Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Morocco: Marrakech, the High Atlas and a Sahara night
6 days from Marrakech and back: over the Tizi n'Tichka to Ait Ben Haddou, a night in the Dades gorge, camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga and a night in the Skoura palm grove on the way home.
6 days · Round trip from Marrakech · up to 12 guests
The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga at sunset. Photo: Mustang Joe, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watching_the_Sahara_Sunset_-_Morocco.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Marrakech
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 5 h on day 5
- Activity level
Easy
Walks of up to 2 hours on rocky paths and uneven earthen steps, a 20-minute climb on soft sand at sunrise and a camel ride of about an hour. Expect five days of 3 to 5 hours in the van, broken every 60 to 90 minutes. Each walk has a shorter option and the camel ride can be a 4x4.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 165 (estimated price)
- Season
- Autumn, winter and spring
Highlights
Why this trip
- Djemaa el-Fna at dusk on your first evening
- The Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres
- Ait Ben Haddou on foot early, before the day coaches arrive
- A walk among the Monkey Fingers rocks in the Dades gorge
- The narrows of the Todra Gorge with a local guide
- Camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and a night at a desert camp
- Sunrise from a dune, then a night in the Skoura palm grove
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day. The longest is 5 h, on day 5.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 165 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 5 h, on day 5.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Marrakech
Marrakech Menara Airport to the medina
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Marrakech
- Drive about 30 min
We meet you at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), about 6 km from the old city, and drive you to a central riad or hotel in or beside the medina, whatever time you land.
Afternoon
If you can, arrive by mid-afternoon so there is time to rest before the group meets at about 6 pm. Your See Sight Tours guide introduces the plan for the week, with every drive time, then walks the group to Djemaa el-Fna as the light goes.
Evening
Dusk is the hour for the square: the food stalls are lit, smoke rises from the grills, and storytellers, musicians and henna artists gather in the square UNESCO proclaimed a Masterpiece of oral heritage in 2001 (inscribed on its Representative List in 2008). Across the square the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque glows against the evening sky. Before we sit down, your guide gives a short briefing on the souks: fair prices, how haggling works and how to say no politely. We finish with a welcome dinner together a short walk from the hotel.
Included
- Pick-up at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) at any hour
- Welcome meeting and souk briefing
- Dusk walk to Djemaa el-Fna with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Afternoon free before the group meets
Activity: An easy walk of about 30 minutes on flat, busy lanes.
Bahia Palace, then over the High Atlas
Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou over the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Breakfast
- Stay in Ait Ben Haddou
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
Breakfast, then we are at the Bahia Palace when it opens, usually about 9 am (hours vary by day and season, and we confirm them locally), before the courtyards fill. Built in the late 19th century for the grand viziers of the day, it is a run of painted cedar ceilings, zellij tilework and planted courtyards, and a licensed Marrakech guide explains how the rooms were used. We leave the city by about 10:30 and the van climbs into the High Atlas on the N9, a road of long hairpins, walnut terraces and Amazigh villages built of the hillside's own red earth.
Afternoon
We stop for coffee on the way up, then at the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres for the view south, and stop for lunch together in a roadside village on the far side, paid by you (not one of the included meals). Ait Ben Haddou comes into view in the middle of the afternoon.
Evening
The evening is yours: watch the ksar turn gold at sunset from the riverbank, then dinner at your own pace.
Included
- Bahia Palace entry with a licensed Marrakech guide
- Coffee stop on the climb
- Photo stop at the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Sunset view of the ksar from the riverbank
Free time: Evening free in Ait Ben Haddou
Activity: About 4 hours of driving with three stops; the road over the pass has many hairpins, so take a travel sickness tablet if you need one.
Ait Ben Haddou early, then the Dades gorge
Ait Ben Haddou to the Dades gorge via Ouarzazate, Skoura and Kelaat M'Gouna
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Dades Gorge
- Drive about 3 h
We walk into Ait Ben Haddou at about 8 am, before the day coaches from Marrakech arrive at about 11, with a local guide from the village.
Morning
The ksar is a fortified village of earthen houses on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987; we climb the lanes to the ruined granary at the top for the view over the Ounila valley in the morning light. After breakfast we drive east through Ouarzazate and past the Skoura palm grove, where we stay on the way back, to Kelaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses.
Afternoon
Lunch is in the Dades valley, a sit-down meal of tagine and bread. In the afternoon we turn up the Dades gorge, where the road winds past kasbahs and terraced fields, and walk among the eroded red rock formations people call the Monkey Fingers.
Evening
Dinner is at the hotel in the gorge.
Included
- Early guided walk in the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou with a local guide
- Skoura palm grove and Kelaat M'Gouna on the way
- Lunch in the Dades valley
- Guided walk among the Monkey Fingers rocks in the Dades gorge
- Dinner at the hotel
Easier option: Stay on the lower lanes of the ksar and skip the climb to the granary; in the Dades, walk the first 30 minutes and wait in the shade.
