Private tour · Ouarzazate round trip
2-Day Desert Tour from Ouarzazate to Merzouga: Private Round Trip with a Night at Erg Chebbi
The 2-day desert tour from Ouarzazate is a private round trip to the Merzouga desert: you drive out via Skoura, the Dadès Valley and the Todra Gorges, spend one night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, and return to Ouarzazate through the Drâa Valley the next day.
Can you visit Merzouga from Ouarzazate in two days?
Yes. This Ouarzazate to Merzouga 2-day tour covers the round trip in two full days, with one overnight in a desert camp near the Erg Chebbi dunes, but it involves a lot of driving.
Day one follows the scenic Route of a Thousand Kasbahs east through Skoura, the Valley of Roses, the Dadès Valley and the dramatic Todra Gorges to Merzouga in time for sunset. Day two returns by a different road, through Rissani, Alnif, Tazarine, Nkob and the Drâa Valley. It suits travellers already based in Ouarzazate who want an overnight desert tour from Ouarzazate and are comfortable spending most of both days in the vehicle.
Jump to a day
The tour has two days: Ouarzazate to Merzouga via the Dadès and Todra valleys, then Merzouga back to Ouarzazate via the Drâa Valley.
How do you book a private Merzouga tour from Ouarzazate?
To book a private Merzouga tour from Ouarzazate, send us your dates and group size through the form and we'll reply with a tailored quote.
To help us plan your tailor-made Ouarzazate desert experience, please include:
- Your travel date, or dates you're considering
- Number of travellers, and the ages of any children
- Where you're staying in Ouarzazate
- The language you'd like your driver to speak
- Anything you'd like to add or change
You can also email culture.moroccotours@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp +212 662 178 227.
Send your trip details
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What is the Ouarzazate to Merzouga itinerary?
The Ouarzazate to Merzouga itinerary is a loop: east via the Dadès Valley and Todra Gorges on day one, and back west via Rissani and the Drâa Valley on day two.
Ouarzazate to Merzouga via Skoura, the Dadès Valley and the Todra Gorges
Day 1 is the drive from Ouarzazate to Merzouga, with stops in Skoura, the Valley of Roses, the Dadès Valley and the Todra Gorges, ending with sunset at Erg Chebbi.
You leave Ouarzazate through the Skoura palm grove, with a stop at Kasbah Amridil, then continue through the Valley of Roses scenery and the Dadès Valley. The Moroccan National Tourist Office describes this road as lined with
"palm groves and rose gardens with expansive views."— Moroccan National Tourist Office (Visit Morocco), The road to the kasbahs
After the Todra Gorges, you head east via Tinjdad and Touroug, where you stop for lunch, then Erfoud. In Merzouga you have Moroccan tea, watch the Erg Chebbi sunset from the dunes and ride a camel to the camp for dinner.
Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Rissani, Nkob and the Drâa Valley
Day 2 is the return from Merzouga to Ouarzazate by the southern road, through Rissani, Alnif, Tazarine, Nkob and the Drâa Valley.
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, then return to the lodge at the edge of the desert for a shower and breakfast. The drive back passes Rissani and its traditional market, the villages of Alnif, Tazarine and Nkob, and the Drâa Valley oasis landscapes, with a stop at the Kasbah of Tamnougalt. The road then climbs over the Tizi n'Tinifift pass via Agdz before reaching Ouarzazate, where the tour ends.
Where do you spend the night?
You spend the night in a Berber desert camp at Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, with dinner at the camp and breakfast the next morning.
The Moroccan National Tourist Office calls Merzouga
"one of the gates of the Sahara"— Moroccan National Tourist Office (Visit Morocco), Errachidia-Midelt-Merzouga
and the camp sits among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, reached by camel at sunset. The camp standard for this tour is confirmed with your quote; you can read about our camps on the Merzouga desert page.
What is included in this private desert tour?
The tour includes a private 4×4 with driver and fuel, the camel ride, one night in a desert camp, dinner and breakfast; lunches, drinks and entrance fees are not included.
Included
- Private tour — no other travellers in your group
- Transport in a 4×4 vehicle, with fuel
- Driver-guide throughout (currently listed as Spanish-speaking; ask about other languages)
- Camel ride in Erg Chebbi
- 1 night in a Berber desert camp
- Dinner and breakfast
Not included
- Flights to and from Morocco
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to museums and attractions
Why choose this 2-day Merzouga tour from Ouarzazate?
This is the shortest way to see both the Dadès–Todra valleys and the Erg Chebbi dunes from Ouarzazate, as an exclusively private desert journey.
Two different roads
Out via Dadès and Todra, back by a different road through the Drâa Valley.
Sunset and sunrise at Erg Chebbi
You arrive for sunset and wake up in the dunes for sunrise.
Skoura palm grove and kasbah heritage
A stop at Kasbah Amridil on the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs.
Private 4×4, personal pace
Only your group in the vehicle, with flexible stops along the way.
Cultural encounters in Rissani
A stop at Rissani's traditional market on the way back.
Locally planned
A locally planned Morocco itinerary, arranged by our own team in Morocco.
How much driving does the tour involve?
A lot: both days are long road days, because Merzouga is on the far side of the Dadès–Todra region from Ouarzazate and the return follows a separate southern route.
Is two days enough?
It's enough to see the route and spend a night in the dunes, but with little free time. For a gentler pace, see the 3-day Merzouga tour from Ouarzazate.
What should you pack?
A small overnight bag for the camp, a warm layer for the desert night, and sun protection.
When does the tour start?
Early on day one, from your accommodation in Ouarzazate; the exact time is confirmed with your booking.
Can the tour be changed?
Yes — tell us your preferred stops or pace and we'll adapt this made-to-measure Sahara escape where the route allows.
Sources and further reading
Destination facts on this page are supported by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (Visit Morocco), which does not endorse any tour operator.
- Errachidia-Midelt-Merzouga, between Atlas and desert — Moroccan National Tourist Office
- The road to the kasbahs — Moroccan National Tourist Office
Frequently asked questions about the Ouarzazate to Merzouga desert tour
This tour is private, starts and ends in Ouarzazate, and includes one night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Only your group travels in the 4×4, with your own driver-guide.
Where does the tour start and end?
In Ouarzazate. You're collected in Ouarzazate on day one and dropped back there at the end of day two.
Where do you sleep?
In a Berber desert camp at Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast included.
How long are the driving days?
Both days are long. Expect most of each day on the road, with stops at the main sights. Book the 3-day version if you'd like more time.
Is the camel ride included?
Yes, a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes is included. If you'd rather not ride, tell us when you enquire and we'll explain the options.
What language does the driver speak?
The tour is currently listed with a Spanish-speaking driver-guide. Let us know your preferred language when you request a quote.
Are lunches included?
No. Dinner and breakfast are included; lunches, drinks and entrance fees are paid locally.
Other desert tours from Ouarzazate
If two days feels rushed, choose a 3-day Merzouga tour or a shorter trip to the Zagora desert.
Book your private 2-day desert tour from Ouarzazate
Share your dates and group size and we'll send a tailored quote for your private 4×4 journey through southern Morocco.