Marrakesh Desert Trip: Our Wild 3-Day Journey into the Sahara

Embarking on a Marrakech (Marrakesh) Sahara desert trip is a bucket-list adventure for many travelers coming to Morocco. While the Sahara isn’t right next door to the city, countless tour operators offer 3-day, 2-night excursions that deliver an incredible desert experience.

When looking for tour operators, we admittedly started our search for LGBTQ+-friendly options (since that is the nature of our blog, and we were also writing a Marrakesh LGBTQ+ Guide), but most were well out of our price range.

Ultimately, we booked this tour through GetYourGuide just two days before departure, attracted by thousands of positive reviews and a great price:

Most essentials were included: breakfast, dinner, and accommodations (lunch, tips, and quad rides were extra), so we were very much ready to go for it.

So how did the tour pan out? Let's go day by day through our Marrakesh desert trip tour.

3-Day Marrakech Sahara Desert Tour: Itinerary & Experience

The Map

Day 1: Atlas Mountains and Aït Benhaddou

Early Morning Departure

The tour kicked off at the bright and early time of 7:40 AM, when our driver Yassin picked us up right next to our riad (hotel). We climbed into a van reminiscent of the marshrutkas of the Caucasus but less terrifying and much sleeker. With 18 of us at the start together, it was a completely full ride (only for the first leg though, as some of the group members went on to do their own thing).

Into the Atlas Mountains

Just 45 minutes into the drive, we stopped for coffee at the base of the Atlas Mountains and got our first look at the itinerary. Yassin explained that 70% of the driving to the desert would happen on the first day, so it was time to get comfy with our bus mates. Tip: if you are a bit bigger like we are, don’t go for the backseat.

As we wound up the mountains, we paused at a panoramic viewpoint for photos and took in the dramatic change in scenery. Already, the impressions of the dry desert Morocco or the humid Atlantic Morocco from places we had been previously, like Tangiers, Rabat or Casablanca had changed. We even had a moment where we felt like we were in the mountains of Montenegro and not North Africa. We crossed into the Ouarzazate Province and discovered we were over 2,000 meters high.

Aït Benhaddou: UNESCO Marvel

Our first major stop was Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous film location. Before wandering around, we ate lunch at a local restaurant (the food was decent but nothing memorable). As we had made the journey during the middle of July, the heat was beating down, and the wind was strong, but it was worth it. The Moroccan earthen clay architecture was impressive, and it’s immediately understandable that it’s so sought after as scenery in the film world.

After exploring, we had a chance to buy scarves and shawls for the desert at much better prices than in Marrakesh’s Medina.

Arrival in Tinghir

The next stretch of the journey was long, covering most of the distance to the desert in one day. Use this time to reflect and sleep after near heat exhaustion at Aït Benhaddou.

We eventually arrived at our hotel in the quiet town of Tinghir, which seemed like a ghost town at first. More on Tinghir during Day 2, as we actually got the chance to explore it the next day.

The hotel was a pleasant surprise, featuring a pool, bar, and even a tiny gym. We had a few hours to decompress before a 9pm group dinner of tagine (you'll get used to this in Morocco), a rice dish, and dessert. By then, all of us were exhausted from the ride and visits, so we headed up to our rooms for rest. Fortunately, there is air conditioning, so you won’t suffer from the desert heat...just yet.

Day 2: Tinghir Oasis, Todgha Gorge, and Sahara Arrival

Morning in Tinghir & Oasis Walk

With a not so early 8:40 leaving time, we had a very light breakfast provided. All I needed was coffee though, and that was provided (praise to Allah).

We took off down the slightly busier roads of Tinghir that morning and within 5 minutes, we were already at our first sight of the day, which already raised my impressions of the town I had been too quick to judge just yesterday.

We met up with a Berber guide who took us through the lush oasis adjoining Tinghir. The town is on the Todra river, so there is a ton greenery with fig trees, olive trees, palms, alfalfa, pomegranate trees, just to name a few. We walked around it for about 30 minutes, cherishing the shade knowing it would soon be less and less as we approached the desert.

At the end of the oasis, we were brought back into the old town of Tinghir and brought into a traditional Berber home to learn about their carpet making process and have a tea. At this point, you can buy carpets if you so please, but there is no pressure to do so.

