Merzouga Desert Journey
Grand Morocco in 14 Days
The Saghro Traverse
Atlas lakes to Saghro
Erg Chigaga & Lake Iriki
Southern Atlantic
The Mediterranean
The Grand Atlantic
From Marrakech
From Fes
From Casablanca
Couples
Families
Friends
Boutique riads
Luxury desert camps
Nights under the stars
Our story
Your driver-guide
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5-Day Desert Tour from Agadir to Fes through the Sahara
A one-way crossing of southern Morocco. From Agadir we drive through the Anti-Atlas to the ksar of Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, and spend two nights in the dunes of Merzouga, with a full day to explore the desert. The last day crosses the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fes.
Best for: Travellers crossing Morocco from the south coast to the imperial cities of the north.
Highlights
- The UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Benhaddou
- The Dades Valley and the Valley of Roses
- A walk in the Todra Gorge
- Two nights in the Merzouga dunes
- Nomads, Gnawa music and Rissani
- The Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas cedars
Day by day
Driving times are honest estimates for the time behind the wheel. Stops for photos, tea and lunch come on top, and you can always ask your driver to stop.
Day 1Agadir – Taliouine – Taznakht – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
Agadir – Taliouine – Taznakht – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
Pick-up in Agadir and drive east through the Anti-Atlas, past Taliouine's saffron fields and Taznakht, a town of carpet weavers. In the afternoon, a walk through the ksar of Aït Benhaddou. Night in Ouarzazate.
Day 2Ouarzazate – Skoura – Roses Valley – Dades Valley
Ouarzazate – Skoura – Roses Valley – Dades Valley
Through the palm oasis of Skoura and the rose town of Kelaat M'Gouna to the Dades Valley, with time for a walk among the red rock formations. Night in a hotel above the valley.
Day 3Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga desert camp
Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga desert camp
The Todra Gorge in the morning, then Merzouga. Camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and a night at the camp.
Day 4A day around Merzouga
A day around Merzouga
A full day in the desert: a nomad family, the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the market of Rissani and the dunes by 4x4 if you like. Second night at the camp.
Day 5Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
North along the Ziz Valley palm groves, over the Middle Atlas through Midelt and the cedar forests near Ifrane, where you may see Barbary macaques. Arrival in Fes in the evening, where the journey ends.
Where you'll stay
These are our usual choices. If one is full on your dates we book a place of the same standard, and you can ask for an upgrade.
Choose your dates by the stars
Your night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi is far from any city lights. On nights with little or no moon, the Milky Way stretches across the whole sky. Pick a month to see the darkest nights.
Moon phases are calculated for each night at 10 pm. Clear skies are most common from October to May.
Price per person
| Group size | Per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | €1,120 |
| 4 travellers | €810 |
| 6 travellers | €710 |
Your car and driver-guide cost the same for 2 or 6 people, and we book one double or twin room for every two travellers, so the price per person drops as your group grows. Hotels and breakfast are included. Travelling alone, or with 3 or 5? Ask us and we send your exact price within 24 hours.
What's included
Included
- Private car with your own English-speaking driver-guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or the airport
- Hand-picked hotels, kasbahs and desert camps, double or twin rooms
- Breakfast every day, and dinner at the desert camp
- Camel ride into the dunes
- Fuel, tolls and passenger insurance
Not included
- Flights
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees
- Local guides
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Questions about this journey
Can you pick us up at our hotel in Agadir or Taghazout?
Yes. We pick you up at your hotel in Agadir, Taghazout or Tamraght, or at Agadir airport, and bring you back at the end.
Can we change the route?
Yes. Every journey is private, so we can add a night, slow down a long day or finish in another city. Tell us what you would like.
How is the price calculated?
The car and driver-guide cost the same for 2 or 6 people, and we book one double or twin room for every two travellers, so the price per person drops as your group grows. Ask us for your exact price.
More journeys
Erg Chigaga via Tata and Lake Iriki
The back road to the desert: Anti-Atlas oases, the dry bed of Lake Iriki and a night in Morocco's wildest dunes.
From €900 per person
6 Days: the Sahara Loop from Agadir
The great desert loop from the coast: kasbahs, gorges, two nights in the dunes and a night in our home village.
From €1,350 per person
Agadir to Marrakech via Merzouga
From the Atlantic to the big dunes and on to Marrakech, without going back the same way.
From €670 per person
Where will your road begin?
Tell us your dates and who's coming. Abdou or one of the team will send you a route and a price within 24 hours.