Merzouga Desert Journey
Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara
Grand Morocco in 14 Days
The Saghro Traverse
Atlas lakes to Saghro
Erg Chigaga & Lake Iriki
Southern Atlantic
The Mediterranean
The Grand Atlantic
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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8-Day Tour from Agadir: Essaouira, Marrakech and the Sahara
A full week from Agadir that shows three sides of Morocco. You start on the coast in Essaouira, a walled port of white houses and blue boats, then spend two nights in Marrakech with a day to explore the souks and palaces. From there the road crosses the High Atlas to the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, and you spend two nights in the dunes of Merzouga. On the way back to Agadir, a night in N'kob, our home village.
Best for: Travellers who want the coast, Marrakech and the Sahara in one week from Agadir.
Highlights
- Essaouira's medina and fishing port
- Two nights in Marrakech
- The High Atlas and Tizi n'Tichka
- The Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge
- Two nights in the Merzouga dunes
- A night in N'kob, our home village
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 – Taghazout – Essaouira
Agadir – Taghazout – Essaouira
Pick-up in Agadir and drive north along the coast past the surf village of Taghazout and the argan forests to Essaouira. Afternoon in the medina and the port. Night in a riad in the old town.
Day 2Essaouira – Marrakech
Essaouira – Marrakech
A morning in Essaouira, then east through the argan country, with a stop at a women's argan oil cooperative, to Marrakech. Evening at Jemaa el-Fna. Night in a riad in the medina.
Day 3Marrakech guided day
Marrakech guided day
A day in Marrakech with a local guide: the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks, with free time in the afternoon.
Day 4Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Dades Valley
Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Dades Valley
Over the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, lunch near Aït Benhaddou, then east along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley.
Day 5Dades – 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 6A day around Merzouga
A day around Merzouga
A full day in the desert: nomads, Gnawa music in Khamlia, the market of Rissani. Second night at the camp.
Day 7Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – N'kob
Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – N'kob
West through Alnif and Tazarine to N'kob, our home village of kasbahs at the foot of Jebel Saghro. Night in a kasbah guesthouse.
Day 8N'kob – Agdz – Taznakht – Agadir
N'kob – Agdz – Taznakht – Agadir
Along the Draa Valley and across the Anti-Atlas back to your hotel in Agadir in the evening.
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 | €1,810 |
| 4 travellers | €1,340 |
| 6 travellers | €1,180 |
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
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
10 Days: Sahara and Imperial Cities
From the Atlantic to the Sahara, then north to Fes, the blue town of Chefchaouen and Rabat, ending in Marrakech.
From €2,260 per person
Agadir to Fes through the Sahara
Coast to imperial city: kasbahs, gorges, two nights in the dunes and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
From €1,120 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.