The quickest way to sleep in the Sahara on a long weekend: over the High Atlas, through Ait Benhaddou and the gorges, then camels into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for a night at camp, and back to Marrakech on Sunday.
This is a shared student departure: you join other students and young travellers from different universities, which keeps the cost down. Rooms and tents are shared with students of the same gender unless you travel as a couple or as friends.
The trip starts and ends in Marrakech. Tell us your preferred date on WhatsApp or through the form; we confirm your place and the meeting point.
Meeting point in central Marrakech · Back in Marrakech on Sunday night
Friday around 7:00 AM
Long driving days, especially Sunday (about 9 to 10 hours back to Marrakech with stops). It is a big trip in a short time; if you have one more day, the 4-day trip is more relaxed.
Route: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Night: guesthouse or kasbah in the Dades Valley · Meals: dinner
Approx. 330 km · 6–7 h driving
Over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass to the kasbah village of Ait Benhaddou, then Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley.
Route: Dades → Tinghir → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga
Night: Berber desert camp in Erg Chebbi (shared tents) · Meals: breakfast, dinner
Approx. 300 km · 5–6 h driving
A walk in the Todra Gorge, then east to Merzouga. Camels into the dunes for sunset, sandboarding, dinner and drums around the fire at camp.
Route: Merzouga → Rissani → Alnif → Ouarzazate → Tizi n’Tichka → Marrakech
Night: end of trip in Marrakech · Meals: breakfast
Approx. 560 km · 9–10 h driving
Sunrise over the dunes, camels back to the village, then the long road back to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.
