Tour overview

This 3-day short break crosses the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech to the edge of the Sahara, with a local leader and a group of up to sixteen. You stay one night in a hotel near the Todra Gorges and one in a simple desert camp, with four meals included, two of them with local community groups.

Leaving Marrakech early, you visit the fortified Kasbah Aït Benhaddou, with lunch at a community teahouse, and continue to the Todra valley.

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After a walk through palm groves into the towering Todra Gorges and a brunch made by a local women's association, you ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset to your desert camp. You rise for sunrise on the dunes before the long drive back to Marrakech.

The physical rating is medium, with long days in the vehicle. This break suits travellers who want the Sahara on a short trip.

Trip highlights

  • Kasbah Aït Benhaddou (Day 1)
  • The Todra Gorges (Day 2)
  • A sunset camel ride on Erg Chebbi (Day 2)
  • A night in a desert camp (Day 2)
  • Sunrise over the dunes (Day 3)

Your route

4 stops from Marrakech to Merzouga

3-day route: Marrakech – Aït Benhaddou – Todra Gorges – Erg Chebbi – Marrakech
  1. Marrakech Days 1 & 3
  2. Ait Benhaddou Day 1
  3. Todra Gorges Day 1
  4. Merzouga Day 2

Why choose this tour

The Sahara in just three days. Meals with local community groups.

Best suited to

  • Short-break seekers
  • Add-ons to a Marrakech stay
  • Adventurous travellers
  • Solo travellers
The clay kasbahs of Aït Benhaddou

Day-by-day itinerary

3 days from Marrakech, Morocco to Marrakech, Morocco

  1. Day 1 · Marrakech, Aït Benhaddou, Todra Valley Todra Gorges

    Over the Atlas.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  2. Day 2 · Todra Gorges, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi Erg Chebbi

    Into the Sahara.

    Hotel
    Desert camp
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Erg Chebbi, Marrakech Marrakech

    Sunrise and back to Marrakech.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Mountains and greenery in the Dadès valley

Where you stay

  • Todra Gorges (1 night) Hotel
  • Erg Chebbi (1 night) Desert camp

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 1 hotel night and 1 desert camp night
  • Meals 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle from Marrakech
  • Kasbah Aït Benhaddou and the Todra Gorges
  • Sunset camel ride on Erg Chebbi
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast and 1 dinner
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A group riding camels across the Sahara dunes

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long drives
  • You want hotel comfort every night
  • You want most meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Day 3 · Lunch: Days 1–2 · Dinner: Day 2
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Morocco
White tents of a Sahara desert camp at sunset

Departures & prices

From £156 per person, twin share, tour only. 328 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Morocco?

No, UK citizens can visit Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days.

What is the desert camp like?

A simple camp with bedding and basic toilets, and no electricity.

How long are the drives?

Long: Marrakech to the Sahara is a full day each way.

Which meals are included?

One breakfast, one brunch, one lunch and one dinner.

When can I start?

Departures run almost every day.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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