Travel from Marrakech to Agadir or Taghazout through Merzouga and the Draa Valley
Tours From Marrakech
Duration: 5 Days
2 Person Minimum
Overview
This 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Agadir or Taghazout is a complete journey combining desert adventure, cultural encounters, and scenic landscapes.
Travel through the High Atlas Mountains and visit the famous Ait Benhaddou before continuing to the Dades Valley. Discover the dramatic Todra Gorge and reach the Sahara Desert in Merzouga.
Spend time exploring the desert region, meeting nomadic families, and enjoying local music traditions. Experience camel trekking across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi and spend a magical night in a desert camp.
The return journey takes you through the lush Draa Valley and the Anti-Atlas Mountains, passing traditional villages and saffron fields before arriving at the Atlantic coast.
Tour Plan
Today we will meet you at around 8:30am at your accommodation in Marrakech and start travelling to the Dades Valley via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and over the High Atlas Mountains. Today you will enjoy travelling through the dramatic pass and the amazing views of the Berber villages and the amazing landscape changing as the day progresses. You will stop around Ouarzazate to see the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most beautiful Kasbahs in this area. You’ll have lunch there and continue to the Dades Valley through the road of ''the Thousand Kasbahs``, which offers many beautiful photo opportunities of nature and people. then we’ll get to Kalaat Mgouna –the centre of roses valley. Then we drive to the Dades Valley where you will explore the amazing rock formation called “the monkey toes”. Overnight at a nice riad with dinner in the heart of Dades Valley..
After breakfast , we will drive towards Tinrghir and the Todra valley enjoying the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley. Today you will have time to hike for about 1 Hour and half in Todra Valley then walkunder the 300 m high red cliff, where many rock-climbers spend their time. After that you will continue towards Merzouga. On the way you will do stops in good spots for pectures and also stop at the place where peaple work to find fossils . At the end of the day you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before check in to your accommodation. Overnight at a nice riad beside the sand dunes.
After breakfast in the riad you’ll start your explorative journey of the area, starting by a walk in the Oasis in the desert then visiting the gnawa peaple in Khamlia village originally from Sudan, Mali and Senegal to experience their music and lifestyle. Later , we will drive in the desert area to meet nomad families-living under Berber tents- to explore their way of life . Today our lunch will be a traditional Berber meal (Berber pizza) with a local family. You will have the option also to visit the old city of Rissani - the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty - the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Rissani is surrounded by about 360 ksar (a fortified village with many towers) and has a big souk (an open market), held three times a week. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Tombouctou in Mali. Here you’ll walk through the souk, selling spices, vegetables and cloths . After that we Drive back to the village of Merzouga. In the afternoon, you will ride your camel, guided by an experienced camel-man to explore what is hidden in the middle of the highest sand dunes in morocco and enjoy the sunset and spend the night at the camp with dinner , drum party and camp fire.
Today you will wake up early in the morning to watch what may well be the best sunrise in your life. After breakfast at the camp , you will trek back to the village of Merzouga. then leave for Rissani - once Sijilmassa - the foundation of the Alaouite daynasty, the current ruling family. With most of the women veiled, and men hooded, this is a very traditional Moroccan town. We’ll continue driving towards the spectacular kasbah Tamnougalt and Agdez village, via Alnif and Tazzarine, before we get to the fascinating Draa Valley at the edge of the Atlas Mountains, along which lay hundreds of Berber Kasbahs, then to Ouarzazate, where you will spend the night at a nice a riad.
After breakfast in your riad, you will start travelling to Agadir via Taznakht, and then over the Anti Atlas Mountains. You will enjoy the panoramic views and the scenic moon-like landscape with the contrast of the Berber villages and the Atlas Mountains. Today you will pass in the area where they grow Saffron in the region of Taliouine. and you can have a chance to see the goats climbing the Argan trees.before arriving at your accommodation in Agadir or Taghazout or wherever you want. where the tour ends.
Included
- Travel in private tour with a comfortable AC SUV or Van
- Fuel
- English speaking driver
- One night at a nice riad in Ouarzazate with dinner and breakfast
- One night at a nice riad in Dades valley with dinner and breakfast
- One night at a nice riad in Merzouga village with dinner and breakfast.
- One night at the desert camp with dinner and breakfast.
- The camel ride to spend the night in the desert ( 1 camel per person )
Exclude
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Tips
Extra Info
🔹 Extra Information
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Departure City: Marrakech
Ending City: Agadir or Taghazout
Tour Type: Private One-Way Tour
Transportation: Air-conditioned SUV or Minivan
Accommodation: 3 Riads + 1 Desert Camp
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Best Time to Travel: March to June, September to November
Languages Available: English (others on request)
🔹 Good to Know
Departure from Marrakech around 08:00–08:30
Camel trekking takes about 1–1.5 hours each way
possibility to replace camel ride with 4x4 transfer
Sandboarding may be available at the desert camp
Temperatures vary significantly between day and night in the desert
Comfortable walking shoes recommended for Todra Gorge
Vegetarian and special dietary options available on request
Luggage is transported separately during the desert excursion
🔹 Highlights
Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka Pass
Visit Ait Benhaddou
Explore Dades Valley and unique rock formations
Walk through Todra Gorge
Overnight stay near the dunes of Merzouga
Full desert exploration including Khamlia village and nomads
Camel trekking in Erg Chebbi
Overnight in Sahara desert camp with music and campfire
Scenic drive through Draa Valley
Journey through Anti-Atlas Mountains and saffron region of Taliouine
Arrival to Atlantic coast in Agadir or Taghazout
🔹 Optional Add-ons
Luxury desert camp upgrade
Quad biking or sandboarding in Merzouga
Local guide in Ait Benhaddou
Private room or tent upgrade
Multilingual driver (French / Spanish / Italian)
Currency:
The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). On average, 1 Euro (EUR) equals approximately 10 to 11 dirhams, 1 US Dollar (USD) equals around 9 to 10 dirhams, and 1 British Pound (GBP) equals approximately 12 to 13 dirhams, depending on current exchange rates. In all major cities, you can withdraw cash using international Visa, MasterCard, and other widely accepted bank cards. There are also numerous exchange offices available at airports, city centers, and tourist areas. Please note that exporting Moroccan dirhams outside the country is prohibited, so it is recommended to exchange or withdraw only the amount you need.
Local Time:
Morocco generally operates on GMT+1, with slight adjustments during certain times of the year, particularly during Ramadan. Compared to countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, or Spain, there may be a one to two-hour time difference depending on the season. For travelers from the United Kingdom, Morocco often shares the same time zone or differs by one hour. Visitors from the United States or Canada should expect a larger time difference depending on their departure city.
Passport and Visa:
Citizens of many countries including France, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and several other European nations are required to hold a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the date of entry into Morocco. For short-term tourist stays, a visa is generally not required for these nationalities. However, entry requirements may vary depending on your country of origin, so it is strongly recommended to check with your local Moroccan embassy or consulate before traveling.
Health:
No specific vaccinations are required for most international travelers visiting Morocco. However, it is recommended to be up to date on routine vaccinations. The best precaution remains prevention: drink bottled water, avoid poorly preserved food, and consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses. Morocco’s major cities offer good healthcare facilities, and pharmacies are widely available throughout the country.
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