changes completely. First comes Rissani, the market town of the Tafilalt and the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty that still rules Morocco; its souk runs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one kilometre north lie the ruins of Sijilmasa, founded in 757.
Then you follow the Ziz north from Erfoud, past the gorges where a green ribbon of palms cuts through bare red rock, and past the Hassan Addakhil dam and Errachidia. The road climbs onto the high plateau to Midelt, at roughly 1,500 m between the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas, which is the usual lunch stop. Beyond it you cross the Tizi n’Talghemt pass at 1,907 m.
Finally the pine and cedar forests begin, and you reach Ifrane, built by the French administration in 1929 as a hill station and still called Little Switzerland for its pitched roofs and snow. It sits at 1,665 m and holds the lowest temperature ever recorded in Africa, −23.9 °C on 11 February 1935.
- Driving distance: about 407 km
- Driving time: about 6 hours 30 minutes
- Overnight: hotel in Ifrane or in Midelt
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 7: Ifrane – Azrou cedar forest – Fes
The last morning is short and green. Near Azrou you stop in the Cèdre Gouraud forest, home to Barbary macaques, an endangered species found only in Morocco, Algeria and Gibraltar. Please do not feed them; your guide will explain why.
Then the road drops out of the Middle Atlas through villages and olive slopes to Fes. Fes el-Bali was founded in the 9th century and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981, and Al Qarawiyyin, founded there in 859, is often described as the oldest degree-granting university still in operation. Your driver drops you as close to your riad as the medina allows, usually in the early afternoon.
- Driving distance: about 102 km
- Driving time: about 2 hours
- End: Fes, at your riad or hotel
- Meals: breakfast
Route and driving times day by day
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marrakech – Essaouira – Marrakech | 352 km | 5 h 40 | Marrakech |
| 2 | Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate | 205 km | 4 h 20 | Ouarzazate |
| 3 | Ouarzazate – Skoura – Valley of Roses – Dades | 134 km | 2 h 40 | Dades Valley |
| 4 | Dades – Todgha Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga | 266 km | 4 h 20 | Desert camp |
| 5 | Erg Chebbi circuit – Khamlia – Dayet Srji | 80 km | About 2 h by 4×4 | Camp or hotel |
| 6 | Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane | 407 km | 6 h 30 | Ifrane or Midelt |
| 7 | Ifrane – Azrou – Fes | 102 km | 2 h | End of the tour |
The 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert covers about 1,545 km in total, and only day 6 passes six hours of driving.
Gallery of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
What is included in the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
Included
- Pick-up at your hotel or riad in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole route, with fuel and tolls.
- English-speaking driver-guide (Spanish, French or Arabic on request).
- One night in a riad or hotel in Marrakech.
- A night in a hotel or riad in Ouarzazate.
- A night in a hotel or kasbah in the Dades Valley.
- Two nights in the Merzouga area: desert camp, hotel, or one of each.
- Your last night in a hotel in Ifrane or in Midelt.
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi (one camel per person).
- 4×4 excursion around the dunes, with the nomad family visit and Khamlia.
- 6 dinners and 6 breakfasts.
Not included
- Lunches and drinks.
- Entrance fees and local guides (for example Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Amridil or the Atlas Film Studios).
- Extra activities such as sandboarding, quad or buggy rides.
- Accommodation in Fes and the guided tour of the medina.
- Flights, travel insurance and personal expenses.
- Tips for the driver and the camp team.
Map of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
In detail, the route is: Marrakech → Essaouira → Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Telouet → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura → Kelaat M’Gouna → Dades Gorge → Tinghir → Todgha Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga (2 nights, with Khamlia and Dayet Srji) → Rissani → Ziz Valley → Errachidia → Midelt → Ifrane → Azrou → Fes.
Accommodation options
Every option of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert uses the same route, vehicle and driver-guide. Only the level of comfort changes. We confirm the exact hotel and camp names when you book, according to availability on your dates.
| Option | Cities (Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Dades, Ifrane) | Nights 4 and 5: Merzouga |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Riad or hotel with a private room and bathroom | Berber tent and a simple hotel by the dunes |
| Superior | Riad with a courtyard or a kasbah hotel with views | Comfort tent with private bathroom, plus a hotel with a pool |
| Luxury | Boutique riad or high-end kasbah | Two nights in a luxury tent with private bathroom, or one night in the camp and one in a desert hotel |
We can also book your riad in Fes for the last night, even though it is not part of the tour price.
7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert price
The price is on request, because every private tour is quoted for your own group. In practice, four things change it:
- Group size: the price per person falls as more people share the vehicle.