Todra Gorge: Morocco’s Mini Grand Canyon

A few minutes more in the van, and you’ll arrive to an out of world sight, where in front of you is an endless vertical wall of rock that makes you feel like you are on Mars. We arrived at the source of the Todra river itself, a place known as the Todra Gorge or Todra Canyon. We walked up to the very start of the river with canyons towering over us and tons of locals camping or day-tripping there for the day, dipping their feet in the springs to cool off. The canyon was reminiscent of the Charyn Canyon in Kazakhstan, but much smaller.

A much-needed lunch followed soon after. This time it was buffet style, again this wasn’t included, but you could pay by cash or card. There was also some time to frolic around in the random swimming pool next to the restaurant before heading on the last drive straight into the Sahara desert.

Just one more stretch and all of this driving will be worth it, I promise.

Into the Sahara: Camel & ATV Adventure

After a few more hours on the road, the first dunes of the Sahara start to peak out in the horizon as we near Merzouga. The color contrast between the blue sky and the orange dunes is like something out of your dreams or a movie.

At this point, you can choose whether you are part of the ATV/quad crew or skip it. Whatever you choose, you will be riding a camel either way. For the ATV riders, about 30 mins into the camel ride, you’ll swap out camel for an ATV. For the camel riders, you will be riding the camel for longer and eventually all meet up at the camp.

Since Fabio and I got an ATV, we only had to endure 30 minutes of the butt-breaking camel riding before hopping on a quad. I complain, but really the journey through the Sahara by camel felt like it was out of a dream. You feel like a real world explorer, even if the tour has been done thousands if not millions of times.

After getting off the camels, a different guide took us around the dunes by ATV as the sun started making its true descent in the sky. At one point, we got a bit stuck going up the hill on our ATV (after all, we are two big guys), but the guide came back and saved our asses.

At some point, we stopped for sandboarding. Initially the guide taught us how to go down sitting, but I think since it wasn’t such a huge dune, it wasn’t the most exhilarating speedy ride down. However, once we started standing on the board, it became a bit more interesting. Most of us were able to make it down most of the way before losing balance and flying through the air...face planting into the sand 🤣.

Desert Camp & Night Under the Stars

Back on the ATVs, we went back to camp. The camp is well-equipped for something in the middle of a desert. There are over 60 massive tents, with one or two beds in them, one public restroom tent, one tent for showering, and a dining and leisure area. Since we were there in low season, we got a tent to ourselves, but I can imagine this will be different during months like October when the activity is more in demand.

I’ll put more info in the tips below, but don’t expect luxury in the normal camps (that is what the more expensive luxury camp is for - which you can select when you book). The showers are trickling, and the rooms are basic, but it does the job for one night.

It was finally time for some dinner and a little bonding around a bond fire (with some Moroccan drumming), and at that point you just don’t have it in you to stay up any longer. Time to retreat to our stiflingly hot tent for a few hours.

Oh, and if you have some moments, make sure to look up at the stars and cherish the night sky that we so often forget is even there during our day-to-day lives.

Day 3: Sunrise Camel Trek & Return Journey

Sunrise Camel Trek

After the late bedtime, plus the time it takes to fall asleep because of the heat, plus the early wake-up call at 5 for breakfast, there isn’t too much time to sleep, but if you can handle that for one night, you’ll be fine...plus you’ll have the ride back to rest, as today is a long travel day to Marrakesh (or optionally to Fes (which will take you to cities closer to the Northern coast, like Rabat or Tangier), if you'd like to book that).

After breakfast, you’ll hop back on your camels and make the trek out of the Sahara back to the road where you first got on the camels. Along the way, the sun will be rising and that kind of sad, kind of relieved feeling will sink in that you are leaving the Sahara. You’ll stop for a picture or two along the way and remount your trusty camel for one more short trek to the road.

The Long Journey Back

Back in the van, get ready for a long travel day, but with plenty of rest stops along the way, and lunch of course. This is a good place to catch up on the sleep that you may have sacrificed the night before and start to edit your photos using the onboard Wi-Fi.

Review: Is a Marrakech Desert Trip Worth It?

As travelers who typically avoid multi-day guided tours, we approached this experience with some hesitation. We’re not usually fans of being shepherded to places we didn’t choose ourselves or feeling pressured to buy things we don’t need.

However, this tour far exceeded our expectations, especially for the price. Many of the sites we visited would have been difficult—if not impossible—to reach independently, and the local insights added so much to the journey.

