The complete southern circuit, taken slowly: the Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, the Dadès and Todra gorges, two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes for the deepest desert experience, then the painted oasis of Nkob and the Draa Valley back through Zagora to Marrakech. A 7-day grand Sahara desert tour from Marrakech for travellers who want the whole south without rushing.
Day by day
Your 7-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Marrakech to Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) through the High Atlas, with Berber village and argan stops, to the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Explore the earthen citadel on foot, then continue the short distance to Ouarzazate, the 'door of the desert', for the night near the Taourirt kasbah. A gentle first day of roughly 4–5 hours' driving.
- Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
- Taourirt kasbah
- 2
Day 2
Skoura, the Valley of the Roses & the Dadès Gorges
Head east to the Skoura palm oasis and the Kasbah Amridil, then through the Valley of the Roses, famous for its spring rose harvest, to the rose-coloured Dadès Gorges. Walk a stretch beneath the cliffs and the 'monkey-fingers' rock formations before an overnight in the gorge. About 3–4 hours of driving with plenty of stops.
- Skoura palmeraie
- Kasbah Amridil
- Valley of the Roses
- Dadès Gorges
- 3
Day 3
Dadès switchbacks & the Todra Gorge to Merzouga
Climb the dramatic Dadès switchbacks for the morning view, then drive to the towering 300 m walls of the Todra Gorge near Tinghir for a walk along the river. Continue east through Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga, where camels carry you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset and a first night in a desert camp. Roughly 5–6 hours of driving across the day.
- Dadès switchbacks
- Todra Gorge
- Erfoud
- Camel trek
- Erg Chebbi camp
- 4
Day 4
A full day in the Erg Chebbi dunes
No long drive today. Wake for sunrise over the dunes, then spend the day exploring Merzouga at desert pace: the Gnaoua musicians of Khamlia village, the nomad families of the reg, the seasonal Lake Dayet Srji with its flamingos, sandboarding the big dune and an optional 4x4 run. A second night deep in the sand under the stars.
- Erg Chebbi sunrise
- Khamlia Gnaoua music
- Lake Dayet Srji
- Sandboarding
- Second desert night
- 5
Day 5
Rissani, Alnif & the painted oasis of Nkob
Ride the camels back at sunrise, then drive west through the Rissani souk and the fossil country around Alnif to Nkob (N'Kob), a quiet oasis town under Jbel Saghro known for its many kasbahs and almond groves. Overnight in a restored kasbah with views over the palmeraie. About 4–5 hours of scenic driving away from the main tourist route.
- Rissani souk
- Alnif fossils
- Jbel Saghro views
- Nkob kasbahs
- 6
Day 6
Draa Valley palm groves to Zagora
Drop down to the Draa Valley, Morocco's longest river, and follow its endless palm groves and old kasbahs through Tamegroute, with its underground Koranic library and green pottery, to Zagora and the famous 'Timbuktu 52 days' sign. Overnight in Zagora or a kasbah in the palmeraie. A relaxed 3–4 hour driving day along the valley.
- Draa Valley palmeraie
- Tamegroute library & pottery
- Zagora
- Timbuktu sign
- 7
Day 7
Agdz & return to Marrakech over the Atlas
Follow the upper Draa past Agdz and its kasbahs back to Ouarzazate, then the final crossing of the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka, with mountain photo stops and lunch, arriving in Marrakech in the late afternoon. A long but spectacular last day of roughly 6–7 hours on the road.
- Agdz kasbahs
- Ouarzazate
- Tizi n'Tichka pass
- High Atlas panoramas
Good to know
Practical notes
- Seven days is the relaxed way to see the whole southern loop, with two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes rather than a single rushed overnight.
- A private 4x4 with a driver-guide is the comfortable way to cover the distances and lets you set the pace and stop freely.
- The Nkob and upper Draa leg keeps you off the busiest tourist road and adds quieter kasbah country to the classic route.
- Pack layers: you'll go from snow-tipped Atlas passes to hot dunes and genuinely cold desert nights.
Frequently asked
What does a 7-day grand Sahara desert tour from Marrakech include?
The High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, the Skoura oasis and Valley of the Roses, the Dadès and Todra gorges, two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, the painted oasis of Nkob, and the Draa Valley back through Zagora to Marrakech. We tailor the route and camp standard and quote each tour on request.
Is 7 days too long for a Sahara tour from Marrakech?
Not if you want to slow down. The extra days buy a full day and two nights in the dunes plus the quieter Nkob and Draa Valley country, so you experience the south rather than just passing through. Three to five days is the minimum for a single desert night.
How much driving is involved in the 7-day loop?
It is a big circuit of roughly 1,400 km, but spread over seven days the daily drives are mostly 3–6 hours with frequent stops, plus one full rest day in the dunes and two longer transfer days at the start and end over the Atlas.
Private & tailored
Want this Merzouga trip priced for you?
Every itinerary is private and fully adjustable — change the dates, pace, riads or length. Tell us your group and travel window and we'll send a written plan and an itemised quote within 24 hours.
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