2 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech
2 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga — Overview
Two days is the fastest way to experience the Sahara desert from Marrakech and back. You leave Marrakech on day one, cross the High Atlas Mountains, stop for a panoramic view of Ait Ben Haddou from the road, and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes in time for the sunset camel trek. Night one is at a luxury desert camp inside the dunes. Day two is the return — sunrise over the dunes, then the drive back to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and Tizi n'Tichka.
This is the shortest Marrakech desert tour available. It covers the most important part of the southern route — the Sahara — without the canyon stops of longer tours. Both days are long drives. If your schedule allows three days, the 3-day tour is a more comfortable option. If two days is what you have, this trip from Marrakech gets you to the dunes and back.
Day one is approximately 9 hours driving with a panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou and a short break in Ouarzazate. Day two is approximately 9 hours back. The camel trek, the campfire, the desert camp, and the sunrise are worth it.
Highlights of the 2-Day Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains on day one via Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres
- Panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berber kasbahs above a dry riverbed — no full walk due to the long drive, but worth the stop for photos
- Drive through Ouarzazate — the film capital of Morocco — before the landscape opens into the Sahara desert
- Reach Merzouga in the late afternoon and ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- The camel trek takes about 45 minutes into the dunes — the guide leads you away from the road toward the luxury desert camp
- Spend the night under the stars at a luxury desert camp — private tent, en-suite bathroom, hot water, air conditioning
- Campfire in the evening, live Gnawa music, and a starlit sky with no light pollution
- Dinner at the camp and breakfast before the sunrise
- Watch the sunrise from the dune ridge before the camel ride back to Merzouga
- Return to Marrakech on day two via the same scenic route through Ouarzazate and over Tizi n'Tichka
Marrakech Desert Tour 2 Days Itinerary
Two days, one overnight stay in the Sahara desert. Day one is the push south to the dunes. Day two is the return.
Day 1 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou (panoramic stop) → Ouarzazate → Merzouga (9 hours)
You leave Marrakech early — 7am at the latest — and head south into the High Atlas Mountains. The road climbs to Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. The landscape up here is all bare rock ridges and long panoramic views back toward Marrakech across the Haouz plain.
The descent brings you into the pre-Saharan south. Red rock and dry riverbeds replace the green of the Atlas. The first stop is a panoramic viewpoint above Ait Ben Haddou — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to the long drive ahead, this is a photo stop rather than a full walk. Your guide explains what you are looking at from above before continuing south.
The road passes through Ouarzazate — Morocco's film capital — where you stop for lunch. From Ouarzazate the scenery shifts to open desert. The Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the left in the late afternoon.
You arrive in Merzouga in time for the sunset camel ride. The trek into the dunes takes about 45 minutes. The luxury desert camp is inside the dunes — private tent with en-suite bathroom, hot water, and air conditioning. A delicious dinner at the camp, a campfire, traditional Berber music, and a night under the stars with no light pollution. Breakfast included.
approx. 560 km · approx. 9 hours driving · Overnight: Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Day 2 | Merzouga → Ouarzazate → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech (9 hours)
You wake up early and watch the sunrise from the dune ridge before the camel or 4x4 takes you back to Merzouga. This is the best light of the whole desert experience — the dunes change colour fast in the first twenty minutes after dawn.
After breakfast at the camp, you head back west toward Marrakech. The return route follows the same scenic road — through Ouarzazate and north over the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n'Tichka. The pass looks different from the south side. You arrive back in Marrakech in the early evening. If you plan to visit Majorelle Garden or the YSL Museum, book tickets online in advance.
