Welcome to “Journey to the Heart of the Sahara: A 3-Day Adventure from Marrakech”! Embark on an unforgettable expedition through the enchanting landscapes of Morocco, as you travel from the vibrant city of Marrakech to the mystical Sahara Desert. This carefully crafted itinerary is designed to immerse you in the rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of the region.
As you leave behind the bustling streets of Marrakech, you’ll venture into the rugged beauty of the Atlas Mountains, passing through picturesque Berber villages and panoramic mountain passes. Your journey will take you to the iconic Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site that will transport you back in time with its ancient fortifications and captivating history.
Marrakech,Morocco (Google Map)
8h30 From Your Accommodation in Marrakech
Join us on this extraordinary 3-day journey from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert, where ancient traditions, natural wonders, and the allure of the desert combine to create an experience that will leave an indelible mark on your soul.
On your return journey, you’ll traverse the captivating landscapes of the Atlas Mountains, crossing the Paris-Dakar route and encountering the wilderness of the Iriqui National Park. Take in the stunning vistas and spot wildlife as you make your way back to Marrakech, where your unforgettable desert odyssey concludes.
Departure occurs in front of your hotel in Marrakech towards Ouarzazate and Dades Gorges, through the Tizi-N-Tichka mountain pass at 2260 meters in the High Atlas Mountains. From Marrakech to Ouarzazate, you will enjoy a scenic drive, beautiful landscapes with different colors, and the Berber villages along the way. You will visit Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO world heritage site. The fortified village is an attractive place and served as a movie set for many famous films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, or even Gladiator. Afterward, you will continue to Dades Valley via the rose valley and Skoura palm grove. You spend the first night of your tour and have diner in a typical Moroccan hotel located in Dades gorges.
After a typical Moroccan breakfast, you depart from your hotel around 8 am, taking the road of 1000 kasbahs to drive around the colorful Berber villages of the Dades valley. 45 km further, you will get to Tineghir with its beautiful palm grove and Jewish area. You continue to the gorges of Todra, where you will have some free time to go trekking inside the 300 m high canyons. Once you arrive at Erg Chebbi dunes, you will take a 1h 30 m sunset camel ride. Spend the night in a desert camp, with dinner and some evening show of local music.
After sunrise and breakfast you take the road to Marrakesh via Alnif (rocky black desert) and Draa valley; is the largest valley in Morocco with a hedge palmerie you will have lunch in the nice town of Agdez,then after that you will continue your trip crossing the charming Ait Saouen mountains ,and High Atlas mountains to reach Marrakesh .
1 person : on request Group
Group 2 – 3 people : 340€/person
Group 4 – 7 people : 275€/person
Group 8 – 12 people : 235€/person
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Marrakech city, many riads does not have access by car so the driver will park nearby and come to get you.
You will be droped off at the nearest point to your riad/hotel , our driver can call your riad to meet you if needed.
This trek runs all year-round and can depart at any date of your preference.
We usually have several treks departing each week that you may join if you wish , please get in Touch!!
This trek is available to be booked independently (including transfers from Marrakech) or we can put together a full itinerary and quote to combine your trek with any of Marrakech, Essaouira, The Atlantic Coast and Sahara Desert
1st night : in a hotel in Dades gorges either in Hotel Babylon or Hotel Dar Essayaha or similar
2nd night : Overnight camping on the dunes ( Nomadic tents)
This is a relaxed trip that is mostly cultural exploration with a dash of activity. The camel trek, though a little uncomfortable, is easy and fun for most travelers. Any other hiking is optional and entirely up to whether you want to join or not.
Sure But you will pay the Total of 2 people if there is no more Bookings.
The desert can get quite hot, with daytime temperatures averaging 15 – 40°C from March to October, and 5 – 20°C from November to February. Nighttime temperatures drop significantly and can even approach freezing in the winter. As much as 10mm of rain can fall in any month, particularly from October to January, but generally the desert is dry.
In the summer (June, July, August), daytime temperatures have been known to approach 45°C on occasions in the desert and in the towns and cities on this trip, so please ensure that you come prepared with sun protection, light and airy clothing and electrolytes/rehydration solutions if travelling at this time of year. If it becomes unsafe to camp in the desert due to extreme summer temperatures, your host will accommodate you in a nearby hotel instead.
our trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
