Tour circuit from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi desert

6 nights / 7 days

Trip description

“Marrakech – Erg Chebbi” is a truly authentic to discover the south of the country. This route awakens us in Marrakech, a vibrant city brimming with color, artisans, and artists, with charming squares and aromas that will leave a lasting impression. From the city, we'll continue in a 4x4 towards the High Atlas Mountains, discovering breathtaking landscapes along the way, pausing to admire their beauty, chat with the villagers, and leisurely exploring their hidden villages and immense gorges. We'll leave the mountains to reach the Erg Chebbi Desert, a spectacle for the senses, with its endless dunes and the magical aura that only special places possess, allowing us to spend an unforgettable night under the stars. The journey takes us through unique places like the town of Rissani, with its ancient market, among many others…

Duration

6 nights / 7 days
Places

Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Boulmane Dades, Tinerhir, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi, Merdani, Rissani, Errachidia
Airport

Marrakech / Errachidia
Price

See Details

Duration

6 nights / 7 days
Places

Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Boulmane Dades, Tinerhir, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi, Merdani, Rissani, Errachidia
Airport

Marrakech / Errachidia
Price

See Details

Day 1 of the itinerary

Departure from the airport of origin towards Marrakech.
Arrival in Marrakech (where, depending on the time of year, there may be a time difference).
Airport pickup and transfer to the Riad in the Medina or 5* Hotel.
Accommodation.
Depending on your arrival time, it is recommended to make your first contact with the Medina by visiting the incomparable Djemaa el-Fna Square.
Around this time, the square fills with reciters, fortune tellers, jugglers, tooth pullers, dancers, snake charmers , and much more…
As night falls, small, illuminated food stalls begin to appear outdoors, where you can sample their typical dishes.

Djemaa el-Fna: a living stage declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

was Djemaa el-Fna Square inscribed by UNESCO in 2001 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as it represents one of the richest concentrations of oral tradition, music, folk arts, and open-air gastronomy in the world. It is a veritable urban theater that has functioned for centuries.
A complete change of atmosphere between day and night
The square has two completely different lives:
- During the day , snake charmers, fortune tellers, healers, street vendors, and acrobats predominate;
- At night, the square transforms with dozens of traditional food stalls, musicians, storytellers, and impromptu performances.
- This daily cycle has been documented since at least the 17th century.
Marrakech and the time difference: a special case in North Africa

Morocco maintains UTC+1 for most of the year, but temporarily switches to UTC+0 during Ramadan, which can result in time differences compared to the traveler's country of origin, even for short flights. Therefore, depending on the month, the local arrival time in Marrakech may not match the time in the departure country.

Day 2 of the itinerary

This morning we will visit the Medina of Marrakech on foot with a local guide.
We will begin by admiring the Koutoubia Minaret, the twin of the Giralda of Seville, and continue by visiting the Bay Palace.
We will venture into the narrow streets of the Souk, where we will have the opportunity to see different artisans: weaving carpets, making slippers… and we can find an infinite variety of quality crafts.
We will visit a Berber pharmacy, where they will show us their "little secrets".
We will go out again to Djemaa el-Fna Square, where the atmosphere during the day is completely different from that at night.
In the afternoon, free time to practice the art of bargaining or discover the most hidden places of the Medina at our own pace.
Accommodation in a Riad in the Medina or a 5* Hotel.

The Koutoubia Mosque: the Almohad minaret that inspired the Giralda of Seville

The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century, is the masterpiece of Almohad architecture. Its 69-meter served as a direct model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat, becoming a key architectural landmark in the Islamic West.
The souks of Marrakech: one of the largest artisan markets in North Africa

The souks of Marrakech have been organized into guilds since medieval times: tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, dyers, slipper makers, jewelers, and many other traditional professions. Today, they continue to operate with the artisanal structure inherited from centuries past, making them one of the largest and most authentic commercial labyrinths in North Africa.
Djemaa el-Fna: a living cultural heritage in constant transformation

is Djemaa el-Fna Square inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage site for its extraordinary concentration of folk arts: storytellers, Gnawa musicians, acrobats, healers, snake charmers, and street vendors. What is most striking is its daily transformation: by day it is a bustling bazaar, and at night it becomes an immense open-air dining area with dozens of traditional stalls.

