Day Trips to Marrakech Desert

Excursions to the desert are one of the must-do things to do in Marrakech. The dream of the most intrepid travelers is to tour the desert. If you want to feel like Lawrence of Arabia, check out the best tours in one, two or three days.

This excursion will take you to the nearby Agafay desert which is about 30 kilometers from the Red City. Erase from your mind the typical picture of the dunes: this natural landscape is characterized by arid terrain covered with stones and pebbles and with hardly any vegetation.

The tour leaves Marrakech in the afternoon (usually around 15:00 or 16:00) and, after an hour by bus or 4x4, you will arrive at your destination. There you will be welcomed by Berbers with a typical mint tea. At the end of the day, you can choose between two options: a camel ride at sunset or, if you prefer, you can stay in the camp to watch the sunset and, later, the stars.

You will also enjoy a traditional dinner with the typical recipes of the region: for example, zaalouk (a delicious eggplant salad), vegetable couscous, harira (a hearty soup based on legumes and lamb or beef), meshwi (roast lamb) and chicken tajine. The campfire, the clear sky and the juggling of the fire-eaters add a peculiar touch to this experience.

You also have the option to choose the excursion to the Atlas Mountains with camel ride.

Useful information

• Approximate price: from 40 € without dinner; about 70 € with dinner included.
• Duration: from 6 hours
• Recommended: for those who have little time and do not want to miss an experience in the desert of Marrakech.
• More info: Excursions to the Agafay desert from Marrakech

The town of Zagora is located about 360 km from Marrakech and is very popular with tourists who have little time. In fact, two days and one night are enough to visit it while other destinations require at least one more night.

To get to Zagora you will have to wake up early because, unfortunately, the roads in the country are not in very good condition. Normally, the Zagora desert tour leaves the Red City at 8:00 am and, after passing the Tichka pass, passes through the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley, a green oasis carved by the river of the same name.

Once arrived, you can choose from several activities: camel rides at sunset, quad or 4x4 routes, sleeping in a tent to see the stars, etc.. In Zagora the landscape is arid and stony but there is a point where a few mounds of sand are concentrated: it is the dunes of Tinfou, a miniature version of the more traditional Sahara.

Useful information

• Approximate price: about 90 € including dinner and breakfast.
• Duration: two days and one night
• Recommended: for those who want to spend a night in the desert without giving up comfort.
• More info: Excursions to the desert of Zagora in Morocco.

The 2 nights and 3 days excursion to Merzouga desert starts early in the morning in Marrakech. The minibus or 4x4 will take you through the High Atlas Mountains and, after crossing valleys and Berber villages, continues its journey touching the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou and nearby Ouarzazate, the Gateway to the Sahara.

After a typical lunch, the driver will take you to Boumalne Dades, a village of 2,000 inhabitants. Here live the Imazighen, the descendants of the original inhabitants of North Africa. The first day ends in Tinghir and after a well-deserved rest, the excursion starts again the next morning.

After an invigorating breakfast, the tour reaches the Todra Gorges, a rock corridor reminiscent of the Grand Canyon in the United States. These mountains are the result of centuries and centuries of erosion; the Todra River has molded the cliffs to give us this picture of great impact. In the afternoon and after a stop for lunch, the bus or 4x4 reaches the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

In this fairytale landscape you can end the day with an unmissable activity: a camel ride at sunset. At nightfall, the Berbers prepare a traditional meal and, once finished, you can look at a wonderful starry sky before being in the arms of Morpheus.

On the third and last day, the tour takes the road back to Marrakech and stops in the aforementioned Ouarzazate. Before returning to the Red City, you will have the opportunity to admire the Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoultoute.

Useful information

• Approximate price: 100 €.
• Duration: three days and two nights
• Recommended: for those who want to see the most traditional desert.
• More info: Excursions to the desert of Merzouga in Morocco.

