Desert Day Trips from Marrakech

On your first visit to Marrakech, the first thing you may notice when making your list of must-do experiences in Marrakech is the sheer number of tour operators offering desert excursions in a wide range of days and prices.

So, how do you know which one to choose? Here is a guide with detailed information on the best experiences in the desert of Marrakech to help you clear your doubts.

2-day excursion

Zagora Desert 2-Day Trip from Marrakech

Visit Morocco's closest desert with this complete two-day adventure.

Spend a night in a Berber camp with this 2-day Zagora desert excursion including guide, transport, breakfast, dinner and a camel ride.

From CAD 137 at Hellotickets

Imagine watching the sunset in the middle of the Moroccan desert with the Atlas Mountains in the background. This is possible with this excursion to the desert of Zagora, about 7 hours from Marrakech, which takes you to discover its dunes for two full days.

The tour starts at your hotel in Marrakech where you will be picked up by an expert guide who will accompany you throughout the excursion. On the way this tour will take you through some cities like Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, where you will see incredible landscapes. Once you arrive in the desert you will have the opportunity to take a camel ride and spend the night in a Berber settlement. Breakfast and dinner are included.

Recommended if... You want to live an authentic Moroccan desert experience in the most comfortable way with an all-inclusive excursion and enjoy at least one magical night under the stars.

3-day excursion

Merzouga Desert 3-Day Trip from Marrakech

Embark on a journey through the desert of Merzouga and discover its imposing dunes.

With this 3-day experience you can tour the pearl of the Sahara Desert with transfers, breakfasts, dinners, accommodation and activities included.

From CAD 141 at Hellotickets

If one night is not enough for you, a highly recommended option for travellers who have more time in Marrakech is to book this 3-day excursion to the Merzouga desert where you can admire the pearl of the desert.

Being further away, about 10 hours from Marrakech, at least two nights are required for this excursion, a complete adventure with which you can forget about transfers. In addition, this activity includes breakfast and dinner throughout the trip, a professional guide, accommodation and a camel ride. When booking you can select the option that includes a quad bike ride or the one that takes you to the beautiful city of Fez.

Recommended if... The idea of lying under the starry desert sky is one of the reasons for your trip to Marrakech and you want to dedicate enough time to this activity but forget about all the logistics and planning it requires.

Whether you want to spend a night or two in the desert, the excursions organised to the dunes closest to Marrakech provide you with a complete experience in which to enjoy the scenery. The table below summarises what's included in each:

Zagora is the closest Moroccan town to the desert of Erg Chigaga, located about 360 kilometres from the city of Marrakech. It is an area with dunes of great tourist attraction and with a lot of activities to enjoy.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Zagora Desert

• Main advantage:

Distance. This destination is closer to Marrakech than its counterpart the Merzouga Desert, making it the ideal choice for those with a limited travel itinerary but refuse to leave Morocco without experiencing the desert dunes.

• Main disadvantage:

Zagora's dunes are a little smaller in comparison. The dunes outside Merzouga in the Erg Chebbi desert have a higher concentration of sand and are much more impressive visually.

How to get to the Zagora desert from Marrakech?

Visiting the Erg Chebbi desert near Zagora requires a few days of travelling through rocky landscapes. In the city of Marrakech you will find organised tours that offer transport from your hotel, but you also have the option of hiring a vehicle or arranging private transport.

The Erg Chigaga dunes are more than 60km from the nearest tarmac road, so once you have arrived in the town of Zagora you should be prepared to visit the sands on a camel or hire a guide in a 4x4 vehicle.

What activities can you enjoy?

Your experience of the Zagora desert will depend largely on how much time you have. However, many of the organised excursions include some of the following options:

• Overnight in a desert camp.
• Enjoy the dunes of Erg Chigaga in the Zagora desert.
• Camel rides in the desert
• Admire the sunrise and sunset over the dunes of Erg Chigaga.
• Friendly atmosphere, nights in bivouac and traditional dinner around the campfire.
• Visit the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou and the film studios in the city of Ouarzazate. Place where productions such as the Game of Thrones saga were made.

Merzouga is the destination for those who want to enjoy an unforgettable night in the desert of Marrakech. This is not an isolated opinion, but a common concept that is reaffirmed when you visit its dunes up to 150 metres high.

