Most people coming to the Sahara desert in Morocco take a 3-day trip from Marrakesh, either with a group or a private driver. Since the desert is 10 to 12 hours away from the red city, the trip is divided into steps.
The advantage is that you pass by majestic mountains, fascinating berber villages with mud buildings, movie sceneries and finally end at the desert nomad camp. A cultural and geographical immersion that’s one of a kind!
Day 1: From Marrakesh to Ouarzazate
The first day of the tour takes you to a traditional Kasbah in Ourzazate or the Gorges du Todra, passing by the Valley du Rose, where traditional rose oil is made.
Ouarzazate – also called the door to the Sahara desert – awaits you with a spectacular visit to Ait Ben Haddou, the famous Kasbah next to movie studios that became the backdrop for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and even Solo: A Star Wars Story!
Gorges du Todra
At the stop in Gorges du Todra, you can witness the magestically high canyons that reach up to 400m high, meander through the oasis gardens in Tinghir, bath in a natural pool, or relax with a Moroccan mint tea under palm trees.
The Todra river cut through the high canyons, leaving you with a spectacular view and amazing scenery for photography. Here, cars and people are turned into miniatures compared to the gigantic red rock formations.
Day 2: Rissani and Merzouga
The next day takes you all the way to the Sahara desert, passing by the nearby town of Rissani, where you can include a stop-over to visit the local (and quite big!) Souk (market).
In Rissani you not only find rose oil, fresh dates from the Sahara region, spices, incense, traditional berber clothing, fruits and vegetables, and antiquities, such as wooden furniture, jewelry, and carpets – but you can visit the donkey and sheep market, too!
Rissani is also a great stop to simply sit in a café nearby the Souk, talk to locals, and watch people go about their daily business.
Merzouga – The Gateway To The Sahara Desert
Once arrived in the small town of Merzouga at the footsteps of the dunes, you shortly stop at a hotel from which you take a camel-trek or a jeep tour into the heart of the Sahara desert to arrive before sunset.
You then have time to explore, do some sand-boarding or meditation on the dunes, come back for a delicious berber dinner with tajine or couscous and spend the evening around the camp fire. Most camps are very modern these days and offer a toilet and shower inside of the tent. And yes, there are electrical plugs too :).
**Just a few years back, the tents used to be made of brown sheep wool blankets with simple bedding. There would be only one or two toilets per camp and sometimes also a shower. This was closer to the traditional nomad experience to get a feel for the simplicity of the berber lifestyle.
**By staying for two or three nights in the Sahara desert with a simple tent and outside toilet, endless dunes around you that you can climb, watching the birds fly by, listening to the wind, and learning more about the nomads at the camp, you start to notice, that you don’t need any of the luxuries you normally think you need.
Desert U Retreat takes you to the desert slow-motion. With 7 – 9 day retreats including kundalini yoga, dance meditation, and creative workshops, you have time to see all sides of the desert, enjoy the silence, learn more about the berber culture, and experience all the little and big wonders of the Sahara in your own time.
There are still a few simple camps like this around Merzouga, but you have to search for them. Most camps have adopted to a greater influx of tourism and cater to a picture-perfect experience with white tents, king-size beds, red carpets, continental food, and a Dubai-style experience.
Tips for the Sahara
Since water is scarce in the desert and all camps sites rely on the ground water from the wells, it’s highly advised to use the water as little as possible in the desert.
Day 3: Merzouga Sunrise to Marrakesh Sunset
The next day you’ll rise early to see the sunrise in the dunes, a great opportunity to take pictures and wave good-by to the desert! After an early breakfast it’s time to head back to the dersert hotel by camel or jeep, take a shower, pack your bags and off you go all the way straight to Marrakesh this time.
After an early start and less stops on the road, you’ll arrive around 6pm in Marrakesh, just on time to watch the sunset over the red city. The perfect time to enjoy a dinner on Djema El Fna square or in one of the rooftop restaurants surrounding the square. (Dinner is not included in the 3Day / 2Night packages, that’s just a suggestion :).
If you don’t want to follow an organized tour, you can also rent a car or take the Supratours or CTM bus from Marrakesh to Merzouga, Fez to Merzouga (CTM only), or Marrakesh to Ouarzazate and then Ouarzazate to Merzouga the next day.
Want to join a Sahara Desert Retreat with dance meditation, yoga, and cultural immersion to spend more time in the Sahara and less time on the road?
Write us to: info@desert-u-retreat.com or contact us below.