approx. 560 km · approx. 9 hours driving · End: Marrakech
Route Summary
| Day | Route | Key Stops | Distance | Drive Time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marrakech → Merzouga | Tizi n'Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou (panoramic), Ouarzazate | approx. 560 km | approx. 9 hrs | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi |
| Day 2 | Merzouga → Marrakech | Ouarzazate, Tizi n'Tichka | approx. 560 km | approx. 9 hrs | Marrakech |
What's Included
Included
- Pick up and drop off at your accommodation in Marrakech
- Private A/C vehicle for both days — 4x4 for 2–3 people, minivan for 4–8, minibus for larger groups
- English-speaking driver-guide for both days (French, Spanish, and Arabic on request)
- 1 night at a luxury desert camp at Erg Chebbi with dinner and breakfast
- Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Sandboarding at Erg Chebbi
- Panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou
Not Included
- Lunches on both days
- Beverages
- Tips (optional)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Accommodation
One night at a luxury desert camp inside the Erg Chebbi dunes. The camp is inside the dunes, not next to the road. Every tent is private with an en-suite bathroom, hot water, and air conditioning. Dinner and breakfast included. Three tiers available — standard, mid-range, and premium.
All tents have private en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. Dinner and breakfast included. To upgrade from the standard camp, tell us when you book and we will confirm availability and pricing.
Price of This 2 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech
This 2-day Marrakech desert tour starts from €150 per person for groups of 15 or more. The final price depends on your group size and travel dates.
| Participants | Price per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | €748 |
| 2–3 people | €369 |
| 4–6 people | €274 |
| 7–9 people | €239 |
| 10–14 people | €199 |
| 15+ people | €150 |
Prices include all transport, driver-guide, one night at the desert camp with dinner and breakfast, camel trek, and sandboarding. Lunches and personal expenses are not included.
Fill in the form below and we will send you a full quote for your group size within a few hours.
Know Before You Go
Both days are long drives
Day one from Marrakech to Merzouga is approximately 560 km and 9 hours including the Ait Ben Haddou panoramic stop and a lunch break in Ouarzazate. Day two is the same distance in reverse. If you are prone to motion sickness, take medication before day one for the Tizi n'Tichka switchbacks — and again before day two for the return crossing.
The camel trek
The sunset camel ride on day one takes about 45 minutes into the dunes. The guide leads you away from the road and the other tourists toward the camp. If you prefer not to ride a camel, a 4x4 transfer to the desert camp is available at no extra cost. Let your guide know before arrival in Merzouga.
What to bring to the desert camp
Leave your main bag in the vehicle. Take a small daypack to the camp — sunscreen SPF 50, sunglasses, a light scarf for the dunes, a power bank, and one change of clothes. The camp provides everything else. No charging points inside the tent but the camp reception usually has sockets.
Ait Ben Haddou
On this 2-day tour, the stop at Ait Ben Haddou is panoramic only — a photo stop above the ksar rather than a full walk through it. The drive to Merzouga is too long to allow a full 1-hour walk and still reach the dunes for the sunset camel ride. If you want to walk through Ait Ben Haddou, the 3-day or 4-day tour gives you the time to do it properly.
Customize your tour
You can customize this tour to suit your group — departure time, vehicle type, accommodation tier, or additional stops on the return. Tell us when you book and we will confirm what is possible.
Why This Private 2 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech
Most 2-day Marrakech desert tours run as shared group departures. You pay less per person and travel with strangers. Over two long driving days in a shared bus that is a real problem — you cannot stop when you want, the guide is divided between everyone, and the pace is set by the slowest member of the group.
This is a private tour. One vehicle, one group, your driver-guide for both days. If you want a longer stop in Ouarzazate for lunch, you take it. If someone in the group needs a break on the long day two return, it happens. A knowledgeable private guide for a 2-day desert adventure makes a real difference to what you see and understand on the road.
The rich culture and authenticity of the Sahara experience — the campfire, the traditional Berber music, the nomadic camel guide who has ridden these dunes hundreds of times — is the same regardless of tour format. What changes with a private tour is everything around it.
For two travellers the per-person cost is close to a reputable shared tour. For three or more it is cheaper.
Optional Activities
Day Trips from MarrakechDay Trip to Essaouira +
A full day on the Atlantic coast — blue and white medina, sea breeze, fresh fish, and the old ramparts. Book before or after the desert tour.
