Average rating Sahara Desert Tour

Leave your base in Marrakech and be whisked off to visit the Erg Chebbi dunes on this three-day Sahara Desert Tour. You’ll ride camels at sunset, sleep under the stars in the desert and enjoy traditional Moroccan meals.

A trip to Morocco isn’t complete without a trip to the Erg Chebbi Dunes, so leave the hustle and bustle of Marrakech behind and get lost in a landscape of Saharan sand dunes. Just outside the city lies the Atlas Mountain range. It stretches across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia for about 1500 miles and the patch just outside Marrakech is great for exploring by camel and in 4x4s. Hillsides are studded with Berber villages and kasbahs, and gorges like the Todra Gorge create huge dramatic rifts in the landscape.

You’ll pack quite a bit into this Sahara Desert Tour, but the best bit has to be the camel ride into the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. In fact, by the time you reach your destination, you may well find you’ve morphed into a present-day Lawrence of Arabia. You’ll also get the chance to spend the night sleeping beneath the stars at the desert camp – or beneath canvas if you’d rather. Whilst the iconic Erg Chebbi dunes are your ultimate destination, the journey there passes many equally stunning sights. The fortified UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou is a fortified city containing countless kasbahs and has been the atmospheric subject of numerous hollywood movies (The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia...) whilst the Todra gorge and Dades River both offer breathtaking scenes thanks to their dramatic sheer-sided canyons.

This tour is perfect for independent travellers wanting to explore some of the most scenic sites around Marrakech. There is no heavy trekking involved so it is very much accessible to all. Accommodation is simple and local, so if you’re not happy unless you’re in 5-star accommodation, this isn’t the tour for you. There’s also the matter of the camel rides – these hairy creatures are quite tall and if you’re not used to riding, it might be a bit unnerving, but its a wonderful memorable experience if you are brave enough.

Getting there

Marrakech has an international airport, with both budget and international airlines flying here. It’s possible to get very cheap flights, but you’ll need to book long in advance.

Price includes

Price is per person for a group of 2-4 people and includes transfers to/from Marrakech, half-board accommodation, services of an English-speaking tour guide, 4x4 with driver, camel ride and overnight camping in sand dunes. Please enquire for prices for single travellers as we can often join you to an existing group at a reasonable price.

Comfort level

Reasonably comfortable (Inns, B&Bs, luxury camping etc.)

Experience required

Not relevant

Travellers should bring

General: Sleeping Bag (can be rented), Day-pack, Sunglasses, Water bottles (most of the time it is possible to buy water during the trek from villages), Towel, Ziplock bags, Needle and thread / safety pins, Camera, batteries and film – bring lots!

Clothing: Sarong (can double as a towel, lightweight sheet or scarf), Cotton long sleeved shirt (for intense sun), Rain jacket, Hat (sun), Lightweight long pants, 2-3 T-shirts, Woollen sweater/fleece, Cotton scarf (doubles as a wash cloth), Hiking boots or hiking shoes.

First aid – (make sure you use water proof labelling when re-packaging), Disinfectant creme / gel (Polysporin), Plasters, Ibufrofen (Advil or generic – for pain, swelling) , Tylenol (colds and fever), Cold medication – Echanacia / zinc lozenges, Tweezers, Visine, Aloe vera gel (for burns), Anti-hystamine tablets, Diarrhoea medication (Immodium) Personal: Sunblock, Moisturiser / lip balm with sunblock, Book, Small torch / flash-light (small bicycle lights make good travelling torches), Nail clippers, Wet-wipes, Soap / shampoo / toothpaste / toothbrush etc.

Please note, there are no bank ATM machines in the Mountains, bring enough cash from Marrakech. Customers should also ensure they have full travel insurance in place.