Your guide picks you up directly from your hotel, riad, bus station, or airport in Marrakech. Departure time is flexible to suit your schedule. Head south through the city before the roads open up into the Atlas foothills.
The road climbs dramatically through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass at 2,260 m. Far-reaching views stretch across the range, with traditional Berber villages perched on every ridge. A scenic stop for photos, tea, or coffee en route.
Arrive in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s “Gateway to the Desert.” Visit the photogenic Kasbah Taourirte, one of the largest kasbahs in the country. Just nearby, stop at the famous Atlas Film Studio — a working movie set that has hosted productions from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones. Enjoy lunch in Ouarzazate at a local restaurant.
Continue through the Roses Valley, where fields of Damascus roses perfume the air each spring. The villages here are the heart of Morocco’s rose water and argan oil industry — a truly aromatic stretch of the journey.
Pass through the market town of Boumalne Dades, then follow the river into the Dades Gorge — a canyon of striking orange and grey rock formations. Time permitting, a short detour into Todra Gorge, one of Africa’s most impressive limestone canyons, can be arranged.
Khettara — Ancient Irrigation near Jorf
Before the oasis town of Jorf, stop to see the openings of an ancient khettara system — a network of underground channels dug by hand centuries ago to bring water from the mountains to desert communities. A fascinating and often overlooked piece of Moroccan ingenuity.
Pass through Erfoud, where you’ll feel the first breath of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet — palm groves, fossil markets, and a warm, dry air that signals you are close. Continue the final stretch toward Merzouga.
Arrive at your Merzouga hotel. After a short rest and a chance to pack a small overnight bag (leaving luggage securely at the hotel), mount your camel and set off across the magnificent Erg Chebbi sand dunes. The late afternoon light turns the dunes amber and copper — perfect for sunset photography. Upon reaching the desert camp, scale the highest dune for sandboarding and unrivalled views of the Sahara at dusk.