Let's start with the basic geographical location. Merzouga is the closest town to the Erg Chebbi desert; one of the two great deserts of the Moroccan Sahara along with the Erg Chigaga desert. From this village you transfer to the final location of a desert camp to enjoy the wonders of the Sahara.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Merzouga Desert

• Main advantage:

If you're looking for a desert of towering dunes where the concept of time and space seems to transport you to another galaxy, this is the perfect destination for you.

• Main disadvantage:

You'll need to consider travel time, stops along the way, and rest time. I don't recommend very rushed trips from Marrakech to Merzouga as you won't have time to rest and enjoy your excursions to Erg Chebbi. Full tours usually take a minimum of 3 days including the trip to and from Marrakech, plus a few stops.

How to get to the Merzouga desert?

My favourite option for trips of this level of complexity is to book a tour with a specialised company. If you are going to make an excursion from Marrakech to the village of Merzouga you should know that there is a distance of 550 km with an approximate of 10 hours by car if you don't make stops.

From Marrakech you will find all kinds of excursions to Merzouga that include stops at the most popular and attractive tourist destinations. This means that on your excursion to the desert you can also discover much of Morocco's beauty and culture outside of Marrakech.

Other transport options include hiring a self-drive car or taking the bus.

Where to sleep in the Merzouga desert?

Most of the camps in the Merzouga Desert are luxury camps. Even the cheaper ones are focused on offering an individual experience that prioritises comfort, albeit with the limitations of camping. If you choose one of the luxury camp alternatives you will find the following amenities: individual bathroom in each tent, fully functional shower, and electric fan.

What are the camps like?

In the camps you can do all kinds of fun activities such as camel rides to the dunes to enjoy the sunrise or sunset in the desert; typical campfire dinners; sand boarding and much more.

The best time to travel to Marrakech and spend a night in the Marrakech desert is from October to May.

The worst time to spend a night in the desert is from June to August. The heat is so scorching that some tour companies are forced to close their daytime activities for weeks at a time.

Note that December and January are very cold. Although the campsites operate normally, and the Berber tents are made of dromedary skins that insulate the outside temperature, you should still be prepared with winter pyjamas, coats and socks if you visit Marrakech in winter.

For ease of packing I have divided the luggage recommendations into sections which I share below. Bear in mind that, depending on the destination you choose and the length of your trip, the amount of time you will spend on the road will be quite significant, so generally speaking dress as comfortably and cool as you can.

For desert treks

• Wear long-sleeved shirts
• Wear loose-fitting cotton or linen trousers.
• Wear sturdy shoes. Preferably boots.
• A baseball cap or sun hat is recommended.
• Include a scarf to protect your face from the sand.
• Always carry something to eat and fresh water.
• On treks, carry only an easy-to-carry backpack.

For nights in the desert

• Temperatures can drop to freezing at night, so take the following into account...
• Include a warm hat in your luggage.
• Include warm clothes and a jumper
• A warm pair of socks will be appreciated at night.

Other useful items

• Pocket torch and spare batteries
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Sandproof camera case for your camera
• Toilet paper
• Toilet bag with wet wipes
• Basic first aid kit
• Portable charger for your mobile phone
• Trash bag.

It's no secret that Morocco is a land capable of providing unparalleled experiences. If you have the time and budget for activities other than a trip to any of the deserts on this list, consider Ouarzazate.

Ouarzazate is known as Africa's little Hollywood. You may have heard of it, as its kasbahs or castles have been the backdrop for big budget films and productions such as Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars and Game of Thrones.

Located 200km from Marrakech, its popularity has made it a stop on many desert tours and excursions.

Some of the attractions and interesting things to do during your day in the city of Ouarzazate include:

• Visit the Kasbah Taourirt. A residential castle made of rammed earth built in the 20th century.

• The cinema museum is located just in front of the Kasbah Taourirt.

• Ouarzazate's film studios. Unless they are filming a movie the studios can be visited as part of a guided tour.

• Ait-Ben-Haddou. One of the most interesting places to visit in Morocco and a World Heritage Site. It is a beautiful brick citadel and an impressive historic city.

• Visit the Fint Oasis. From Ouarzazate the Fint Oasis with its beautiful palm groves is only 20 kilometres away.