Marrakesh + Sahara Desert — 5 days

From the medina to the sand dunes. Day-by-day itinerary: Marrakesh; Heading South (Aït Benhaddou); The Merzouga Dunes; Sunrise over the Dunes & Return.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakesh

• 09:00 — Arrival in Marrakesh
• 12:00 — Riad in the medina
• 15:00 — Quick tour of the medina — Jemaa el-Fna
• 20:00 — Dinner at the riad

Day 2 — Heading South (Aït Benhaddou)

• 07:00 — 4x4 departure towards the desert — Marrakesh → Ouarzazate
• Arrival at Aït Benhaddou — Marrakesh → Ouarzazate
• 12:00 — Aït Benhaddou (UNESCO ksar) — Aït Benhaddou
• Walk to the restaurant — Aït Benhaddou → Kasbah restaurant
• 13:30 — Berber lunch — Kasbah restaurant
• Drive to the Dadès Gorges — Kasbah restaurant → Road of the Kasbahs
• 16:00 — Dadès Gorges — Road of the Kasbahs
• Drive to Boumalne Dadès — Road of the Kasbahs → Boumalne Dadès
• 19:00 — Night in a kasbah — Boumalne Dadès
• 20:00 — Tagine dinner

Day 3 — The Merzouga Dunes

• 07:00 — Drive → Merzouga — Dadès → Merzouga
• Arrival in Rissani — Dadès → Merzouga
• 13:00 — Lunch at an inn — Rissani
• 4x4 to the camp — Rissani → Erg Chebbi
• 17:00 — Camel ride to the camp — Erg Chebbi
• 19:00 — Night in a desert camp under the stars — Erg Chebbi
• Walk to the campfire — Erg Chebbi → Camp
• 21:00 — Dinner around the fire — Camp

Day 4 — Sunrise over the Dunes & Return

• 06:00 — Sunrise over the dunes — Erg Chebbi
• 09:00 — Return to Marrakesh (long drive) — Merzouga → Marrakesh
• Stop in Tinghir — Merzouga → Marrakesh
• 13:00 — Todra Gorge (on the way) — Tinghir
• 20:00 — Back to the riad in Marrakesh

Day 5 — Gardens & Departure

• 09:00 — Majorelle Garden — Gueliz
• 11:30 — Lunch before leaving
• 13:30 — Taxi to the airport
• 16:30 — Return flight