Day Trip to Ourika Valley or Imlil +
Into the High Atlas Mountains — Berber villages, walnut groves, and cool mountain air. Ourika Valley is an easy half-day. Imlil is the base for Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak.
Day Trip to Ouzoud Waterfalls +
The most dramatic waterfall in Morocco — three tiers dropping 110 metres into a red rock gorge. Barbary macaques on the path down. About two hours from Marrakech.
Quad Biking +
About one hour across the outer dunes. Arrange through the desert camp on arrival on day one. Good for the evening after the camel trek or the morning of day two before departure.
Horse Riding +
Late afternoon on day one after the camel ride. The temperature drops after 4pm and the light is better for photos. Arrange through the camp.
Photography / Proposal Setup +
Sunrise on day two from the dune ridge is the best light of the trip. A local photographer can meet you there. Proposal setup with private dinner, candles, and photographer in position available on request — tell us when you book.
Majorelle Garden & YSL Museum +
Book tickets online well in advance — the garden sells out regularly.
Hammam +
Traditional Moroccan hammam — medina option from $4, luxury riad spa from $40. Worth doing the evening before departure or the evening you return.
Hot Air Balloon +
Before dawn, about one hour over the Haouz plain. Book in advance.
FAQs
Is 2 days enough to experience the Sahara desert from Marrakech?
Two days gets you to the Sahara and back. You get the camel trek, the luxury desert camp, the campfire, the Berber music, the sunrise, and the sandboarding. What you do not get is time to explore the canyon country — Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley — or a full walk through Ait Ben Haddou. If the dunes are your main goal and two days is what you have, this tour works. If you have 5 days or more in Morocco, the 3-day or 4-day tour gives you a more complete southern experience.
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Merzouga?
Approximately 560 km and 9 hours including the panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou and a lunch break in Ouarzazate. The return on day two is the same. Both days are long. Leave Marrakech by 7am on day one to reach the Erg Chebbi dunes in time for the sunset camel ride.
What is the desert camp like?
The luxury desert camp is inside the Erg Chebbi dunes — not next to the road. Each tent is private with an en-suite bathroom, hot water, and air conditioning. Dinner at the camp is a traditional Moroccan meal. The evening has a campfire and live Gnawa music. The sky at night is completely dark — no light pollution. On day two you watch the sunrise from the dune ridge before the camel or 4x4 takes you back to Merzouga.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Yes. A 4x4 transfer to the desert camp is available at no extra cost. Let your guide know before you arrive in Merzouga on day one.
Why is the Ait Ben Haddou stop panoramic only on this tour?
The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga takes approximately 9 hours including stops. A full walk through Ait Ben Haddou takes about one hour. Adding a full walk would push the arrival at Merzouga past sunset — too late for the camel trek. The panoramic stop gives you the view and the photos. If you want to walk through the ksar, the 3-day Marrakech desert tour gives you the time to do it properly.
How does this tour compare to the 3-day Marrakech desert tour?
The 3-day tour adds one extra day — Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley on day two, with the return to Marrakech on day three. Day one arrives later in Merzouga because Todra Gorge is the overnight stop, not the dunes. The 2-day tour pushes straight to the Sahara on day one and returns on day two. The 3-day is more comfortable and covers more of the south. The 2-day is faster and focused entirely on the desert experience.
How do I book?
Contact us on WhatsApp or fill in the enquiry form on this page. We confirm availability and send pricing for your group size within a few hours. A small deposit secures your dates.
Related Morocco Tours to This 2 Day Desert Tour
Book This Tour
This 2-day desert tour from Marrakech starts from €150 per person. Pick up from your hotel or riad in Marrakech on day one. Drop off at your accommodation on day two evening.
The tour is fully private. If you want to customize the itinerary — accommodation tier, departure time, or additional stops — tell us when you enquire. We will confirm what is possible and build the tour to fit your schedule.