Day 3 of the itinerary

Today we will leave in a 4x4 vehicle with a driver to head to the Central High Atlas.
In this stage we have approximately 310 km ahead of us, although we will be rewarded by the spectacular scenery.
We will cross the Tizi n'Tichka, or Tichka mountain pass, the highest road pass in the country.
Here we will leave behind the predominant green and ochre colors to give way to a lunar landscape.
Along the way we will visit the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting for several film productions.
We will pass through Ouarzazate and continue through the Valley of Roses until we reach Boumalne Dades, a town located in the Valley of Birds at an altitude of 1,612 m in the High Atlas Mountains.
Accommodation and dinner at the Hotel Xaluca Dades 4*.

Tizi n'Tichka: the highest paved pass in Morocco

The Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 meters above sea level, is the highest paved mountain pass in the country. Its route was built in the 1930s during the French Protectorate to connect Marrakech with the south. Crossing it reveals a radical change in the landscape: from green and fertile areas to an almost lunar scene of bare mountains and ochre hues.
Aït Ben Haddou: an ancient ksar and one of the most used film locations in the world

The Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, is an exceptional example of fortified mud-brick architecture. It has been featured in films and television series such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Babel, Kingdom of Heaven , and Game of Thrones (representing the city of Yunkai). It is one of the most filmed locations in Africa.
Valley of the Roses and Boumalne Dades: a natural corridor at 1,612 meters

The Valley of Roses, famous for its Damask rose, celebrates the Rose Festival, an agricultural tradition that dates back centuries. Continuing along the route, Boumalne Dades, located at 1,612 meters, marks the entrance to the spectacular Dadès Valley, a region historically known as the Valley of Birds due to the abundance of migratory and nesting species.

Day 4 of the itinerary

This morning we will venture along tracks deep into the Central High Atlas, discovering spectacular landscapes.
We will visit Berber villages like Boutaghrarseems to have time.
We will see mountains, canyons and valleys, as well as the caves where nomads still live in the mountains.
We will travel through the Dades Valley to its gorges and arrive at the viewpoint, where we will have tea.
During the visit, we will stop at the “monkey paws”.
In the afternoon, we will continue our route towards Tinerhir, a town that offers a beautiful panorama of contrasts with its pink houses and palm groves, an ideal starting point to delve into the famous Todra Gorges, where we can walk a little following the course of the river.
Later we will continue to Erfoud, a city known as "the Gateway to the Desert".
Accommodation and dinner at Kasbah Xaluca, listed as unique in Morocco for its peculiar characteristics.

Boutaghrar: one of the best examples of traditional Berber life

area Boutaghrar, in the heart of the Valley of Roses, is known for the presence of the Aït Atta nomadic families who still live part of the year in natural caves, maintaining an ancestral way of life based on transhumance. Furthermore, the region preserves adobe kasbahs and terraced gardens that employ agricultural techniques passed down through centuries.
Dadès Valley: a unique geological landscape with the famous “Monkey Paws”

The Dadès Valley is one of the most studied geological areas in southern Morocco. Its formations, known as "Monkey Fingers," originatedfromthe differential erosion of sandstone over millions of years. Nearby is the famous Dadès viewpoint, where the winding road is one of the most photographed in the country.
Tinerhir and Todra: a spectacular gorge sculpted by a river that never runs dry

The town of Tinerhir sits beside one of the largest palm groves in southeastern Morocco and is the natural gateway to the Todra Gorge, where limestone cliffs reach up to 160 meters in height. The Todra River flows year-round, even during the dry season, continuing to shape this impressive canyon.

Day 5 of the itinerary

Today will be a day of total desert.
We will travel along one of the tracks used in the Dakar Rally, visiting villages and desert nomads.
We will stop at the Marine Fossil Quarries, which are 360 million years old, and have a picnic in an authentic oasis.
We will continue until we reach the Great Erg Chebbi, the Desert of Dunes of very fine sand, where we will change the 4x4 vehicle for dromedaries to enter the heart of the dunes and contemplate an unforgettable sunset.
We will arrive by camel at the Bivouac de Luxe, where we will stay in tents, like those used by desert nomads.
Accommodation and dinner.
is Sleeping under the stars.

