If you’re traveling to Morocco, you have to visit the Sahara Desert! I firmly believe that everyone must take a trip to the Sahara Desert at least once in their lives. No piece of writing or photo could ever fully capture or describe the immense scenery that is the Sahara Desert. However, I understand that planning a trip to the Sahara Desert could seem like a daunting task! There are so many tours available that it could be overwhelming to decide what the best option is for you. I, myself, did a lot of research and also talked to several others before deciding on the tour to book. Here’s what you need to know before booking a desert tour in Morocco!
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About the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert stretches across the African continent and it is the largest hot desert in the world! It nears almost 9,200,000 square kilometers. It extends from the Nile River to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, covering most of Northern Africa. Needless to say, there are countless ways to see this magnificent place with its golden sunrises, towering sand dunes, and lush oases. I want to share how I visited this natural wonder and my experience to help you plan your desert tour in Morocco.
Typical Morocco Sahara Desert Tour Routes
There are so many tours to the desert that deciding can be really hard! I’ve come to learn that most of the tours in Morocco share a very similar itinerary. Most depart from Marrakesh or Fes and take you to the Sahara Desert and then back to Marrakesh/Fes. Your tour to the Sahara comes down to the number of nights and type of tour.
I’m outlining the most common route options below:
- Roundtrip Tour from Marrakesh: Depart from and return to Marrakesh
- Roundtrip Tour from Fes: Depart from and return to Fes
- Depart from Marrakesh and Return to Fes: Depart from Marrakesh and return to Fes
- Depart from Fes and Return to Marrakesh: Depart from Fes and return to Marrakesh
Note: if you are visiting Marrakesh, check out my guides on the best things to do in Marrakesh and the best riads to stay at.
There are two main areas of the Sahara that are popular for tourists to visit in Morocco: the Merzouga Desert and the Zagora Desert.
Merzouga Desert
Merzouga, located in southeast Morocco, is the gateway city to the Erg Chebbi desert which is part of the Sahara. Erg Chebbi is known for its towering and scenic sand dunes! It is about 9 hours from Marrakesh and 8 hours from Fes. Merzouga tours are more popular because the sand dunes are taller here and the dunes have that beautiful golden color.
Zagora Desert
Coincidentally, Zagora, located in southern Morocco, is the gateway city to the Erg Chigaga sand dunes. However, these sand dunes are longer to reach from the closest town. Also, the Zagora desert is not the same golden sand dunes you might imagine. The Zagora Desert looks like the surface of the moon which is why it is not as popular as the Merzouga Desert tours. It is about 6 hours from Marrakesh and 10 hours from Fes.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Sahara Desert Tour in Morocco Answered
– How many days should I spend on my Sahara Desert Tour?
The number of days you spend on your tour fully depends on how flexible you are. I would say a 3-day tour is the minimum amount of time for the tour as you’ll spend almost an entire day driving there and back whether you visit the Merzouga Desert or the Zagora Desert. That is a lot of time on the road, and it could be rushed by a shorter tour.
A 3-day tour would give you one night in the desert, and the more days you can spend on the tour, the more nights and highlights you’ll be able to cover. But at a minimum, I would say at least 3 nights or it is going to be very rushed.
Spending 2 or 3 nights in the desert would allow you to enjoy the desert and explore at a more relaxed pace than only spending 1 night in the desert.
– What activities can I do in the actual desert?
There is plenty of activities to do while you’re in the actual desert! You can go camel trekking, sandboarding, visiting local tribes, climbing the sand dunes, or relaxing at your campsite. I loved climbing to the tallest sand dune I could find and watching the sunrise and the sunset.
– What should a tour include and how much should a tour be?
So there are a variety of different tours available to the Sahara Desert, and it depends on your budget. You could book a budget tour, mid-range tour, or luxury tour. The tour typically includes transportation, accommodation, camel ride, and meals. However, the type of tour plays a role in the quality of each. As the saying goes…you get what you pay for!
