5 Days to the Morocco Desert from Marrakech (Berber Camp)
A relaxed 5-day desert trip from Marrakech, with slow drives over the High Atlas, the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the Draa Valley and two nights in a real Berber camp beyond M'Hamid.
Local guide
Small groups
5 days / 4 nights
Small group
English / French / Arabic
About Us
- ›This 5-day desert trip from Marrakech is built around a slow, relaxed rhythm rather than a long single drive south.
- ›We split the journey with a night in a guesthouse on the way down and two nights in a real Berber camp in the dunes beyond M'Hamid el Ghizlane.
- ›We cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m, with an optional scenic detour via the old kasbah of Telouet, built by the powerful Glaoui family with its painted ceilings and Moorish stucco.
- ›The road then drops down to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO kasbah used as a film set, and to Ouarzazate, the small administrative town with its film studios.
- ›We follow the green Draa Valley, the longest river in Morocco, with its 3 million palms and 18 kinds of dates, mixing Berber and Arab villages.
- ›We stop at Tamegroute with its old zaouia, Koranic library and green-glazed pottery, then continue to M'Hamid el Ghizlane where the tar road ends.
- ›From there we drive off-road into the dunes for two nights in a traditional Berber tent, with camel rides, dinners under the stars and music around the fire.
- ›On the way back we take the off-road route via Foum Zguid, with fossil fields, dry lake beds, and the carpet town of Tazenakht.
Experience Itinerary
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1
Day 1 — Marrakech to Ouarzazate
- ›We leave Marrakech and climb up to the Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas at 2,260 m.
- ›As an option, we can take the longer scenic road via the old kasbah of Telouet, built by the powerful Glaoui family, with its painted cedar ceilings and Moorish zellige.
- ›We then drive down to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah and the most visited in Morocco, kept in good shape thanks to film shoots, with a short stop at the small Kasbah Ellouze about 30 minutes before Ouarzazate.
- ›Overnight in a guesthouse around Ouarzazate, a small town built around film studios and administration.
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2
Day 2 — Ouarzazate to M'Hamid via the Draa Valley
- ›After breakfast we drive south through dramatic rock formations toward Agdz (about 1 hour), with a stop in Tamnougalt, the old capital of the Mezguita region, where you can visit an old kasbah-museum.
- ›We follow the green Draa river valley with its 3 million palm trees and 18 different kinds of dates, mixing Berber and Arab villages.
- ›The Draa is the longest river in Morocco, rising in the High Atlas and flowing toward the Atlantic.
- ›In the late afternoon we reach M'Hamid el Ghizlane, the gateway to the Sahara.
- ›Dinner and night in a kasbah-style hotel in the palm grove.
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3
Day 3 — M'Hamid to the desert camp
- ›Free morning in the gardens or pool of the hotel.
- ›After lunch we visit Tamegroute, with its old zaouia (religious school), its Koranic library with old manuscripts, and the famous green-glazed Berber pottery.
- ›We then continue to M'Hamid el Ghizlane, where the tar road ends, and we switch to off-road travel.
- ›After about an hour in the dunes, we reach a traditional Berber camp at sunset.
- ›You ride a camel from the parking area to the camp.
- ›Dinner in the big tent and night under the stars, with music around the fire.
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4
Day 4 — Full day at the desert camp
- ›A full day in the Sahara at your own pace.
- ›You can ride the camels further into the dunes, take a walk in the sand, sit and read in the shade of the tent, or learn to bake the simple flat bread in the hot sand.
- ›The local nomads will share songs and stories around the fire after dinner.
- ›Second night under the stars in the Berber camp.
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5
Day 5 — Camp to Marrakech via Foum Zguid
- ›Camel ride at sunrise back to the cars, and we take the off-road return route via Foum Zguid.
- ›We cross soft sand, dry lake beds and stony hamada, and pass small fossil fields, before joining the tarmac at Foum Zguid.
- ›We then drive through Tazenakht, the carpet capital of the area, and rejoin the main road north of Ouarzazate.
- ›We cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass again and reach Marrakech (about 3 hours from the pass).
- ›End of the tour.
What's Included
- Private 4x4 with driver and fuel for the full 5 days
- 1 night in a guesthouse on the way
- 1 night in a kasbah-style hotel near M'Hamid
- 2 nights in a traditional Berber tent in the dunes
- Dinners every evening and breakfast every day
- Camel ride to and from the desert camp
- Guided visits of Ait Ben Haddou and Tamegroute with local guide
- Music and entertainment at the desert camp
- Entrance fees to the listed sites
Not Included
- Lunches
- Drinks and mineral water
- Tips for driver, guide and camp staff
- Travel and medical insurance
- International flights
Know Before You Go
| Duration | 5 days / 4 nights |
| Languages | English / French / Arabic |
| Level | Easy |
| Dietary | Vegetarian meals on request |
| Group type | Small group |