Yes, the drives are long, but the anticipation builds with every mile, and the moment you set foot in the Sahara, the adventure truly begins. The thrill of riding a camel across golden dunes, watching the sunset over the desert, and sharing stories around a campfire make every hour on the road worthwhile. Sleep may be in short supply, but the memories you’ll make are unforgettable—and you’ll leave with the bragging rights of having ridden a camel in the Sahara!

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What to Pack for Your Marrakech Desert Trip

• Cash: This country runs on cash and with many places to stop, it’s always good to have. There is an ATM nearby the first hotel and time to stop in Tinghir on the second day, so don’t worry if you haven’t taken out enough beforehand.
• Long pants: This is mainly for the camel ride portion, as your legs will chafe, which is not a nice feeling! The best option is something linen, but if you have jeans or cargo pants, those work too (although it will be a bit hot).
• A scarf or shawl: You will be able to buy these en route like we did after the Aït Benhaddou visit, but if you have time and are good at negotiating, you can do it in the Medina in Marrakesh before you go. Make sure to really negotiate the prices down though, as the first guy we spoke to asked us 700 Moroccan Dirham for 2 scarves (70ish euro, and we just laughed and ran off). In the end we paid 130 Dirham (13 euros) for ours but still think it was a bit high since the guide was likely getting a bit of commission.
• There are more suggestions of what to pack in the description of the activity on GetYourGuide.

Top Tips for Your Marrakech Desert Trip

• Getting a quad/ATV only enhanced the experience, so I recommend doing it. If you’re two people, you can share one for 500 Dirham and you’ll have plenty of chances to swap places along the way. Otherwise, it’ll be 400 per person per ATV (800 in total), so we like those savings.
• Don’t expect to get much sleep if you’re staying in the basic camps. The tents have very little ventilation, and it’s stiflingly hot, particularly if you go during July or August like we did (it should be better in other months). With no fan, there is just no way of getting around it unless...
• There are luxury camp options though. You can book the luxury camp directly through GetYourGuide when going through the booking process and opt for it. The tents are spruced up, have air conditioning (not incredibly strong, but again you’re in the Sahara), a private toilet and shower for each tent, and better food than what is served at the regular camp.
• There are a lot of people, adults and kids, along the way who will ask for money in some way shape or form. In Tinghir for example, as we were walking around the oasis, a little kid gave us a grass weaved camel, which we thought was a cute gift. A few minutes later he asked for money. There are also quite a lot of beggars along the way. This unfortunately highlights the realities of traveling in Morocco, as poverty and inequality is rampant. Just be aware of your privilege and give a coin or two where you see fits.
• On that note, there are opportunities to tip, whether it be the guides that led you on the camel or guides that you have in other towns along the way, feel free to just give 10-20 a person.
• You can also go onward to Fes on the third day, again it is an add-on for when you book in GetYourGuide.
• The activity was very safe. If you are concerned about valuables, either leave them in your hotel back in Marrakesh or bring them with you. We brought our bag of laptops and cameras, and it stayed locked in the van at night, so we wouldn't have to carry it with us into the desert. Everything was there the following morning.
  • In general, it just feels like they've run this tour many times, so safety measures and provisions are high. If you do get injured somehow, considering you are far from hospitals and all, you might want to consider some proper travel insurance. For a more in-depth look at why we switched to Genki, check out our review.
  • For LGBTQ+ Travelers (and specifically gay male travelers), this activity felt very safe, as everyone was international and seemed quite open-minded. If you are traveling in two, for the hotel on the first night, you will likely get two beds, but that is just the norm in Morocco. For the tents, we had one big bed that we shared, although I am not sure if every tent was like that.
• The tour is quite family friendly. They do their best to accommodate for different age groups. For instance, in our bus, there was a family of five spanning three generations. The kid was in good spirits and so were the grandparents. However, if you are going with older or younger individuals, I might suggest the luxury camp for comfort.
• There are USB charging ports on the bus and one outlet per tent in the camp. We never ran out of power, so don’t worry too much about running out along the way.
• Service can be a bit spotty, but with a Moroccan eSIM, we had it when we needed it, even on the dunes in the Sahara, where a lot of us were calling friends and family to brag 🤣. We went with Roamic, which was very cheap and reliable our entire time in Morocco, give or take a few spots in the desert.

Final Thoughts

A Marrakech Sahara desert trip is a must for adventurous travelers coming to Morocco. With stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable experiences, it’s worth every moment. Book your tour through GetYourGuide, and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime!