7-Day Sahara Desert Tour Packages
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Insider tips: Recommended 7-day Sahara Desert itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaSahara Desert travel expert at TourRadar
7 Day Morocco Itinerary, incl. Marrakech and Sahara Desert
From Marrakesh to Merzouga, this 7-day expedition covers 5 destinations, featuring 6 breakfasts and 2 dinners. The route passes through Todra Gorge, Sahara Desert camps, UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, and Atlas Mountains. Private transport and camel rides included for approx. $80 per day.
- Day 1
Marrakech Arrival
Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport and make your way to your medina accommodation. Try to book an afternoon flight to avoid the busy morning traffic. Your evening starts with a group orientation followed by dinner near Djemaa el-Fna square. A recent visitor shares: "The evening atmosphere in the square is electric - come hungry and try the food stalls at position 32 and 14, they're local favorites."
- Day 2
Marrakech to Skoura (4-5 hours)
Start early for your journey through the Atlas Mountains to Skoura Oasis. Take motion sickness medication if needed before tackling the winding mountain roads. Your afternoon includes a guided tour of traditional mud-brick kasbahs in the Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. One visitor notes: "Bring good walking shoes - the paths between kasbahs can be uneven and dusty, but the ancient architecture is absolutely worth it."
- Day 3
Skoura to Merzouga Desert (4 hours)
Head to the Sahara, stopping for a 2-hour walk in the stunning Dades Gorge. Reach Merzouga in time for a sunset camel trek into the dunes. A traveler advises: "Watching the sunset while perched atop a camel in the Sahara was humbling. Bring a warm layer - desert nights get surprisingly cold." Your evening includes dinner and traditional drumming under the stars at the desert camp.
- Day 4
Merzouga Desert
Immerse yourself in desert life. Take a morning 4x4 trip to visit nomadic families, learn to cook traditional tajine in the afternoon, and try sandboarding during golden hour. A guest shares: "The sand is surprisingly tough to climb but incredibly fun to board down. Wear closed shoes that you don't mind getting filled with sand!"
- Day 5
Merzouga to Ait Benhaddou (6 hours)
Travel to the UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou. Explore this ancient fortified village with a guide and climb to the top for sunset valley views. You can join an optional evening tagine cooking class with local experts.
- Day 6
Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech (4.5 hours)
Return to Marrakech. Spend your afternoon touring the medina, Bahia Palace, and the winding souks. A visitor suggests: "Visit the spice souks before sunset when the light streams through the slatted roof - magical photos guaranteed." Spend your evening exploring the food stalls at Djemaa el-Fna.
- Day 7
Marrakech Departure
Start your day with an optional hot air balloon ride over the Atlas Mountains and palm oases (book ahead, ends by 9-10 AM). Use your remaining time for souk shopping before leaving. Book flights after 1 PM if you're doing the balloon ride.
7 Day Morocco Itinerary, incl. Agadir and Marrakech
A grand desert circuit spans 1,200 km from Agadir to Marrakech. The route takes in Essaouira's medina, crosses Atlas Mountains, visits Todra Gorge, and includes camping at Merzouga's dunes. Features 6 nights accommodation across 3 riads and 1 luxury desert camp.
- Day 1
Agadir to Essaouira
Start your Morocco trip with a 3-hour drive north from Agadir to Essaouira. Get on the road before 9 AM to beat traffic and catch the afternoon fish market when boats bring in their fresh catch. Pick seats on the right side of the vehicle for the best views of the Atlantic coastline.
- Day 2
Essaouira
Spend the day exploring Essaouira's UNESCO-listed medina. Visit Skala du Port early at 8 AM before the crowds show up. If you're interested in windsurfing, the strong trade winds from April to November make this spot ideal. Book lessons ahead if you want to try it. One traveler shared: "The afternoon light hitting the blue fishing boats in the port creates the most amazing photo opportunities. Don't miss the wood craftsmen's quarter - the cedar wood scent is intoxicating."
- Day 3
Essaouira to Marrakech
The drive to Marrakech takes about 2.5 hours through argan tree forests. You'll reach Marrakech by early afternoon. Get settled in the Medina area and spend your first half-day getting familiar with Djemaa el-Fna square. The food stalls set up at sunset but skip stalls 1 and 2 which are known tourist traps.
- Day 4
Marrakech
Start your day with a local guide to see Marrakech's main attractions. Head to Bahia Palace first when it opens at 8:30 AM to avoid crowds and heat. Visit the Saadian Tombs mid-morning when the sun lights up the detailed carvings perfectly. You'll walk 5-6 miles on uneven ground so wear good walking shoes.
- Day 5
Marrakech to Boumalne Dades
Leave early for your drive across the Atlas Mountains. The Tizi n'Tichka pass gets cold at 2,260m so bring warm layers. Stop at Ait Benhaddou kasbah around 11 AM for the best light for photos. Take the Valley of Roses route to Boumalne Dades to catch a beautiful sunset over the gorge.
- Day 6
Dades to Merzouga Desert
Visit Todra Gorge between 9-11 AM when sunlight fills the narrow canyon. Then head to Merzouga for an afternoon camel trek into the Sahara. A previous visitor advised: "Pack only what you need for one night in a small backpack. The camel ride is bumpy - secure your camera well and wear long pants to avoid chafing."
- Day 7
Merzouga to Marrakech
Get up before dawn to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. The drive back to Marrakech takes about 12 hours but offers great views through the Draa Valley. You'll cross the Atlas Mountains again past Ouarzazate seeing new scenery on this route. Plan to reach Marrakech around 7-8 PM.
1 week in Morocco
The golden sands stretch from Merzouga's dunes to Rissani's historic souks in this 7-day Saharan tour. The route winds through Drâa Valley, showcases UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, and offers traditional haima camping under desert stars. Features camel treks and authentic Berber music performances.
View itineraryMarrakesh Morocco
119 miBoumalne Dades Morocco
118 miMerzouga Morocco
171 miOuarzazate Morocco
81 miMarrakesh Morocco
Sahara Desert 7 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
From Agadir: 7 Day Private Tour via Essaouira, Marrakech & The Sahara Desert
1 week in Morocco
Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
7 Days Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
Imperial Cities & the Sahara Tour
7 Days Tour From Marrakech via Atlas Mountains & Desert (Private)
7 Days Private Tour from Agadir to Marrakech
7 Day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert - Fes - Chefchaouen then end the tour in Casablanca
7 Days Tour: In the great Desert of Morocco from Marrakech
What people love about 7-day Sahara Desert tours
It was an unforgettable tour and the amount of things we could see and do in only one week was unbelievable. Even though we spent a big part of the time driving, there were enough stops in between and I also got this strange feeling that time was passing more slowly on this trip, simply because we experienced so much. In the car, we could watch the scenery from the windows and people when driving through towns and villages. We could also take naps in the car, all in all it was a relaxing trip despite being full of adventure as well. Karim was a great guide, not least due to his humor and smiling. I also saw that he was good at dealing with different people within our group. He seemed to know almost everyone personally wherever we went, chatting briefly with people on our way. A few negatives though, a tiny part of the overall experience. We stopped 2-3 times shops for traditional handicraft (e.g. pottery) which I disliked as I'm not into shopping and found these stops too commercial. A stop at a place for making argan oil products was also too sales driven for my taste although I thought it was interesting to hear about the production process. Some of the women on the group bought something there, so they probably had a more positive view. There was also one stop at the end of the 4x4 excursion in the desert to listen to local music, which I think nobody particularly enjoyed. If you are going to Morocco for the first time, I would highly recommend this tour.
Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
- From Agadir: 7 Day Private Tour via Essaouira, Marrakech & The Sahara Desert
Overall experience was good. Our half day tour in Fes was so/so, we were directed through many stores that our day guide had picked out. Obviously there is a lot of driving as places are far apart and the roads that connect them aren’t great. The accommodations were excellent and the two dinners included were also excellent. The highlight was the overnight desert experience, that was phenomenal. I wish there were more bathroom breaks scheduled into this and that maybe you could do a grocery store run at the beginning for bottled water and easy driving snacks as we were constantly buying and overpaying for water. Some of the restaurants we stopped at which we felt we had to eat lunch at weren’t very good but we had limited options along the way sometimes. Other times we were offered lunch at 11am or wait until the next stop, not knowing the next stop was 2-4 hours away. I think being clear with whichever driver you get about making stops etc is important and also our fault for not communicating clearly enough. A more clearly defined itinerary, giving approximate times for the when you will leave, when you will arrive to different locations would be very helpful. A more detailed itinerary which identifies which accommodations have dinner included in the reservation would also be very helpful. We were left a little stressed over not knowing the price for dinner one night, to thankfully find out it was part of the accommodation package. Defining cost for various activities on the itinerary would also be a very good initiate to put in place. Many of the stops have an entrance fee, on top of the cost of the tour. Giving your clientele all the information to manage expectations would be another great initiative you could putp into fruition. Overall more communication with your client about the experience would help greatly make this a 5 star experience. We would have appreciated some small changes to the itinerary based on our interests (ei: no stop at the studio in Ourzzazate). Better itinerary definitions and more clearly managing your clients expectations in regards to additional cost of all activities is an absolute must for your company.
- Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
Really great trip! Hotel 1st night was far above expectations (although FREEZING cold!). Camping was certainly nicer than a lot of other camping trips - we had actual mattresses and pillows and plenty of warm blankets. Camel ride was great, although only about 45 mins. Prepare with your own snacks for the bus ride. Lunch places were really well priced - most places were about 10 euros for 3 courses! BE AWARE - all of these 2 day desert tours are essentially organised by the same company. Not one person on our tour had booked through the same tour company - we had all booked slightly different prices (from 75-95 GBP) on completely different companies. Basically they pick you up from your hotel, then take you to the main square and tell you which minibus to get on - it seems like they save money by packing every minibus totally full rather than keeping everyone split up in different companies. We then drove for about 3 hours to our first stop, where we had an awesome guide. Bus stopped every 2 hours for a toilet and coffee break, but make sure you take change because every toilet costs money. There is a different local guide at each location, and they do ask for a tip at the end at your discretion. The guides were all lovely, and the sights were spectacular. Really really enjoyed this trip!
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