Marrakech & Sahara Desert – 8 Days

Escape the rhythm of routine and surrender to the magic of red-city medinas and infinite golden dunes on this immersive 8-day Marrakech & Sahara Desert Tour—a perfectly balanced journey that captures Morocco’s two most iconic soul-stirring landscapes. From the pulse of Djemaa el-Fna to the silence of Erg Chebbi under a star-drenched sky, this itinerary blends culture, adventure, and comfort with seamless pacing and deep local insight.

Travel with Koutoubia Tours, your Marrakech-based experts (not “Limitless Nomad”—we’re proudly local!), and experience the Sahara not as a distant destination—but as a living, breathing part of Morocco’s heart.

🔹 Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
🔹 Departure: Daily from Marrakech (Private & Small Group options)
🔹 Destinations: Marrakech → High Atlas → Ouarzazate → Dades Gorge → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) → Rissani → Draa Valley → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
🔹 Includes: Private AC 4x4/mini-van, English/French-speaking local guides, 7 nights accommodation (3★–4★ riads & luxury desert camp), daily breakfast, 4 dinners (incl. desert camp), guided city & site tours, camel trek, airport transfers
🔹 Best Time to Go: Year-round (Oct–Apr ideal for desert; May & Sept pleasant; summer cooler in mountains)

🌟 Tour Highlights

✔️ Marrakech Medina Deep Dive – Koutoubia, Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace & the electric chaos of Djemaa el-Fna
✔️ High Atlas Crossing – Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m) with panoramic views & Berber villages
✔️ Ouarzazate “Hollywood of Morocco” – Behind-the-scenes at Kasbah Taourirt or Atlas Studios
✔️ Dades & Todra Gorges – Hike canyon trails, photograph “Monkey Fingers”, sip tea with locals
✔️ Erg Chebbi Camel Trek – Ride into the sunset across 150m-high dunes
✔️ Luxury Desert Camp – Private tents, hot showers, 3-course Berber dinner & live music under stars
✔️ Sunrise in the Sahara – Wake to golden light spilling over endless dunes (optional)
✔️ Rissani Market & Mausoleum – Birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty & vibrant souk energy
✔️ Draa Valley Palm Oasis – Morocco’s longest river valley—date palms stretching for 100km
✔️ Aït Ben Haddou – Iconic UNESCO kasbah of Game of Thrones, Gladiator & Lawrence of Arabia

Bonus: Free day in Marrakech—perfect for souk shopping, a hammam, cooking class, or Majorelle Garden.

🗺️ Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

• Warm welcome by your Koutoubia Tours driver at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)
• Private transfer to your hand-picked riad in the Medina (traditional courtyard home)
• Rest, explore nearby souks, or relax on your rooftop terrace
• Overnight in Marrakech

Day 2: Marrakech Guided City Tour

• Meet your expert local guide for a half-day immersion:
  • Koutoubia Mosque (12th-century minaret, symbol of the city)
  • Bahia Palace (19th-century masterpiece of zellige, stucco & gardens)
  • Saadian Tombs (16th-century royal necropolis, rediscovered in 1917)
  • Medina Souks: spices, lanterns, leather & hidden artisan quarters
• Free afternoon to wander, shop, or book a hammam
• Sunset at Djemaa el-Fna—storytellers, musicians, street food stalls
• Overnight in Marrakech

Day 3: Marrakech → High Atlas → Ouarzazate → Dades Gorge (≈6 hrs)

• Scenic drive over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m)
• Stop at panoramic viewpoints & traditional Berber villages
• Arrive in Ouarzazate; visit Kasbah Taourirt (restored 19th-century fortress-palace)
• Optional: Atlas Film Studios or Cinema Museum (behind the scenes of Hollywood blockbusters)
• Continue to Dades Gorge via the “Road of 1,000 Kasbahs”
• Stop at the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations for photos
• Overnight in Dades Gorge (boutique guesthouse with valley views)

Day 4: Dades Gorge → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) (≈5 hrs)

• Morning drive to Todra Gorge—sheer 300m cliffs, palm-lined riverbed
• Free time to hike, photograph, or enjoy mint tea with local families
• Continue southeast into the Sahara fringe: fossil fields, desert hamlets, camel herds
• Arrive in Merzouga by late afternoon
• Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes (approx. 1 hour)
• Welcome at your luxury desert camp: private tent, hot shower, Berber decor
• Dinner & campfire: 3-course Moroccan meal, live gimbri music, stargazing
• Overnight in Erg Chebbi Desert Camp

Day 5: Merzouga → Rissani → Draa Valley → Ouarzazate (≈6 hrs)

• Early wake-up for desert sunrise (optional but unforgettable!)
• Return by camel or 4x4 to Merzouga village
• Visit Rissani, spiritual & commercial heart of the Sahara:
  • Alaouite Mausoleum (birthplace of Morocco’s current dynasty)
  • Lively weekly souk (if day matches)—donkeys, spices, silver, leather
• Drive through the Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest oasis—endless date palms, ancient ksours
• Arrive in Ouarzazate by evening
• Overnight in Ouarzazate (4★ kasbah-style hotel)

Day 6: Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech (≈6 hrs)

• Morning visit to Aït Ben Haddou—UNESCO World Heritage site, Morocco’s most famous ksar
• Guided tour + free time for photos, lunch with panoramic views
• Return over the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass
• Arrive in Marrakech by late afternoon
• Overnight in Marrakech

Day 7: Free Day in Marrakech

• Your day, your way! Options include:
  • Cooking class in a riad kitchen
  • Hammam & massage (traditional or luxury)
  • Majorelle Garden & YSL Museum
  • Souk shopping with a local guide (bargaining tips included!)
  • Relax by your riad pool
• Farewell dinner on a rooftop overlooking the Atlas
• Overnight in Marrakech

Day 8: Departure Day

• Breakfast at your riad
• Private transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)
• Safe travels—and shukran for letting us share the soul of Marrakech and the silence of the Sahara with you.

Ready to Answer the Call of the Dunes?

🐪 Available as a Private Tour or Small Group Experience
Whether it’s a romantic escape, family adventure, or solo soul-revival—our Sahara journey adapts to you. Private tours offer full flexibility (hotel upgrades, extra desert night, hiking options), while small groups (max 6 guests) deliver camaraderie and value—without the crowd.

✅ Private Tours: Add a 2nd night in the desert, Atlas trek, or hot air balloon
✅ Small Groups: Weekly departures, expert Saharan guides, locally owned
✅ All include 24/7 support, vetted accommodations, and genuine Moroccan warmth

📞 Call or WhatsApp us now to reserve your Sahara dream:
+212 666-449409 | +212 663-578729 | +212 637-500967
✉️ Email: contact@koutoubiatours.com

We reply within 1–2 hours—because the desert waits for no one… but we do.

[👉 Yes! I Want This 8-Day Marrakech & Sahara Adventure]