More active option: Take the longer loop through the Monkey Fingers, about 3 hours, with a steeper climb out of the canyon.
Free time: Late afternoon free in the gorge
Activity: The ksar climb is about 20 minutes on uneven steps. The Dades walk is about 2 hours on rocky paths with a few short climbs.
The Todra Gorge, then a night in the dunes
Dades gorge to the Todra Gorge, then Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi camp
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Merzouga
- Drive about 4.5 h
This is one of three days that run over our 4-hour driving cap, at about 4 and a half hours, because Merzouga lies beyond the Todra; we break it in the middle with the gorge walk. We leave at about 8:30 and drive through Boumalne Dades and Tinghir, with its long green oasis, to the Todra Gorge.
Afternoon
With a local guide we walk the narrowest stretch, where sheer limestone walls stand in places only about 10 metres apart above a shallow stream, then lunch together in Tinghir. The afternoon drive runs east across stony desert through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga, on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. We leave the big bags in the van and take an overnight bag. Camels carry you out across the sand for about an hour as the sun sets, or ride in by 4x4 if you prefer, to the camp.
Evening
Dinner is under the stars, with music around the fire if the camp offers it.
Included
- Guided walk in the Todra Gorge with a local guide
- Lunch in Tinghir
- Sunset camel ride into Erg Chebbi, or a 4x4 if you prefer
- Dinner and the night at a desert camp
Easier option: Ride to camp by 4x4 instead of camel, and walk only the flat floor of the Todra Gorge.
More active option: Walk the dune ridge above camp to watch the last light.
Activity: About 4 and a half hours of driving with the Todra walk and lunch in the middle. The camel ride is about an hour; camels kneel to let you on and off. In winter sunset is at about 5:30 pm, so ops time the start to reach the dunes before dark.
Sahara sunrise, then back to Skoura
Merzouga to Skoura via Erfoud, Tinghir and Kelaat M'Gouna
- Breakfast
- Stay in Skoura
- Drive about 5 h
Morning
Your guide wakes you before dawn to climb a dune near camp for sunrise, when the ridges turn from grey to orange and there are no footprints ahead. Breakfast at the camp, then camels or a 4x4 back to the van.
Evening
We do not drive the 9 or so hours back to Marrakech in one go, as many short trips do; we split it here with a night in Skoura. Today's drive is about 5 hours, over our 4-hour cap and the longest of the trip, because the desert is far from everything; the Skoura split keeps it from being 9. We break it every hour and a half: a stop at the old khettara underground irrigation channels between Erfoud and Tinejdad, coffee in Tinghir and lunch in Kelaat M'Gouna or Boumalne, paid by you. We reach Skoura in the middle of the afternoon. Its palm grove is one of the largest in the south, scattered with earthen kasbahs, and before sunset your guide walks you to Kasbah Amridil, a 17th-century family kasbah now open to visitors. The evening is free.
Included
- Sunrise dune walk with your guide
- Breakfast at the camp
- Khettara irrigation channels stop
- Walk in the Skoura palm grove
- Kasbah Amridil entry
Easier option: Watch sunrise from the camp instead of climbing the dune.
Free time: Evening free in Skoura
Activity: About 5 hours of driving, 7 hours door to door with three stops. The dune climb at sunrise is about 20 minutes on soft sand.
Over the Tichka to Marrakech
Skoura to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Breakfast
- Drive about 4.5 h
Afternoon
Breakfast in Skoura, then an 8:30 start so you are back in Marrakech early in the afternoon. We drive through Ouarzazate, a desert town known for its film studios, and turn north into the High Atlas. The road climbs through red and green valleys to the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, with stops for coffee and the view, and drops down the long hairpins to the Haouz plain. We stop for a quick lunch on the way down, at your own expense. The drive is about 4 and a half hours, over our 4-hour cap because the only road back crosses the High Atlas, so we break it into three stretches. We reach Marrakech at about 2 pm and drop you at Marrakech Menara Airport or at a hotel in the city if you are staying on.
Evening
Book flights leaving after about 5 pm, or add a night in Marrakech so you have time for the Majorelle Garden and the souks; we can book it for you.
Included
- Coffee stop and the view at the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Drop-off at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) or a Marrakech hotel
Free time: Afternoon free in Marrakech if you stay on
Activity: About 4 and a half hours of driving with three stops. Book flights after about 5 pm.
