8 Days from Marrakech to the Desert & South Morocco

Soak up Morocco’s greatest contrasts on an 8 Days from Marrakech to the Desert & South Morocco Tour. From the lantern-lit alleys of Marrakech to the kasbah trails of the South, the canyon walls of Todra, and the golden Erg Chebbi dunes, this route blends iconic scenery, artisan culture, and desert silence. With two Marrakech overnights, a full extra day in the Sahara, and a scenic return via the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate, the pace feels immersive yet unhurried.

Travel in comfort with private transportation and an experienced English‑speaking driver. Walk the lanes of Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO), share tea with nomads, glide by camel at sunset to a luxury camp, and wrap your trip with a guided Marrakech medina tour before your airport transfer.

8 Days from Marrakech to the Desert & South Morocco – Highlights

Arrival ease — Airport pickup and riad check‑in inside Marrakech’s medina
Atlas crossing — Vistas over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m) with photo stops
UNESCO Ait Benhaddou — Morocco’s most famous ksar & filming backdrop (UNESCO)
Skoura & Roses — Palm oasis, Kasbah Amridil, and the fragrant Valley of Roses
Dades & Todra — Whimsical rock formations and Morocco’s cathedral‑like gorge
Erg Chebbi Camel Trek — Sunset ride to a luxury desert camp + stargazing & sandboarding
Extra Sahara Day — 4×4 dunes tour, Khamlia Gnawa, nomad tea, and M’Fis mines
Draa Valley — A ribbon of palms, mud‑brick ksars, and timeless oasis life
Marrakech Guided Tour — Half‑day with a licensed local guide; free evening to explore
Private & Flexible — Tailored pacing, curated stops, and handpicked riads

Itinerary: 8 Days from Marrakech to the Desert & South Morocco

At Morocco On Tour, all journeys are private and customizable. Want sunrise photos on the dunes, a foodie detour, or a slower pace? Tell us your style — we’ll fine‑tune the flow, activities, and stays.

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech → Riad in the Medina

Welcome to Morocco! Upon arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to your riad in Marrakech’s medina. Unwind with mint tea, then step into the lantern glow of Jemaa el‑Fna and the nearby souks. Depending on your arrival time, consider a gentle stroll to the Koutoubia esplanade or a rooftop dinner as the city hums to life.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech — Breakfast included (from Day 2)

Day 2: Marrakech → High Atlas → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura → Valley of Roses → Dades Valley

(6–7 Hours Drive)

Depart at 08:30 for the High Atlas Mountains, climbing the winding Tizi n’Tichka with sweeping mountain views and Berber hamlets clinging to russet hills. Visit a women’s argan cooperative to learn traditional pressing and sample culinary oil.

By late morning, enter the earthen lanes of Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO). Cross the shallow river and climb to the hilltop granary for valley‑wide vistas; your driver can point out filming spots from Gladiator to Game of Thrones. After a terrace lunch, continue to Ouarzazate (optional visit to Taourirt Kasbah or Atlas Film Studios), then drift into the Skoura palmgroves (home to Kasbah Amridil) and the fragrant Valley of Roses. As the light softens, the Dades Valley unfolds in ochre cliffs and playful rock formations. Dinner tonight tastes even better with valley views.

Overnight: Kasbah‑style Riad in Dades — Half board (dinner & breakfast)

Day 3: Dades → Todra Gorges → Erfoud → Merzouga → Camel Trek & Luxury Desert Camp

(4–5 Hours Drive)

Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Tinghir oasis, then step into the Todra Gorges where limestone walls soar up to 300 m. Walk the riverbed as sunlight slides across the rock and climbers dot the cliffs above.

After lunch, roll past Jorf to Erfoud, known for its date markets and fossil workshops. By late afternoon, the golden peaks of Erg Chebbi beckon. Store your main bag, then sway into the dunes by camel at sunset (or take a 4×4 transfer) to your starlit camp. After dinner under a sky quilted with stars, tap along to Berber drum rhythms by the fire and try sandboarding before turning in to your private ensuite tent.

Overnight: Luxury Desert Camp — Half board (dinner & breakfast)

Day 4: Full Sahara Day — 4×4 Dunes Tour, Khamlia Gnawa, Nomad Tea, M’Fis Mines

(Desert Hotel Night)

Catch an optional sunrise igniting the sands, then return by camel or 4×4 to begin your dunes adventure. Crest the backs of Erg Chebbi, stop at the abandoned M’Fis mines (a window into borate history), and share mint tea with a nomad family who’ll offer stories of life between the dunes.

In Khamlia, let the heartbeat of Gnawa music wash over you — a soulful heritage with roots in sub‑Saharan Africa — and taste Berber pizza for lunch if you wish. Optional add‑ons include quads/buggies on the outer dunes. The afternoon is yours to relax by the pool or wander palm groves around Hassi Labied.

Overnight: Merzouga Desert Hotel/Riad — Half board (dinner & breakfast)

Day 5: Merzouga → Rissani Souk → Alnif → Tazarine → Nkob → Draa Valley → Agdz

(6–7 Hours Drive incl. visits)

After a hearty breakfast, trace the caravan route to Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty. Wander its souks stacked with dates, spices, and woven goods, peek at the famed “donkey parking,” and sample medfouna (Saharan stuffed flatbread) if you like. Continue west through Alnif (trilobite country) and Tazarine to Nkob, a kasbah‑rich village framed by acacia plains.

By afternoon, the landscape softens into the Draa Valley — Morocco’s longest oasis — a ribbon of palms and mud‑brick ksars. Pause for photos and, time permitting, visit a kasbah like Tamnougalt near Agdz. Tonight’s quiet oasis sky is a fitting counterpoint to yesterday’s dunes.

Overnight: Agdz (or Ouarzazate) Kasbah Guesthouse — Half board (dinner & breakfast)

Day 6: Agdz → Ouarzazate (Taourirt/Studios or Fint Oasis) → High Atlas → Marrakech

(4.5–6 Hours Drive + visits)

Morning light across the palms sets a gentle tempo. In Ouarzazate, step into the elegant Taourirt Kasbah and, if you’re a film buff, the Atlas Film Studios; or detour to the serene Fint Oasis for a glimpse of oasis life untouched by time. Then curve back over the Tizi n’Tichka into the High Atlas, pausing at scenic lookouts before the red city rises on the horizon.

Arrive in Marrakech by late afternoon for a relaxed riad check‑in. The evening is yours for a rooftop sunset or a leisurely dinner close to your stay.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech — Breakfast included

Day 7: Marrakech Half‑Day Guided Medina Tour (Morning) → Free Evening

With a licensed local guide, explore the essentials: Koutoubia (exterior), the exquisite Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs, the Jewish Mellah, and the artisan‑packed souk districts around Jemaa el‑Fna. Learn the stories behind wood carving, brasswork, leather dyeing, and zellij mosaic craft that have animated this city for centuries.

The afternoon and evening are free — consider the Majorelle Garden & YSL Museum, a hammam, or simply savor tea on a rooftop as the call to prayer rolls across the medina.

Overnight: Riad in Marrakech — Breakfast included

Day 8: Marrakech → Airport Transfer

Private transfer to Marrakech Airport at your preferred time. Safe travels — and bssaḥa on a journey rich with dunes, kasbahs, and medina memories.

Tour Gallery: 8 Days from Marrakech to the Desert & South Morocco