Budget Tours
There are plenty of budget tours to the Sahara Desert – the problem is finding the good ones! You’ll expect to stay in a very basic tent, mediocre meals, no toilets/showers on the campsite, and plenty of other people on tour. You will most likely be on a huge tour bus on the winding roads (if you get car sick easily this might not be the best option for you). If you’re looking for the basic experience and are fine to rough it for a few nights, then this is a great option for you! I had friends who went on a budget tour who paid $50 USD total for 3 nights.
Mid-Range Tours
For your mid-range tours to the Sahara Desert, you’ll most likely get nicer accommodations than a budget tour and it might be a smaller tour group shared with others. Or you could possibly elect to do a or private tour.
Luxury Tours
Needless to say, the luxury tours are…luxurious! You will not be camping, but rather glamping. You’ll expect a private large tent with running water, bathrooms, shower, large comfortable beds, and delicious meals included in your luxury tour! This was actually the option I went with and I completely thought it was worth it. I had a private driver for my friend and I from Marrakesh and it was basically like we had a personal guide – more on my experience in the later section. I paid $300 USD for our all-inclusive tour.
– Should I do a private or group tour?
This question is related to the section above, but a group tour is much cheaper while a private tour is much more comfortable. The schedule and itinerary on a group are much more strict as well, following set timetables, which on a private tour, you could stop somewhere longer if you’ll like.
– What’s the best place to start the tour?
Either Marrakesh or Fes – though Marrakesh is more popular for options! However, you should definitely visit other Moroccan cities as well. Check out the best cities to visit in Morocco.
– When is the best time of the year to visit?
Since you’ll be spending at least one night in the desert, it is important to keep in mind when you’re visiting Morocco. The summer months (June to August) could be unbearingly hot with average temperatures around 102°F while the winter months could be below freezing. The best time to visit the Sahra Desert is mid-March to May and October to November.
Also, keep in mind when Ramadan is as the holy holiday varies year to year, and many businesses are closed during Ramadan. The desert tour companies could be closed when you’re visiting Morocco during this time.
– What should I pack?
This depends on the type of tour and accommodation during the tour. You’ll want to pack everything in a small backpack for the desert stay as you cannot bring a large suitcase on a camel. Also, depending on the weather, if it is warm then definitely wear lighter clothes with layers. However, you’ll definitely want to layer up in the colder months – especially if there is no heat at the desert camp.
I visited at the end of March, and I packed the following items:
- Loose linen pants
- Button down shirts
- Flowy maxi dress
- Light jacket
- Scarf to protect my face from sun and sand
- sunglasses
- Socks
- Tennis shoes
- Sandals
- Toileteries (as my desert camp had a bathroom and shower)
– Should I book my Morocco Desert tour ahead of time?
Yes! In my opinion, you should 100% research quality tour companies and book your tour ahead of time. Visiting the Sahara Desert really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you don’t want to have a mediocre experience. I’ve heard people say that if you book in Marrakesh in person, you’ll be able to get a better deal, but I truly believe in this case that you do get what you pay for. You might pay a better price haggling in Marrakesh, but there may be hidden costs that aren’t disclosed such as extra tips, meals not included, souvenir stops, etc. Essentially, you’ll end up paying the same amount in the end.
I think you should book a quality tour company ahead of time so that you know exactly what to expect on your trip! I looked at a lot of different tour companies and reviews and even contacted different tour companies before deciding on the best option for me.
My Own Morocco Sahara Desert Tour Experience
I booked my tour with Explore Sahara Tours and it was an incredible experience! This post is not sponsored in any way but I would highly recommend anyone to book a tour with them. I actually booked the Private 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga.
The 3-day private tour was 275 euros per person and was all-inclusive (pick up from the hotel and private transport, dinners, and breakfasts, 1 night in the desert, 1 night in a nice hotel, experienced driver/guide, camel ride in the desert, and drop off at the hotel at the end of the tour in Marrakesh).
I actually had friends who went on a group Sahara Desert tour just weeks before I was planning to visit and they said that the group tour took away so much from the experience. They were crammed on a bus driving along narrow and windy roads and the group was large and the camping facilities were not great. The group tours were much cheaper than a private tour, but my friend and I decided to splurge on this once-in-a-lifetime experience…AND we couldn’t be happier about our decision!
