Day Trips to Marrakech Desert

Excursions to the desert are one of the must-do things to do in Marrakech. It's an intrepid traveller's dream to trek through the desert. If you want to feel like Lawrence of Arabia, check out the best tours in one, two or three days.

This tour takes you to the nearby Agafay Desert, which is about 30 kilometres from the Red City. Get the typical picture of the dunes out of your mind: this natural landscape is characterised by arid terrain covered with stones and pebbles and with hardly any vegetation.

The tour leaves Marrakech in the afternoon (usually around 15:00 or 16:00) and, after an hour by bus or 4x4, you will arrive at your destination. There you will be welcomed by Berbers with a typical mint tea. At the end of the day, you can choose between two options: a camel ride at sunset or, if you prefer, you can stay in the camp to watch the sunset and, later, the stars.

You will also enjoy a traditional dinner with typical regional recipes such as zaalouk (a delicious aubergine salad), vegetable couscous, harira (a hearty soup made with vegetables and lamb or beef), meshwi (roast lamb) and chicken tajine. The campfire, clear skies and juggling fire-eaters add a special touch to the experience.

You also have the option to choose the excursion to the Atlas Mountains with a camel ride.

Useful information

• Approx. price: from 40 ¤ without dinner; about 70 ¤ including dinner.
• Duration: from 6 hours
• Recommended: for those who are short on time and don't want to miss out on a desert experience in Marrakech.
• More info: Excursions to the Agafay Desert from Marrakech

The town of Zagora is located about 360km from Marrakech and is very popular with tourists with little time to spare. In fact, two days and one night are enough to visit it, while other destinations require at least one more night.

To get to Zagora you'll need to wake up early because, unfortunately, the country's roads are not in very good condition. The Zagora desert tour usually leaves the Red City at 08:00 and, after passing the Tichka pass, passes through the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley, a green oasis carved by the river of the same name.

Once you arrive, you can choose from a variety of activities: camel rides at sunset, quad biking or 4x4 routes, sleeping in a tent to watch the stars, and so on. The landscape in Zagora is arid and rocky, but there is one spot where there are a few sand mounds: the Tinfou dunes, a miniature version of the more traditional Sahara.

Useful information

• Approximate cost: around 90 ¤ including dinner and breakfast.
• Duration: two days and one night
• Recommended: for those who want to spend a night in the desert without sacrificing comfort.
• More info: Excursions to the Zagora desert in Morocco.

The 2 nights and 3 days excursion to the desert of Merzouga starts early in the morning in Marrakech. The minibus or 4x4 will take you over the High Atlas Mountains and, after passing through valleys and Berber villages, continues its journey touching the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou and nearby Ouarzazate, the Gateway to the Sahara.

After a typical lunch, your driver will take you to Boumalne Dades, a village of 2,000 inhabitants. Here live the Imazighen, the descendants of the original inhabitants of North Africa. The first day ends in Tinghir and after a well-deserved rest, the tour starts again the next morning.

After an invigorating breakfast, the tour reaches the Todra Gorges, a corridor of rock reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in the United States. These mountains are the result of centuries and centuries of erosion; the Todra River has shaped the cliffs to give us this breathtaking scenery. In the afternoon, after a stop for lunch, the bus or 4x4 reaches the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

In this fairytale landscape, you can end the day with an unmissable activity: a camel ride at sunset. As night falls, the Berbers prepare a traditional meal and, once you have finished, you can gaze up at a marvellous starry sky before falling into the arms of Morpheus.

On the third and final day, the tour takes the road back to Marrakech and stops in the aforementioned Ouarzazate. Before returning to the Red City, you will have the opportunity to admire the Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoultoute.

Useful information

• Approximate price: 100
• Duration: three days and two nights
• Recommended: for those who want to see the more traditional desert
• More info: Excursions to the desert of Merzouga in Morocco.

For a taste of the desert experience, you don't have to stray too far from Marrakech either. The Palm Grove of the Red City is an arid landscape dotted with palm, olive and fruit trees. This natural area borders one of Marrakesh's wealthiest neighbourhoods. Even so, it has retained much of its charm and is criss-crossed by a myriad of unpaved tracks.

