Experience Traditional Magic: Your 3 Day Trip to the Sahara Desert from Marrakech.
Day 1: Marrakech — Tizi-n-Tichka — Ait Benhaddou — Ouarzazate -Depart from Marrakech on a private tour; You will travel over the High Atlas Mountains via the pass of Tizi-n-Tichka with some stops to take photos. It’s a voyage that winds around beautiful landscapes, rich history and colorful culture, ending with the never-to-be-forgotten stretches of the Sahara.
Read on for a detailed overview to give you an insight into what you can expect from this ultimate Moroccan adventure.
DAY 1: OVER THE ATLAS TO ANCIENT KASBAHS
Your 3 day desert tour from Marrakech early morning departure for your adventure in the “Ochre City”. The first leg of the journey is an exhilarating, perfectly-framed drive over the Tizi n’Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains. Climbing to a height of 2,260 meters, this serpentine roadway provides stunning views and the chance to see some typical Berber villages clinging dangerously to mountainsides.
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One of the first day’s main attractions is a visit to Ait Benhaddou — a. Famous for its superbly preserved mud-brick kasbahs, this citadel has been a backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Here you can stroll among ancient buildings and understand the history of this essential stop on the old trans-Saharan trading caravan route.
Evening in the Dades Valley
The colours of our 3 day desert trip from Marrakech, begin to fade as the afternoon passes by and we finish our first day in the Dades Valley. This part of the country is known for being one of great natural beauty, with large gorges and rocks formations (“monkey fingers”). You will usually spend the night at a guesthouse in one of these local villages and have dinner served to you out under the Moroccan stars. You can take a look for more information on our Marrakech Tours agency.
Day 2: Canyons, Camels and the Sahara
On the second day, the trip moves on through to the Todra Gorge, a colossal limestone trench in the High Atlas. For photographers and walkers in particular, the dramatic vertical cliffs are as close to a paradise as any place.
Reaching the Dunes of Merzouga
From there, it’s on to Merzouga. Mercifully for the legs, this one-horse town is situated at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. These are some of the Sahara’s most iconic sand structures. You will enjoy a real highlight here: A 2 hours camel trek into the desert. And for those who want to start from a different point, we also provide a Casablanca boat tour that goes over these massive dunes.
A Night Under the Stars
At sunset, your caravan piles into the dunes to arrive at an authentic Berber desert camp. Here the evening is a soundtrack of nomad songs, a wholesome supper by campfire and a full view of the Milky Way miles away from city lights. Knowing that adds an entire new layer of meaning to this Desert Tour Morocco.
Day 3: The sunrise and back down we go
The last day begins in the morning, when you can hike up the dunes and see the sunrise over desert – an experience that captures everything about Marrakech tours.
Reflecting on Rural Life
After breakfast in the camp, this trip is on its back way to Marrakech. It’s quite a drive there – but it gives you chance to think about everything. The route traverses the Draa Valley and towns including Rissani and Tinghir, providing a tantalizing look at rural Moroccan life. For additional travel ideas, see the Morocco travel tours.
Cultural Intersections
One great thing about the 3 day desert tour from Marrakech is that you get to talk to local people. If not, there is always the opportunity to share a glass of mint tea with a Berber family or talk with local craftsmen which will allow you to have a clear view and understanding of Moroccan culture. Learn more about our luxury desert tours from Marrakech.
Concluding on the Red City
The afternoon sun is starting to cast a golden light upon the world, and as you approach Marrakech, it feels like the journey comes full-circle through this history-rich country. You come back into the city in the early evening and medina is alive with its familiar clatter and chaos, which feels like a slap to your face after the incredible silence of the Sahara.
Travellers who have concluded the 3-days desert trip from Marrakech often describe themselves as more informed tourists. This is not simply a sightseeing tour; it’s an experience you live that connects you to the soul of Morocco.
Meet the Expert
This is written by NourEddine, one of our expert travel consultants at Marrakech-tours-in-morocco.com. Youssef has guided countless Marrakech tours into the Atlas Mountains, where he is working to show that eco-tourism can work in nomad communities.
