Morocco Adventure Tour: 10 Days of 4x4 Desert Adventure from Marrakech
The Merzouga dunes, off-road desert tracks and the Draa Valley
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Tour at a Glance
Duration
10 days and 9 nights
Tour Type
Private tour for your group only
Starts and Ends
Starts and ends in Marrakech
Overnight
Hotels, a night in the desert and a small auberge in Mharech
Highlights
Ait Ben Haddou, Merzouga dunes, Khamlia, off-road desert tracks and the Draa Valley
Price
On request. Contact us for a free quote
More Than the Classic Sahara Trip
This Morocco adventure tour is for travellers who want more than the classic Sahara trip. After a day in Marrakech and the drive across the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, you reach the Merzouga dunes for a 4×4 tour, a visit to Khamlia and a camel excursion.
You then leave the main roads for a second desert, driving off-road through lost villages and dry oases to the secret place of Mharech and on to Zagora, before following the Draa Valley back to Ouarzazate and Marrakech.
Tour Highlights
- Marrakech: Jemaa El Fna, the medina and the Koutoubia
- The High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Ouarzazate and the Roses Valley
- The Todra Gorge
- A 4x4 tour of the Merzouga dunes and Khamlia
- A camel excursion and a night in the desert
- Off-road tracks through the deserts of Mharech and Zagora
- The Draa Valley and its palm groves
- The Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This itinerary can be modified and designed according to your requirements and needs. Contact us to adapt it.
Day 1
Arrival in Marrakech
Our Morocco Adventure tour started by picking you up from the airport to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time with the possibility of the first contact with Moroccan culture in the famous square Jamaa lafna. .
Day 2
Full Day in Marrakech
You explore Marrakech with a local guide. The highlights include Jemaa El Fna square, the old medina and its souks, the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Gardens, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Koranic school. The rest of the day is free to shop in the souks or relax.
Day 3
Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Your driver picks you up early in the morning in Marrakech, and you head south over the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at about 2,260 metres, with views of Berber villages, kasbahs and oases along the way.
You stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified village (ksar) that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and a location for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. In the afternoon you continue to Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”, where you spend the night.
Stops on Day 3
- Marrakech
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
Day 4
Ouarzazate, Roses Valley, Todra Gorge and Sahara Desert
After breakfast you leave Ouarzazate and follow the Roses Valley and the Dades Valley on the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs”, with plenty of chances for photos. You visit the Todra Gorges, a canyon whose rock walls rise up to about 160 metres, and continue through Tinghir, Erfoud and the palm groves of the Tafilalet oasis to reach the Sahara dunes of Merzouga in the late afternoon.
Stops on Day 4
- Ouarzazate
- Roses Valley
- Todra Gorge
- Sahara Desert
Day 5
Merzouga, Khamlia and a Camel Excursion
After breakfast you enjoy a 4×4 tour of the Merzouga dunes and visit Khamlia, a village whose people originally come from sub-Saharan Africa, where the local community entertains you with traditional desert music on traditional instruments. In the afternoon you return to the hotel and prepare for a camel excursion into the dunes.
Stops on Day 5
- Sahara Desert
- Khamlia
- Sahara
Day 6
Sahara, Taous and Mharech
After you return from your camel excursion, breakfast and a shower, you begin another day of exploring a different desert. You pass through lost villages, dry oases and dry rivers and reach a secret place called Mharech, in the middle of nowhere, where you spend the night in a small auberge.
Stops on Day 6
- Sahara
- Taous
- Mharech
Day 7
Mharech, Tafraouet and Zagora
After breakfast you continue on off-road tracks, over sand and rock, to reach the gateway of another desert: Zagora, with its beautiful palm groves.
Stops on Day 7
- Mharech
- Tafraouet
- Zagora
Day 8
Zagora, Draa valley, Agdz and Ouarzazate
After breakfast you follow the superb Draa Valley, one of the longest river valleys in Morocco. At one point you leave the road for another off-road track through the palm groves, enjoying the views all the way to Agdz, and continue over the Anti-Atlas to Ouarzazate.
Stops on Day 8
- Zagora
- Draa valley
- Agdz
- Ouarzazate
Day 9
Ouarzazate and Marrakech
After breakfast you visit the Taourirt Kasbah, a well-known castle in the area, before continuing to Marrakech.
Day 10
Departure from Marrakech
At a suitable time we transfer you to the airport. End of our services.
What Is Included
Included
- Private tour for your group only
- Driver-guide and private 4x4 or minivan transport with fuel
- Accommodation as described in the itinerary, with breakfast and dinner
- City tour guide in Fes and Marrakech
- Camel ride into the dunes
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers
Not Included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Museum and monument entrance fees
- Tips
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Contact us to confirm the details for your dates and group size.
What to Bring
- Warm layers, as desert nights can be cold in winter
- Sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes
- Comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag
- Cash for lunches, drinks and tips
- A camera and a power bank
Is This Tour Right for You?
This tour suits adventurous travellers who enjoy long off-road drives and want to experience more than one desert. It includes basic accommodation in a small auberge in the middle of the desert.
For a more classic Sahara trip, see our Morocco desert tour from Marrakech.
More Tours You May Like
Compare our other tours from Marrakech.
After a short stay in Marrakech, cross the High Atlas and pass heritage sites and the “Hollywood of Morocco” on the way to the desert.
Ouzoud Waterfalls, Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas on the way to the Sahara.
Sahara camel trekking with an overnight stay in a desert camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this an adventure tour?
Besides the classic sights, days 6 to 8 leave the main roads for off-road tracks through the deserts of Mharech and Zagora, with a night in a small auberge in the middle of the desert.
How long is the tour?
The itinerary has ten days, including the arrival and departure days.
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts and ends in Marrakech, with an airport pick-up on day 1 and a transfer on day 10.
Is accommodation included?
Accommodation as described in the itinerary is arranged for you, with the meals listed in the included section. Contact us to confirm the details for your dates and group size.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Yes. The itinerary can be modified according to your requirements, and we can start from any airport, hotel, town or city in Morocco. Tell us what you need on our contact page.
When is the best time to go?
The tour runs all year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, summer is very hot in the desert and winter nights are cold, so bring warm clothes.
What should I bring?
warm layers, as desert nights can be cold in winter, sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes, comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag, cash for lunches, drinks and tips and a camera. Read our tips in the Morocco FAQ.
How do I book or get a price?
Fill in the form at the bottom of this page or email travelstomorocco@gmail.com with your dates and the number of people, and we will reply with a free quote.
Plan Your Trip
Helpful pages before you book:
Ready for Your Adventure?
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you a free quote for this trip.
Email: travelstomorocco@gmail.com | Phone: +212 6 62 38 50 95
Ask for Prices
Please fill in the form below or contact us directly by email at travelstomorocco@gmail.com, and we will answer you as soon as possible. Include your tour date and the number of people.