Day 1: Marrakesh – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorges
We were promptly picked up in the early morning in Marrakesh for our tour and started our journey! Our driver was super kind and knowledgeable and I loved being able to pick his brain about Morocco and how he sees the world. We crossed the High Atlas mountains and the scenery driving through the mountains was beautiful. At some points, we were in the clouds! I could definitely understand how riding in a large bus would be scary as the roads are very narrow and winding. I get car sick easily so I was very grateful at that moment that we had chosen a private tour. Another bonus to having a private tour is that we could stop at scenic spots and admire the view! Plus, our driver knew the best views of the Atlas mountains.
We made a quick stop for tea in the morning and then we stopped near Ait Ben Haddou for lunch. Then, we visited Ait-Ben-Haddou and had a private guide give us a tour of this iconic kasbah. It was quite a sight to be seen and I recommend everyone to stop here. Next, we drove through Ouarzazate which is Morocco’s mini Hollywood. Hundreds of movies and TV shows were filmed on the sets within the city, and we were given the option to stop for a tour. We then continued our way into the Valley of the Roses to reach Dades Valley. We spent the night in a hotel located in the Dades Gorges and it was a very nice hotel.
Day 2: Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga
The next morning we woke up bright and early and departed for Todra Gorges which is a narrow gorge with staggering walls in a valley filled with palm trees and Berber villages. We stopped for lunch in Erfoud (a town known for fossil discovery) and then continued on our way to Merzouga where a camel ride awaited us. We rode the camel to reach our camp in the desert where we would camp overnight. The scenery of the desert was incredible and it looked like a sea of sand. The sand dunes of Erg Chebbi were unbelievable.
When we got to our campsite, I was shocked at how nice it was. There were only a handful of large tents so it was very private and the setup and decor were beautiful. I got into my tent and was once again overwhelmed. It had a king-sized bed piled with sheets, blankets, and pillows. Plus, our tent has a very nice shower and toilet with a working drainage system in the tent.
After I got settled in, there were a few activities we could do including sandboarding. I elected not to sandboard, but instead, climb to the tallest sand dune I could see to watch the sunset. Climbing the sand dune was much harder than I thought…and it took me much longer than I expected to. It was actually quite scary looking down from the top as I could see how far I could fall. I plopped myself down into the sand and waited for the sky to turn all sorts of colors. After the sunset, I went back to the campsite and we were ushered into a large tent for dinner. They kept bringing more and more food out and I lost count of how many courses we were served! The food was absolutely delicious and I stuffed myself.
After dinner, we sat around a fire and listened to people play traditional Berber instruments and sing in their native language. I quickly fell asleep after a very exciting day.
Day 3: Merzouga – Marrakesh
On our last day of the tour, I woke up very early to watch the sunrise over the Sahara Desert. We had a delicious breakfast and then rode the camel back to Merzouga where our driver met us to take us back to Merzouga. The last day was not eventful as it was spent driving from Merzouga to Marrakesh but I still had a great time talking to our driver. The entire tour was organized very well and it was well worth the money in my opinion.
As I said previously, this post is not sponsored but I do highly recommend Explore Sahara Tours – it is a great family-run business and the guides/drivers are professional and knowledgeable and the entire tour ran smoothly. As mentioned earlier, choosing a tour really comes down to the number of nights and type of tour. You have to make the best decision for yourself and your budget!
Final Thoughts
I hope that this article has been helpful in helping you decide on a tour to the Sahara Desert from Morocco and set expectations for your trip. The Sahara Desert tour was the highlight of my time in Morocco, and I think everyone who visits Morocco should also visit the Sahara Desert. The tours are all very similar, however, there are questions you should certainly ask your tour company before booking:
- What is included in the quoted price?
- What is not included in the quoted price?
- If it is not a private tour, how many total people will be on the tour together?
- What are the names of the hotels you’ll be stopping at?
- What meals are included and what meals are out of pocket?
- Do you have to eat at the same restaurant as the entire tour group on a meal stop?
- What are the sleeping arrangements at the desert camp?
- What is the full schedule with stops and times?
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
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