Private multi-day tour · 5 days from Tangier
5-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Tangier: Two Nights in the Dunes
Two nights at a desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with a whole day in the Sahara between them, then the Todra and Dades gorges on the way to Marrakech.
Price on request · your quote within 12 hours
- Private: your group only
- 40% deposit to confirm
- Free cancellation 48 h before
- Tangier Start
- Fes 1 night
- Merzouga 2 nights, camp
- Dades 1 night
- Marrakech End
- Private tourYour group only
- Guide and driverFrom Tangier, the whole trip
- Tangier to Marrakech5 days, 4 nights
- 4 nights includedAt the level you choose
- 40% depositRefunded up to 48 h before
More time in the dunes
Two nights in the Sahara, a whole day between them
On most tours the desert is one night: you arrive at sunset and leave after sunrise. This one gives the Sahara a whole day. You sleep two nights at a camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, with a free day between them.
That day is spent at the desert's pace: a 4x4 loop around the dunes, Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia, tea with a nomad family, sandboarding and a second sunset. At night, far from any town, the sky is full of stars.
The rest of the route is chosen for the road: the Middle Atlas on the way down, then the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou on the way to Marrakech. It suits photographers and anyone who has come to Morocco for the desert.
- 5 days, 4 nightsTangier to Marrakech
- Two camp nightsA full day in the dunes
- Two gorgesTodra and Dades
- PrivateYour group only
Day by day
Your 5 days, one by one
Drive times are estimates with stops. Every day can be changed before you travel, or on the road.
Day01
Tangier to Fes
South to Fes
- About 4 h, 300 km
- Riad in Fes
Pickup in Tangier and the drive south to Fes, arriving for an evening walk to the blue gate of Bab Boujloud and dinner in the medina.
You see Bab Boujloud
Day02
Fes to Merzouga
Over the Middle Atlas to the dunes
- About 8 h, 470 km, with stops
- Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
An early start south through Ifrane and the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live, then over the Middle Atlas to Midelt and down the palm groves of the Ziz valley. At Merzouga, camels carry you into the dunes for sunset and dinner at the camp.
You see Cedar forest · Ziz valley · Erg Chebbi
Day03
Erg Chebbi
A full day in the Sahara
- Short 4x4 trips
- Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Sunrise from the top of a dune, then a day at the desert's pace: a 4x4 loop around Erg Chebbi, Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia, tea with a nomad family, sandboarding and a second sunset. The night sky, far from any town, is the main event.
You see Sunrise from the dunes · Khamlia · A nomad family
Day04
Merzouga to the Dades valley
The Todra Gorge and the valley of kasbahs
- About 4.5 h, 260 km
- Kasbah hotel in the Dades valley
Out of the dunes by Rissani, then west along the road of the kasbahs to the Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls close in to a few metres apart. On to the Dades valley and its switchback road for the night.
You see Todra Gorge · Dades valley
Day05
Dades to Marrakech
Ait Ben Haddou and over the High Atlas
- About 6.5 h, 310 km, with stops
- Drop-off in Marrakech
Through Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou, the earthen village on the UNESCO list that has appeared in many films, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at about 2,260 metres, and down to Marrakech by evening.
You see Ait Ben Haddou · Tizi n'Tichka pass
Where you sleep
4 nights, 3 places
1 night
Fes
A riad in or next to the medina
2 nights
Merzouga
A private tent at a desert camp in the dunes
1 night
Dades valley
A kasbah hotel above the river
Three levels, one route
Standard
Family-run riads and guesthouses, each room with its own bathroom. At the desert camp, a private tent.
Comfort
Boutique riads with more space and character, often with a roof terrace or a pool. At the camp, a larger tent with its own bathroom.
Premium
The best riads and kasbah hotels on the route, and dinners in the riads on request. At the camp, a luxury tent with proper beds.
Tell us the level you want when you ask for your quote. You can mix them, for example a Comfort riad in the city and a Premium tent in the desert.
Good to know
Before you ask for a quote
Longest drive
About 8 hours
Fes to Merzouga on day two, with stops in the cedar forest and the Ziz valley.
Pace
Fast
Two long drives, balanced by a whole slow day in the desert.