For a taste of the desert experience, you won't have to stray too far from Marrakech either. The Palm Grove of the Red City is an arid landscape dotted with palm, olive and fruit trees. This natural space borders one of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Marrakech. Even so, it has retained much of its charm and is crossed by a myriad of unpaved tracks.

The quad excursions usually last between an hour and a half and two hours (not counting the bus or minivan ride) and touch the palm grove, some villages and the nearby rock desert. If you like the adrenaline of speed, this is the activity for you. Normally, the route includes a stop at an oasis with palm trees and a second break in a Berber house where you will be offered a mint tea and a typical dessert.

Please note that the vehicle can only be driven by two people who, of course, can take turns driving. To ensure your safety, each tour provides a helmet with visor, a raincoat to protect you from dust and gloves. The minimum age to drive a quad is 16 years old and a driving license is not required.

Useful information

• Approximate price: 50 €.
• Duration: between 3 and 4 hours including travel time.
• Recommended: for speed lovers

Another way to tour the palm grove is to ride a buggy, a sport vehicle that hides a unique history. If you feel like the adrenaline of speed and the wind in your face, this is the perfect excursion.

The tour starts at your hotel or riad: a 4x4 or a minibus will take you to the palm grove where you will meet your guide. This experienced driver will teach you the tricks of the trade and control the speed of the group to ensure the safety of all participants. The tour travels along the arid tracks of the Palm Grove which are surrounded by the jbilets, a fascinating volcanic landscape. Again, the tour ends with a tasty mint tea.

Useful information

• Approximate price: 60 €.
• Duration: about one hour
• Recommended: for those who want to feel like Bud Spencer and Terence Hill in "And if not, we get angry".

Also in this case, the first two days can be superimposed on the previous excursion. Everything changes on the third day when, after a stage in the desert of Merzouga, the bus takes the road along the Ziz River.

On the way, you will see green oases and a few castles. Before arriving in Fez, the vehicle stops in Midelt, a small village in the middle of the Atlas Mountains where you will have lunch before taking the road to the third city of Morocco. You will arrive at your destination in the afternoon/evening and the bus will drop you off at your hotel or riad.

The organized tour ends here but, the next day, you will have the opportunity to explore Fez from top to bottom. A 9th century Moorish city, Fez is most famous for the Madrasa Bou Inania (a Koranic school open to the non-Muslim public) and the Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud), the monumental entrance to the Medina.

Another thing you can't miss are the many tanneries that still work the material with the techniques of yesteryear. Clearly, no visit would be complete without a bit of shopping. In Fez there are three main souks: Chemmaine (paradise for lovers of dried fruit), Henna (with cosmetic products) and the Attarine (where you can buy spices and natural products).

Useful information

• Approximate price: from 200 €.
• Duration: three days and two nights
• Recommended for those who want to combine an excursion in the desert with a visit to an important Moroccan city.

The desert is an extreme place and only the most seasoned and experienced travelers can explore it on their own. The warm daytime temperatures plummet at night and if you don't have the right equipment, you will get very cold. Also, if you were to have a mishap with your vehicle, communicating the exact position and rescuing your 4x4 would be very complicated. Traveling in the desert is no joke and it is highly recommended to rely on the experience of the locals.

In general, it is preferable to tour the Sahara during the winter. Between November and February, the weather is more pleasant while in the rest of the year, temperatures can easily reach 55º. If you travel in the warmer months and do not want to give up a route through the dunes, I recommend a night camel ride. This way, you will avoid melting in the central hours of the day. If you want to have more information, I leave you the article Marrakech in winter.

First of all, you should put a bottle of bottled water in your backpack. In Morocco, it is best to avoid tap water because it can be contaminated and can cause stomach aches. To counteract the torrid temperatures of the day, I recommend wearing light-colored clothing. If your excursion includes a night stop, don't forget to pack a warm coat. As for footwear, it is best to choose comfortable, closed-toe shoes that provide good ankle protection.

Another must in your backpack are some snacks. Take into account the experts' advice: Paris-Dakar drivers often carry jelly beans, dried fruit (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds) and slow-absorption bars. Ready to go?