PrivatePrivate 4-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Loop
From€275per person
View tour →5-Day Sahara Camel Trek through the Draa Valley
Duration5 days / 4 nights
Tour typePrivate tour
GroupPrivate – your group only (1–8 travellers)
DifficultyModerate
LanguagesEnglish & French
TicketMobile confirmation
About this tour
For centuries caravans followed the Draa river south towards Timbuktu. This trek walks a section of that route, mixing village life with open desert. From Nesrat you pass the Berber villages of Ignaoun and Moulay Ali Achrif and the regional hub of Zaouiat Sidi Salah before heading into the dunes.
Days three and four bring the golden Tidri dunes, a free afternoon in the Erg Sahel and the pisé architecture of Ergabi before the last camp at Ouled Driss. Around 5 hours of walking a day with a camel team, cook and guide.
Highlights
- Follow the historic caravan route of the Draa
- Berber villages of Ignaoun and Moulay Ali Achrif
- Climb the golden Tidri dunes
- Sunset, campfire and sand-baked bread in Erg Sahel
- Earthen houses of Ergabi
- Photo stops on the drive back over the Atlas
What's included
- Private road transfers Marrakech – trailhead – Marrakech
- Licensed desert guide
- Camel team with dromedaries to carry all luggage
- Trek cook – all meals during the trek, plus lunch on the first and last day
- Two-person sleeping tents, mess tent and foam mattresses
- Bottled / filtered drinking water on the trek
- International flights
- Hotel nights and meals in Marrakech or Ouarzazate
- Drinks on the road and personal expenses
- Travel insurance with repatriation cover
- Tips for the guide, cook and camel handlers
Itinerary
Day 1Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ouarzazate – Nesrat
Cross the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas, then follow the Draa past Zagora to meet the camel team at Nesrat (about 7 hours on the road).
Day 2Nesrat – Bou Gaiwarne – Zaouiat Sidi Salah
First trekking day down the valley past the villages of Ignaoun and Moulay Ali Achrif, the Bou Gaiwarne dunes and on to Zaouiat Sidi Salah. Camp near the Tidri dunes.
Day 3Tidri – Erg Sahel
Cross a stony reg, then up and over the Tidri dunes. Afternoon dune walk and sunset, followed by a campfire with bread baked in the sand. About 5 hours.
Day 4Erg Sahel – Ergabi – Ouled Driss
Desert scenery near Bounou, lunch near Ergabi and a visit to its earthen houses before the final camp at Ouled Driss.
Day 5Ouled Driss – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Drive back about 450 km through the Draa Valley, Ouarzazate and the Tizi n'Tichka, with photo stops along the way.
Meeting & pickup
Pickup
Pickup from your Marrakech hotel or riad at around 08:00 on day 1
End point
Back at your Marrakech accommodation in the late afternoon or early evening of the last day
Price per person by group size
Private tours get cheaper per person as your group grows. Prices include everything listed under "What's included".
1 traveller€915
2 travellers€590
3 travellers€530
4 travellers€470
5 travellers€450
6 travellers€435
7–8 travellers€425
Frequently asked questions
How much walking is there each day?
Roughly 5 hours a day at a steady pace with long lunch breaks in the shade. The terrain alternates between sand dunes and firm stony plateau.
Do I have to ride the camels?
No – this is a walking trek and the dromedaries carry the luggage and kitchen. If anyone gets tired, a camel can usually be saddled for a stretch.
Where do we sleep?
In two-person tents pitched by the camel team in the dunes or beside a palm grove, with foam mattresses provided. On clear, mild nights you can drag your mattress out and sleep under the stars.
What should I pack?
A warm sleeping bag, a soft duffel of up to 12 kg (the camels carry it), a small daypack, ankle-high walking boots, sandals for camp, a warm fleece for the evenings, a 1.5–2 L water bottle, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a headtorch and your personal medication.
Good to know
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
- Warm layer for desert nights (it gets cold after sunset)
- Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen
- Scarf to protect from sand and sun
- Small overnight bag for the camp night
- Cash in dirhams for lunches and tips
Additional info
- Confirmation is sent by email or WhatsApp after we check availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Child seats available free of charge on request
- Most travellers can take part – camel rides can be replaced by a 4×4 transfer
- Vegetarian meals available on request
- Long driving days with regular photo and rest stops
Cancellation policy
- Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure.
- Cancellations made less than 7 days before departure: the deposit is kept as credit valid for 12 months.
- Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours in advance, subject to availability.
- If weather or safety conditions make the tour impossible, we offer a new date or a full refund.
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Licensed local operatorMoroccan team, our own drivers and guides
No prepayment to requestPay only after we confirm availability
Flexible changesChange dates or adjust stops easily
Support 7 days a weekReal people on WhatsApp before & during your trip
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