Holy Week in Morocco 2027: 8-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
Spend the Easter holidays in the dunes, with kasbahs, a camel ride and a desert camp
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Tour at a Glance
Duration
8 days and 7 nights
Tour Type
Private tour for your group only
Starts and Ends
Starts and ends in Marrakech
Overnight
Hotels, a starry desert camp and a small auberge in the desert
Highlights
Ait Ben Haddou, the Sahara dunes, a camel ride, Khamlia and off-road desert tracks
Price
On request. Contact us for a free quote
Spend Holy Week in the Sahara Desert
Holy Week in Morocco is a popular time to travel, and this 8-day tour gives you a different way to spend it: in the Sahara Desert. Holy Week 2027 runs from Palm Sunday on 21 March to Easter Sunday on 28 March, and many travellers take time off around Easter. You cross the High Atlas Mountains, visit the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Merzouga dunes, ride a camel and sleep in a desert camp.
On the way back you leave the main roads for a second desert, driving off-road to a secret place in the middle of nowhere, and return through the Draa Valley to Ouarzazate and Marrakech. The tour is private and can start on any date, so you do not have to travel exactly during Holy Week. Spring is a good time for the desert, with pleasant days and cold nights.
Tour Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987
- Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Morocco”
- The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and the Roses Valley
- The Todra Gorge
- The highest sand dunes in Morocco, near Merzouga
- A 4x4 tour and a visit to the village of Khamlia
- A camel ride and a night in a desert camp
- A second desert, with lost villages and dry oases
- A night in a small auberge in the middle of the desert
- 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
We pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can make your first contact with Moroccan culture in the famous Jemaa El Fna square.
Day 2
Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
In the first hours of the day you cross the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, admiring some of Morocco’s most picturesque scenery and fascinating Berber villages. You visit Ait Ben Haddou, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1987, and continue to Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Morocco”, where you spend the night.
Stops on Day 2
- Marrakech
- Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
Day 3
Ouarzazate, the Roses Valley, Todra Gorge and the Sahara
After breakfast you head south-east along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, so called because of the many kasbahs along the way to the desert. You pass through the Roses Valley and the Dades Valley to reach one of the region’s most beautiful gorges, deviate to visit the Todra Gorge and return to the main road to continue to the capital of the dunes, where the highest sand dunes in Morocco rise.
Stops on Day 3
- Ouarzazate
- Roses Valley
- Dades Valley
- Todra Gorge
- Merzouga
Day 4
Merzouga, Khamlia and a Desert Camp
After breakfast you enjoy a 4×4 tour of the Merzouga dunes and visit Khamlia, a village whose people come from sub-Saharan Africa. The local community entertains you with traditional desert music on traditional instruments. In the afternoon you go back to the hotel, where you ride your camel to sleep in the camp.
Day 5
Merzouga, Taous and Ramlia
After you come back 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 Ramlia, in the middle of nowhere, where you spend the night in a small auberge.
Day 6
Ramlia, Alnif, the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate
After breakfast in the middle of nowhere you continue on off-road tracks, over sand and rock, to reach the main road at Alnif. You then drive through the fantastic Draa Valley, with its beautiful palm groves and one of the longest rivers in Morocco, and cross the Anti-Atlas Mountains to arrive back in Ouarzazate.
Stops on Day 6
- Ramlia
- Alnif
- Nkob
- Agdz
- Draa Valley
- Ouarzazate
Day 7
Ouarzazate and Marrakech
After breakfast you visit the Taourirt Kasbah, a very well-known castle in the area, before you continue your way back to Marrakech.
Day 8
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
- A camel excursion and a night in a desert camp
- A night in a small auberge in the desert
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers
Not Included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Museum and monument entrance fees
- Tips
- Anything not listed under “Included”
We can customise the trip according to your budget and interests, and group discounts are available. Contact us to confirm the details for your dates and group size.
What to Bring
- Warm layers, as desert nights can be cold in spring
- Sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes
- Comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag for the desert camp
- Cash for lunches, drinks and tips
- A camera and a power bank
Is This Tour Right for You?
This tour suits adventurous travellers who want to spend the Easter holidays in the desert and are happy with long drives, off-road tracks and simple accommodation in a small auberge. Book early, as Holy Week is a busy period.
Looking for a classic route? See our Morocco desert tour from Marrakech. Travelling at New Year? See our New Year’s Eve in the Sahara tour.
More Tours You May Like
Travelling at another time? Compare our other private desert tours.
Ten days of adventure from Marrakech, including Sahara camel trekking and off-road desert tracks.
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.
Sahara camel trekking with an overnight stay in a desert camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Holy Week in 2027?
Holy Week 2027 runs from Palm Sunday on 21 March to Easter Sunday on 28 March, following the Western Christian calendar. Please check the exact dates for your own calendar. Holy Week 2026 has already passed.
Do I have to travel during Holy Week?
No. The tour is private and can start on any date that suits you, so you can travel during Holy Week or at any other time.
Is this a religious tour?
No. It is a desert tour timed for the Easter holidays, with kasbahs, valleys, the Sahara dunes and a camel ride.
Do I sleep in the desert?
Yes. On day 4 you ride your camel to sleep in a desert camp, and on day 5 you spend the night in a small auberge in the middle of the desert.
What is the weather like in March?
Spring days are pleasant, but nights in the desert can be cold, so bring warm layers. See our Morocco FAQ for more.
Is the tour private and can it be customised?
Yes. The tour is private for your group and can be modified according to your budget and interests. Group discounts are available. Contact us with your ideas.
What is not included?
Flights, lunches and drinks, museum and monument entrance fees and tips are not included, nor anything not listed under “Included”.
How do I book?
Fill in the form at the bottom of this page or email travelstomorocco@gmail.com with your dates and group size, and we will reply with a free quote. Holy Week is a busy period, so please contact us early.
Plan Your Trip
Helpful pages before you book:
Ready to Spend Holy Week in the Sahara?
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you a free quote for this trip. Holy Week is a busy period, so contact us early.
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.