The legendary tracks of the Dakar Rally

areas Erfoud, Taouz, and Erg Chebbi were part of several stages of the Dakar Rally when the competition still crossed Morocco (until 2007). These tracks combine stony flatlands, dry wadis, and sandy areas, and are still used today for driver training and navigation expeditions.
360-million-year-old fossils: a desert that was once a sea

The marine fossil quarries around Erfoud contain authentic remains from the Devonian Period (360–380 million years ago), when this region was submerged under a tropical sea. The most common fossils are trilobites, ammonites, and goniatites, and Morocco is one of the world's largest producers of Devonian fossils.
Erg Chebbi: giant dunes and one of the most famous sunsets in the Moroccan Sahara

Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two great ergs and is known for its dunes, which can reach 100–150 meters in height. Its extremely fine sand creates a unique optical effect at sunset: the dunes are tinged with golden, red, and pink hues, creating one of the most spectacular sunsets in the country, especially when viewed from the back of a camel on the way to the bivouac.

Day 6 of the itinerary

“Appointment with the Dawn”.
It is recommended to get up early to walk to the top of the dunes and see the sunrise.
Bedouin breakfast and return to the car which will take us around the Erg to the abandoned village of Merdani.
We will continue to the Sudanese village of Khamlia, where its inhabitants will treat us to their traditional dances and mint tea.
Later we will go to Rissani* to visit its market, unique in these latitudes, a place where the tribes and nomads of the desert are supplied.
Curious to see their “parking” for donkeys.
Finally, we will climb to a natural viewpoint to say goodbye to the desert with a beautiful panoramic view.
Return to Kasbah Xaluca to take the rest of the day off.
After the desert experience, it's nice to be able to relax.
We can take a dip in the heated pool, enjoy a jacuzzi, play tennis or mini-golf, or optionally have a hammam (Turkish bath) or receive a good massage.
For the more adventurous, there is the possibility of taking quad bike excursions through the dunes surrounding the hotel (optional excursion).
Accommodation and dinner at Kasbah Xaluca.
This afternoon, chauffeured cars will be available if you wish to continue exploring the area, go to Erfoud for a leisurely stroll , or visit a craft shop.
The Rissani market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, so sometimes it doesn't coincide with your visit. In that case, we try to schedule it for another day, or sometimes there simply isn't enough time.

A unique sunrise from the highest dunes of Erg Chebbi

Erg Chebbi is one of the few ergs in Morocco with dunes that reach 100–150 meters in height. This altitude, combined with the exceptional fineness of its sand, creates one of the most spectacular sunrises in the Sahara: the dunes change color in minutes, going from dark red to gold and pink, a phenomenon very characteristic of this area of the desert.
Khamlia: cradle of Gnawa music, cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO

The village of Khamlia was founded by communities of Sudanese origin who settled in the Tafilalet region generations ago. It is famous for its Gnawa music, inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, whose hypnotic rhythms with krakebs and drums were part of healing rituals and spiritual ceremonies. Today, the inhabitants continue to keep this tradition alive.
Rissani: a caravan market with an authentic “donkey parking lot”

The Rissani market, busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, is one of the oldest souks in southern Morocco and a historic trading hub for caravans arriving from the Sahara. One of its most well-known—and entirely real—features is its "donkey parking lot," where locals leave their animals while they shop and barter at the market.

Day 7 of the itinerary

Transfer to Errachidia airport to catch the flight back to the point of origin.
Along the way, we will stop at the Ziz Valley viewpoint, with more than ten million palm trees inside.
Departure of the flight from Errachidia towards Casablanca, to connect with the flight to the point of origin.

Ziz Valley: one of the largest continuous palm groves in North Africa

The Ziz Valley is part of the historic Tafilalet, considered one of the largest and oldest palm groves in North Africa. More than ten million palm trees, many of them dedicated to the production of the prestigious Medjool date, one of the most highly valued in the world.
A fertile oasis fed by a river that originates in the High Atlas Mountains

The Ziz Valley oasis exists thanks to the Ziz River, which originates in the High Atlas Mountains and allows for irrigation through a traditional system of irrigation ditches and khettaras (small, raised water channels). This contrast between lush vegetation and the surrounding arid landscape is one of the most characteristic features of southeastern Morocco.
Errachidia: the main air link connecting the desert with Casablanca

Airport (ERH) in Errachidia was originally a military base and is now the key infrastructure connecting the Tafilalet region and the desert with Casablanca, where most domestic and international flights are concentrated. This link greatly facilitates travel from remote areas of the Moroccan Sahara.

At Xaluca Tours, all our programs are custom-designed to suit each traveler. Below, you can find the document with indicative prices for this program during peak and off-peak seasons.

👉 View program with detailed prices.

Remember that these prices are only a reference: each trip is quoted individually based on the number of people, dates, accommodation category, and included services.