Pickup
Anywhere in Tangier
Your hotel, Ibn Battouta airport, Tanger Ville station, the ferry port or a cruise terminal.
Ends
Marrakech
Drop-off at your riad or Marrakech Menara airport. A paid transfer back to Tangier can be arranged.
Walking
Light
Dune walking at the camp and a short walk in the Todra Gorge.
Best months
March to May, September to November
Desert nights are cold from December to February, and the days are very hot in July and August.
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Your guide speaks the language you choose. German and Italian with advance notice.
Group
Private, any size
One travel party per vehicle: a car for up to 3, a minivan for 4 to 7, larger vehicles for bigger groups.
Deposit
40% to confirm
Once every detail is agreed we send your invoice, and a 40% deposit by bank transfer or PayPal confirms the trip, and the balance is paid on the first day. The deposit is refunded if you cancel up to 48 hours before departure.
Clear terms
What's included and what's not
Included
- A private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole trip
- Your Tangier-based guide and driver from start to finish
- A 4x4 loop around Erg Chebbi on the desert day
- 4 nights of accommodation at the level you choose
- Breakfast every day
- The camel ride at sunset, dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Bottled water in the vehicle
Not included
- Flights and ferry tickets
- Lunches, and dinners not listed as included
- Optional extras such as quad biking or a hot air balloon in Marrakech
- Entry fees to monuments and museums
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
Why this tour
Why travel this way
A whole day in the Sahara
Two nights at camp give you sunrise, a free day in the dunes and a second sunset.
The gorge road to Marrakech
The way out passes the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou, with a night in a kasbah.
Guided from Tangier
Your Tangier-based guide and driver the whole way.
Your trip, your pace
One vehicle, one guide and your group only. Stop where you like and change the plan on the road.
Compare
This tour or a nearby one?
Three routes side by side: length, the desert, the pace and where each one ends.
| Sahara Desert Focus | Tangier to Marrakech Express | Grand Tour to Marrakech | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5 days | 4 days | 6 days |
| Route | Tangier to Marrakech | Tangier to Marrakech | Tangier to Marrakech |
| Nights in the desert | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Pace | Fast | Fast | Moderate |
| Ends | Marrakech | Marrakech | Marrakech |
| You are here | See this tour | See this tour |
Your quote
Get a price for your dates
Tell us when you travel, how many you are and the hotel level you like. You get a day-by-day plan and a per-person price, usually within 12 hours. Nothing to pay until every detail is agreed and you have our invoice.
Good to know
Questions about this tour
What travellers ask before they book.
Why two nights in the desert?
One night gives you a sunset and a sunrise. Two nights add a whole day in the dunes: the 4x4 loop, Khamlia, a nomad family and a slower second evening.
What is the desert camp like?
A private tent at a fixed camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with beds, blankets and dinner. The level of the tent depends on the tier you choose.
Can we do this tour in winter?
Yes. Days are mild, but nights in the desert are cold from December to February, so bring warm layers.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Your group only, with your own guide, driver and vehicle for the whole trip. No other travellers join you.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on your dates, your group size and the hotel level you choose, so we quote it for you, usually within 12 hours. The per-person price falls as the group grows.
Is a deposit required?
Yes, 40% of the trip price. Once we have agreed every detail, we send you an invoice and you pay the deposit by bank transfer or PayPal. It is refunded in full if you cancel up to 48 hours before departure. The balance is paid on the first day of your tour.
More multi-day tours
Other routes from Tangier
Tangier to Marrakech ExpressThe blue city, Fes and a night in a Sahara camp, ending in Marrakech. Built for a short trip, with two long driving days.See the tour
Grand Tour to MarrakechChefchaouen, Fes with a local guide, a night under the stars in the Sahara and the kasbahs of the High Atlas, ending in Marrakech.See the tour
Marrakech to TangierThe grand tour in reverse for travellers who fly into Marrakech: the High Atlas, a night in the Sahara, Fes and Chefchaouen, ending at the Tangier ferry to Spain.See the tour
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, cropped: the blue-tiled Bab Boujloud gate into the Fes medina by Ideophagous (CC BY-SA 4.0); Gnawa musicians in white robes in Khamlia, near Merzouga by Withkarim (CC BY-SA 4.0); the red canyon walls of the Todra Gorge by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 3.0).
