5 Days Marrakech, Dades & Todra to Sahara

About this tour

Five days, two full desert nights and the whole southern loop at a relaxed pace. Where the three-day tour rushes, this itinerary breathes: shorter drives, longer walks, a full day at the Erg Chebbi dunes, and a calmer return through the Draa Valley instead of one long dash back.

The route strings together the south's greatest hits — the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, Todra Gorge — then gives you a complete day on the edge of the Sahara. You sleep two nights in guesthouses, one in Merzouga and one in a private desert camp at Erg Chebbi, with sunset and sunrise camel treks.

It is the favourite for families and for travellers who want the full southern Morocco experience without a marathon of driving days. Everything is private, and the itinerary can be tuned around your interests.

Tour highlights

• Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the road to the Dades Valley
• Walks in the Dades Valley and through the 300 m Todra Gorge
• A full day at the Erg Chebbi dunes
• Two camel treks — sunset and sunrise
• A private night at a desert camp under the stars
• Rissani's traditional market on the way back
• Return through the palm-fringed Draa Valley

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 01

   Day 1 — Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

   Overnight in the Dades Valley

   Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) with photo stops, walk the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, and stop for lunch in Ouarzazate. Continue along the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs" to the Dades Valley, where you settle into the guesthouse before dinner.

   • Tizi n'Tichka pass, 2,260 m
   • Ait Ben Haddou ksar walk
   • Ouarzazate lunch stop
   • Dades Gorge viewpoints
2. 02

   Day 2 — Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga

   Overnight in a hotel in Merzouga

   A morning along the Dades Valley, then the spectacular Todra Gorge, where you walk for about 45 minutes between walls up to 300 m high. The road continues past Erfoud's fossil fields to Merzouga, arriving in the late afternoon at your hotel or riad on the edge of the dunes.

   • Dades Valley viewpoints
   • Todra Gorge riverside walk
   • Erfoud fossil fields
3. 03

   Day 3 — Full day at Erg Chebbi – sunset camel trek – desert camp

   Overnight in a private Erg Chebbi desert camp

   A relaxed morning in Merzouga: you can sleep in, walk to the dunes, or add a quad or sandboarding session. In the late afternoon you ride a camel for about an hour across the Erg Chebbi to the private camp. Climb a dune for sunset, then dinner and Berber music around the fire before sleeping in a private tent.

   • Free time at the dunes
   • Sunset camel trek (~1 hour)
   • Dinner and Berber evening at the camp
4. 04

   Day 4 — Sunrise at Erg Chebbi – Rissani – Draa Valley

   Overnight in the Draa Valley

   Ride back at sunrise for breakfast, then a short drive to Rissani's traditional souk — a real local market with spices, leather and donkeys, founded by the Alawite dynasty. The afternoon continues south and west into the Draa Valley, where you spend the night in a guesthouse among the palm groves.

   • Sunrise camel ride from the dunes
   • Rissani souk
   • Draa Valley palm groves
5. 05

   Day 5 — Draa Valley – High Atlas – return to Marrakech

   Drop-off in Marrakech in the early evening

   A final driving day back over the High Atlas with lunch and photo stops, passing Ouarzazate and the Tizi n'Tichka pass. You are dropped at your riad or hotel in Marrakech in the early evening.

   • High Atlas crossing and photo stops
   • Lunch stop on the way

Good to know

• Languages English and French speaking driver-guide
• Two long driving days Day one and day five are the longest in the car. In between, the pace is easy.
• Desert camp Private tent with dinner and breakfast; luxury camp upgrade on request
• Group size Private — the tour, the car and the camp are yours alone
• Nights Evenings cool fast in the desert; a warm layer is essential, especially October to April
• What to bring Comfortable shoes, a warm layer, sun protection and a scarf
• Departures Daily from Marrakech with a flexible start

Why travellers love this trip

• No rush Five days spread over a three-day route means short drives and real time at every stop.
• Two desert nights A full day at the dunes plus a private camp night — the desert experience done properly.
• Family-friendly Gentle days, safe stops and activities flexible enough for all ages.
• The whole south Atlas, kasbahs, gorges, dunes and the Draa Valley — the complete southern Morocco loop.
• Private throughout Your own guide and vehicle, so the pace always matches your travel style.

Weather & best time to travel

What to pack

• Comfortable walking shoes for the gorges and dunes
• A warm jacket and layers for desert evenings
• Hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
• A scarf or buff for wind and dust
• Water bottle and cash for lunches, entries and tips
• Camera or phone with spare battery
• Swimwear if you plan the hotel pool in Merzouga
• Passport and travel insurance details

Common questions