Quad biking tours usually last between an hour and a half and two hours (not counting the bus or minivan) and take in the Palm Grove, a few villages and the nearby rock desert. If you like the adrenaline rush of speed, this is the activity for you. The route usually includes a stop at an oasis with palm trees and a second break at a Berber house where you will be offered mint tea and a typical dessert.

Please note that the vehicle can only be driven by two people, who can, of course, take turns driving. To ensure your safety, each tour provides a helmet with a visor, a mackintosh to protect you from dust and gloves. The minimum age to drive a quad bike is 16 years old and a driving licence is not required.

Useful info

• Approximate price: 50 €.
• Duration: between 3 and 4 hours including travel time.
• Recommended: for speed lovers

Another way to explore the Palm grove is to ride a dune buggy, a sporty vehicle with a unique history. If you feel like the adrenaline of speed and the wind in your face, this is the perfect excursion.

The tour starts at your hotel or riad: a 4x4 or minibus will take you to the Palm Grove where you will meet your guide. This experienced driver will teach you the tricks of the trade and control the speed of the group to ensure the safety of all participants. The tour takes you along the barren tracks of the Palm Grove which are surrounded by the jbilets, a fascinating volcanic landscape. Again, the tour ends with a tasty mint tea.

Useful information

• Approximate price: 60 €.
• Duration: about one hour
• Recommended: for those who want to feel like Bud Spencer and Terence Hill in "And If You Don't, We're Mad".

Again, the first two days can be superimposed on the previous tour. Everything changes on the third day when, after a stage in the Merzouga desert, the bus takes the road along the Ziz River.

Along the way, you will see green oases and a few castles. Before arriving in Fez, the vehicle stops in Midelt, a small village in the middle of the Atlas Mountains, where you will have lunch before heading back to Morocco's third largest city. You will arrive at your destination in the afternoon/evening and the bus will drop you off at your hotel or riad.

The organised tour ends here, but the next day you will have the opportunity to explore Fez from top to bottom. A 9th century Moorish city, Fez is most famous for the Madrasa Bou Inania (a Koranic school open to the non-Muslim public) and the Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud), the monumental entrance to the Medina.

Another thing not to be missed are the many tanneries that still work the material with the techniques of yesteryear. Clearly, no visit would be complete without a bit of shopping. There are three main souks in Fez: Chemmaine (a paradise for lovers of dried fruit), Henna (with cosmetic products) and Attarine (where you can buy spices and natural products).

Useful information

• Approximate price: from 200 €.
• Duration: three days and two nights
• Recommended for those who want to combine an excursion in the desert with a visit to an important Moroccan city.

The desert is an extreme place and only the most seasoned and experienced travellers can explore it on their own. The warm daytime temperatures plummet at night and if you don't have the right equipment, you'll get very cold. Also, if you were to have a mishap with your vehicle, communicating the exact position and rescuing your 4x4 would be very difficult. Travelling in the desert is no joke and it is highly recommended to rely on the experience of the locals.

In general, it's best to visit the Sahara during the winter. Between November and February, the weather is at its most pleasant, while temperatures can easily reach 55°C during the rest of the year. If you're travelling in the warmer months and don't want to forgo a ride through the dunes, I recommend a night camel ride. This way, you will avoid melting in the middle of the day. For more information, read the article Marrakech in winter.

First of all, you should pack a bottle of bottled water in your backpack. In Morocco, it is best to avoid tap water because it can be contaminated and can cause stomach aches. To counteract the hot daytime temperatures, I recommend wearing light-coloured clothing. If your excursion includes an overnight stop, don't forget to pack a warm coat. As for footwear, it is best to opt for comfortable, closed-toe shoes that provide good ankle protection.

Snacks are also a must in your backpack. Take the experts' advice into account: Paris-Dakar drivers often carry jelly beans, dried fruit (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds) and slow-absorption bars. Ready to go?