- Accommodation level: standard, superior or luxury.
- Season: Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest periods.
- Extras: local guides, entrance fees, sandboarding, quad or buggy rides.
Send us your dates for the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert and the number of travellers through our contact page, and we reply with a clear quote and no hidden costs.
How to book this 7 day Morocco tour
- Send your travel dates, number of people and preferred accommodation level through the contact form, by email at favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com or on WhatsApp (+212 786 278 943).
- We reply with a personalised itinerary and a price.
- You confirm the tour. Payment by PayPal is accepted.
- Your driver-guide picks you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech on the first morning.
Know before you go
- Book an open-jaw flight, into Marrakech and out of Fes. It saves a full day of driving compared with returning to Marrakech.
- Day 6 of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert is the longest, at about 6 h 30. No other day passes six hours.
- Book your Fes riad for the night you arrive, because the tour ends in the early afternoon.
- The Rissani souk runs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tell us your dates and we will try to line day 6 up with one of them.
- From December to February, snow or ice is possible on the Tizi n’Tichka and around Ifrane, and desert nights drop close to freezing. Pack a warm layer; see what to wear in Morocco.
- In July and August the south is very hot, often above 40 °C, while Essaouira stays windy and cool. Spring and autumn are the best seasons: check the best time to visit Morocco.
- Essaouira is windy almost all year. Bring a light jacket even in summer.
- Tell us about any allergy or diet before departure. Camps and hotels prepare vegetarian and vegan meals with notice.
- Bring cash in dirhams. See our guide to the Moroccan dirham.
- Pack a small overnight bag for the camp nights, because your main luggage stays in the vehicle.
Reviews
Favorites Morocco Tours has 5.0 out of 5 on TripAdvisor. Travellers who booked this 7 day Morocco tour share their experience after each trip: read our reviews on TripAdvisor.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tour return to Marrakech?
No. The 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert ends in Fes, so you should fly out of Fes or take the train on to Casablanca. If you need to finish in Marrakech, we rebuild the last two days through the Draa Valley instead; just ask.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
Merzouga sits about 560 km from Marrakech, or 9 to 10 hours of driving in one go. This tour spreads that distance across three days, with a night in Ouarzazate and a night in the Dades Valley.
Is Essaouira worth a whole day of the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert?
For most travellers, yes. It is 176 km each way, so it does cost about 5 h 40 of driving, but it is the only ocean and the only UNESCO medina on the route before Fes. If you would rather skip it, we start the desert section a day earlier and shorten the tour to six days.
Can we sleep two nights in the desert camp?
Yes. Alternatively, many travellers take one night in the camp and one in a hotel by the dunes, with a pool and a proper shower. Tell us your preference when you book.
Do the desert camps have private bathrooms?
Standard camps have shared or private bathrooms, depending on the camp. Superior and luxury tents always have a private bathroom with a hot shower.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Of course. A 4×4 drives you to the camp instead, at no extra cost, and your luggage travels the same way.
What is the best time of year for the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert?
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. Winter works too, although desert nights are cold and the Middle Atlas can see snow, while July and August are very hot in the south.
Is the tour suitable for families with children?
Yes, from about six years old. Only day 6 involves a long drive, and the cedar forest near Azrou usually saves that afternoon with children. Tell us their ages when you book.
What vehicle do you use?
We use a private air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group, from a Toyota Land Cruiser to a Mercedes minibus, plus a 4×4 for the desert excursion on day 5.
What should I pack?
- A warm jacket for the desert nights and for Ifrane, especially between November and March.
- A windproof layer for Essaouira, which is breezy all year.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or a scarf.
- Comfortable shoes, plus sandals for the sand.
- A small bag for the two camp nights, and a power bank.
How far in advance should I book?
Three to six weeks is usually enough for a seven-day trip. However, for Christmas, New Year and Easter you should book as early as possible, because the best camps and riads fill up first.
How do I pay?
We accept payment by PayPal, and we explain the details when you confirm your booking.
Have another question about the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert?
Write to us through our contact page or on WhatsApp.
Who we are
Favorites Morocco Tours is a local travel agency based in Marrakech, rated 5.0 out of 5 on TripAdvisor, and the 7 days private tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert is one of our longest private routes. We design private tours across Morocco, from the Atlantic to the Sahara and the imperial cities. Our drivers and guides grew up on these roads, so they share the culture, the history and the small places that visitors usually miss. Learn more about us.
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Contact us
- Phone / WhatsApp: +212 786 278 943
- Email: favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com
- Office: Marrakech, Morocco
- Reviews: Favorites Morocco Tours on TripAdvisor
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