3 Days Excursion to Merzouga from Marrakech: Discover Saharawi Culture and Scenic Landscapes

Embark on a 3-day excursion from Marrakech to Merzouga and immerse yourself in the Saharawi culture. Explore scenic landscapes, visit ancient kasbahs, and experience the beauty of the desert.

Duration: 3 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou - Stop to explore Ait-Ben-Haddou, one of the best preserved villages in the South of the country. Fortified, it was built by the tribe of Aït Aïssa in the 15th century for caravan dealers traveling from Timbuktu to Andalusia via Marrakech and Tangiers.

What's Included
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
Additional Information

For travelers who want to go even further in deep Morocco and learn a little more about its Saharawi culture, this trip to the Merzouga desert is for you. you will cross the beautiful oasis of Skoura, Kalaat M’gouna then the valley of the roses to reach the gorges of Dades, you will visit the valley of the thousand Kasbah, Tinghir, Gorges of Todra, Erfoud, Rissani and the beautiful oasis of Tifilalte, for finally reach Erg Chabi in Merzouga, a rich and exotic experience to discover.

Location
Jemaa el-Fna
Stop station for tourist transport, across the street from the Koutoubia Mosque, next to the old Club Med and the stopping station.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.4
(14 Ratings)
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I4285twstefaniad
Jun 16, 2024
Nice experience to have - My tour was beautiful. I left on June 11th and returned on the 13th. We slept in a somewhat basic hotel, nothing exceptional and in the camp we stayed in the typically Berber one but we had a great time. The only flaw was that the beds did not have a real mattress but if you have a spirit of adventure it is suitable. The Berbers are very welcoming states. The 3 newly-turned-adult kids played and danced with us all evening. Our driver for all 3 days proved to be very attentive, efficient and professional. He managed to keep the group very well
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elxcr94
Feb 3, 2024
Very nice experience towards the desert - We did the 3-day excursion to the Merzouga desert, booking it through the Morocco City Tours website, speaking directly by WhatsApp with them. We went as a couple and it cost us €80 each, which we paid on the day of the excursion in cash (you can use euros or dirhams). When you arrive in Marrakech, they offer you this excursion from about ten euros less to twenty more... They picked us up very punctually at our riad. One of the drivers came on foot to pick us up, since we were staying inside the medina, he led us to his vehicle and took us to where the rest of the mini buses/vans left. There they accommodated us in one of these. Our driver for the entire trip was Ali and there were 15 of us. Ali was very nice, he explained things along the way, at the stops we made too, he answered all the questions... quite well. In the end he is only the driver, with this excursion you do not hire a guide but he did both functions. Other people told us later that in the end it depends on the driver; One group had one who didn't even speak to them... We thought the trip was going to be hard due to the number of hours in the van. Although it is true that at some moments you were already uncomfortable, it was quite enjoyable for us. Multiple stops are made, either to see something or just to rest and gain strength. The first day we visited Ait Ben Hadou (there is a guide who charges €3, obviously it is worth it although they "impose" it directly on you) and we ate in a restaurant next door, where they take you, which left a little to be desired. The menu is about €10-12 but the quality and quantity is low... That day we slept in a kind of inn in one of the small towns in the Dades Gorge. The truth is that it was quite "crusty" and although there were heaters in the hallway, the room was freezing although with the blankets we were not cold. The guy who served us was very friendly, as were those who served dinner and then entertained the night with the drums. The second day you visit the Todra Valley with another guide. In our case it was Abdoul, very nice. Here I did not impose a price, in the end he said that they could leave him a tip but it was not obligatory, obviously we gave him everyone since he was a very good guide. They also take you to a Berber house where they make carpets, you see the process, etc. and they try to sell you some (they can send it to your home by DHL). Beautiful but we couldn't afford it hehe. [Incident: there are more small stops in these first days, to take photos of the views, some other small towns, etc.] The second day in the afternoon we arrived at the desert. We believed that once there they would offer us quad, bugee, etc. but they took us directly in a Jeep to the camels, perhaps time had taken its toll and we no longer had room for maneuver... We took the camels (this is included) to the tent, which will take about 15 minutes or so. Please, if you can avoid it, DO NOT RIDE CAMELS, they were in poor condition. Three children were in charge of them, none of them came of age; We saw the oldest one kicking them to get them to get up, some had foam coming out of the mouth, they were tied with very short zip ties and without teeth on the bottom. As soon as we arrived at the tent we asked for options for the return trip and for €10 each, we chose to return by Jeep, because the camel ride back took an hour and a half. They placed us in a beautiful camp; We thought it was with a shared bathroom and that it was going to be more shabby but no (they were wrong anyway...hehe). Very pretty and comfortable. Of course, without water or electricity (they say because the solar panels had not stored enough energy... already). We could charge our cell phone in the common room, so no problem. Dinner and breakfast were VERY VERY scarce (one chicken breast for 9 people with noodles; water not included, almost non-existent breakfast). We were prepared for the cold of the desert (end of January) but just like the rest of the trip, we were not at all cold, so it was great. At night we gather at the fire with the drums. The next day after not having breakfast, we went in the Jeep to the top of some dunes to see the sunrise. After a while, we returned to the van and headed to Marrakech. This third day was somewhat heavy since you don't see new things, you make stops to rest and, logically, it is more tiring. But in general, we really liked the excursion and even more so for that price. We were afraid when we read people's opinions about how you didn't see almost anything, that they didn't give you time, that they took you to eat in very expensive places, etc., etc. There are many experiences but in our case none of this happened and we were delighted. 100% recommendable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam-moub