- Marrakech1 night
- Ait Ben Haddou1 night
- Dades Gorge1 night
- Merzouga1 night
- Skoura1 night
- Marrakechend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: October, November, March and April are warm by day and cool at night. December to February brings cold desert nights and, now and then, snow on the Tizi n'Tichka, which can close the pass for a few hours; your guide will wait or reroute. Sandstorms in the dunes are short; bring a cover for your camera.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- A first taste of the Sahara on a short trip or a week in Marrakech
- An add-on before or after one of our longer Morocco trips
- Travellers who want the desert without a 9-hour drive back
- Solo travellers who want company and a fair single supplement
Not for you if you want
- Two nights or more in the desert (see our longer Morocco trips)
- Step-free access: the ksar, the gorges and the dunes are all uneven
- Short drives every day: four days have 3 to 5 hours in the van
- Full days in Marrakech
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Marrakech1 night
- Ait Ben Haddou1 night
- Dades Gorge1 night
- Merzouga1 night
- Skoura1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: a central riad or hotel in Marrakech (1), Ait Ben Haddou (1), the Dades gorge (1), a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga (1) and Skoura (1)
- Central 3-star-plus hotels and riads; desert camp tents with their own bathroom
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) on day 1 and drop-off there or at a Marrakech hotel on day 6, whatever your flight time
- Our own air-conditioned van and driver for the whole trip, with water on board
- Camel ride or 4x4 into and out of the Erg Chebbi camp
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip
- Licensed local guides at the Bahia Palace, in Ait Ben Haddou and in the Todra Gorge
Activities
- Marrakech: dusk walk to Djemaa el-Fna and the Bahia Palace entry
- Tizi n'Tichka: photo stops on the way out and back
- Ait Ben Haddou: early guided walk in the ksar
- Dades gorge: guided walk among the Monkey Fingers rocks
- Todra Gorge: guided walk in the narrows
- Erg Chebbi: sunset camel ride, desert camp night and sunrise dune walk
- Skoura: palm grove walk and the Kasbah Amridil entry
Meals
- 5 breakfasts
- 2 lunches: in the Dades valley and in Tinghir
- 3 dinners: a welcome dinner in Marrakech, at the Dades gorge hotel and at the desert camp
Not included
- International flights to and from Marrakech
- Visa, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed (lunch on days 2, 5 and 6; dinner on days 2 and 5)
- Drinks
- Tips for the guide, driver, camp staff and local guides
- Optional activities, such as a hammam or a hot-air balloon in Marrakech
- Personal expenses
- Nights in Marrakech before day 1 or after day 6
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 165 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Marrakech to Sahara trip include?
Five nights in central hotels or riads and a desert camp, 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners, our van and driver for the whole route, airport transfers at both ends, a See Sight Tours guide throughout, local guides where sites need them, the camel ride, the Dades and Todra walks, and the Bahia Palace and Kasbah Amridil entries.
How long are the drives to Merzouga and back?
About 4 hours on day 2, 3 hours on day 3, 4 and a half hours on day 4, 5 hours on day 5 and 4 and a half hours on day 6, each broken every 60 to 90 minutes. We split the 9-hour Merzouga to Marrakech drive with a night in Skoura instead of driving it in one day.
How big is the group and who leads it?
The small group runs with 7 to 12 guests in one van. A See Sight Tours guide travels with you from the airport pick-up to the drop-off, with licensed local guides at the Bahia Palace, in Ait Ben Haddou and in the Todra Gorge. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
Not very. The walks are up to 2 hours on rocky paths, the sunrise dune climb takes about 20 minutes on soft sand, and the camel ride is about an hour. Every walk has a shorter option, and you can ride into and out of the desert camp by 4x4 instead of camel.
What is the desert camp like?
A fixed camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, reached by camel or 4x4. We only use camps with private tents that have their own bathroom, and we name the camp when we confirm your dates. Pack a small overnight bag; your main luggage stays in the van.
Is there a single supplement for solo travellers?
Yes, from CAD 165, shown up front and confirmed with your booking. That gives you a room and a tent of your own every night. If you would rather share, ask when you book and we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender.
When is the best time to go?
October to April. Days are mild and dry, the light is good for the dunes, and the summer heat, often over 40°C in the desert, has gone. From December to February desert nights are close to freezing and the Tichka pass can see snow, so pack warm layers.
Do I need a visa for Morocco?
Citizens of Canada, the US, the UK and the EU can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from arrival. Other nationalities should check with a Moroccan embassy before booking; we confirm entry rules again when you book.
How does booking work?
Pick a date and send a request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. The small-group price is from CAD 955 per person sharing, taxes included.
Can I travel on my own dates?
Yes. The private version runs for your party only on a date you choose, from CAD 1,720 per person. If you would rather travel without a guide on your own dates, send an own-dates request and we will quote the route with a driver and the same stays.
Are there shopping stops on the way?
No. We do not stop at shops or co-operatives on commission, and lunch stops are chosen for the food. Your guide briefs you on fair prices and haggling on the first evening, and in the souks will help you buy if you ask, never the other way round.
Can I add this to a longer Morocco trip?
Yes. It starts and ends in Marrakech, so it fits before or after a week in the city or the coast. If you want more time in the desert and Fes, our 8-day Marrakech, Sahara and Fes trip and our 14-day Morocco loop cover the same road with longer stays.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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