Aug 11, 2021
Sahara exploration - Exploring the Sahara on the camel and quads was great! The sunset in the Sahara is definitely worth it
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S0r0r0h
Feb 3, 2020
Grear experience - A very beautiful trip with friends to the desert of Merzouga. Wonderful and unforgettable memories. The driver Amine is nice and polite. I want to remake this experience as soon as possible !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
523tahae
Feb 3, 2020
Beautiful trip whit driver amine , - I still can’t believe this trip exists for such a great price and travling with our driver Amine was amazing. We got to see so much in such a short time. They picked us up near our hotel. There were frequent stops to stretch our legs and use the bathroom.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C_linebv6255qx
Apr 25, 2024
Disappointed - Breathtaking landscapes but a getaway marred by numerous inconveniences: visits at a leisurely pace, tips to be expected at each stop, stages of the program not respected (stop of only 10 minutes in Ouarzazate)... It’s a shame, especially since most of the guides and other people we met were really friendly. We knew that for the price it would not be luxurious but we expected a little comfort and that the program was at least respected.
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62alexandrag
Apr 17, 2024
To avoid - The employees were very nice, but there are lots of things to review: A very very long minibus trip (2 days out of 3) with stopovers not made even though they were sold in the description (no visit to Ouarzazate, not the cinema museum). On the few visits made, it was express, timed, with no choice of possible businesses, everything was managed. Tips constantly asked for at the end of a visit or activity even though we pay an all-inclusive price. A sunset that we couldn't see because the guide took us to the camp without us waiting for sunset. Once at the bottom, we didn't have time to go back up...a camp for the night without water, without sheets, towels and nothing had been reported to us: a bit of the feeling of being animals being stored away. Even though we asked if we should bring things. We chose a local structure thinking it would be better…. So don't be surprised that tourists choose guet your guide…. Heartbreaking
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Kyto13
Feb 18, 2024
Read between the lines and don't trust - true!!? At the discretion of the driver, this involves stopping for 5 minutes (watch in hand) just to take a photo... The transfer is quite long, you should know, even very.... The return, no stop apart from bathroom breaks at the friend's cafe 3 x more expensive and hurry to eat quickly, we return to the restaurant on more expensive ... On the other hand, take the time to remember this shop on the way there AND on the way back... Despite the beauty, the general feeling was in this very homogeneous group, that we were taken for cash cows!!! What a pity PS: regarding morocco city break, I had a problem with the driver because the address of my hotel was different from that of the outbound route (I forgot to specify it 🙏), and he did not want to do the kilometer in addition... I had "Morocco City Break" on the phone who did what was necessary...after 10 hours on the bus, it was starting to be too much.... I think that this note is not for them, but for the people that the company employs and lets them do their thing. Mixed feelings that they are all complicit and in cahoots!!! It really ruins Marrakech tourism
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U9868rhcristinam
Aug 6, 2024
Dire experience. Not recommended by the company. - Fatal experience. Until they get your money the experience seems good. Then it's a scam, a robbery, a scam. You pay extra for certain benefits you don't have later. We paid for an airy room that then in addition to not having air conditioning, was the room full of cobwebs and bugs. You complain and demand your money and the next day they change buses to have worse conditions in the camp. We were switched from an air-conditioned camp at 35 degrees at night to an airless one. We had to sleep in the open because inside the tent it was impossible to sleep. The shops had no electricity. You try to contact them and they ignore you. Unpresentable ones. I don’t recommend this company at all, you have much better ones in which they do what they tell you and do not punish you for claiming what is yours.
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Getaway48357976058
Jun 6, 2024
They steal!! - Heist!! 3-day excursion to Merzouga, the guide on the first day stole €5 from each of us and we were 15 people for walking through a town, which was not a monument and there was no entrance fee to pay, a lie, he literally robbed us, he said that You had to pay him, the terrible treatment, you arrive in the desert at 8 in the afternoon and they don't talk to you, they offer you to go by jeep, charging obviously and if you say no, you want your camel, which is what you paid, well imagine... in a bad mood, they don't talk to you, you arrive in the desert and you stay only 1:30 until dinner, they serve you little and badly, without talking, they don't talk, there are two children, one 12 years old and the other 17, they fall asleep suddenly how exploited they are, and after dessert they disappear, there is no light, they go to sleep in the cabin and you don't see anything Berber or anything at all, and at 4:30 the Breakfast and all day return trip by minibus with more km… and the terrible air conditioning…. The beautiful landscape, the price of the excursion is very good for everything you see, but don't be robbed, raise the prices but don't rob
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September 2024
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