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$1,000$1,200/
Per Person
Leave the hustle of Marrakech behind and journey east, toward the shifting sands of the Sahara. This tour leads you to Merzouga, home of the majestic Erg Chebbi dunes, and to the village of Khamlia, famed for its Gnawa music, soul-stirring rhythms, and warm desert hospitality. Over several days, experience camel treks, desert nights under a blanket of stars, dunes painting themselves gold at dawn, and Gnawa musicians inviting you into ceremonial trance via drums and song.
Included and Excluded
- Round-trip transport from Marrakech → Merzouga (or nearest desert base) in a comfortable 4×4 or van
- Nights in desert camp (standard or upgraded) + select hotel/guesthouse stays
- Camel ride into the dunes (sunset and sunrise)
- Guides (local desert guides) fluent in English (often also French / Arabic)
- Visit to Khamlia village to hear Gnawa music and meet local musicians
- Meals: full‐board in desert (breakfast, dinner, oftentimes lunch on travel days)
- Some desert activities (dune walks, possibly off-road 4×4)
- International flights to Morocco / transport to Marrakech if outside operator arrangements
- Lunches / drinks outside what’s included in package
- Tips for guides & drivers
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, etc.)
- Optional extras (quad bikes, private performances, higher lodging)
Highlights of the Tour
- Standing on the crest of the Erg Chebbi dunes, watching sunrise and sunset color the sands
- Spending nights in a desert camp under a sky littered with stars
- Experiencing authentic Gnawa music in Khamlia village — performance by traditional musicians, with instruments like the guembri, krakebs, and rhythmic drumming.
- Meeting desert nomads, seeing local desert life (oases, tents, camels)
- The sense of silence and expansiveness in the Sahara — landscapes that shift with light and wind
Itinerary
07:30 Depart Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas via Tizi-n-Tichka pass 11:00 Stop for tea / refreshment in Ouarzazate or another Atlas foothill town 13:00 Lunch en route (often in a town like Alnif or Erfoud, depending on route) 15:30 Arrive Merzouga; check-in at hotel / desert camp area 17:30 Camel ride into the dunes to reach the camp; watch sunset from a high dune 19:30 Dinner in camp; night in desert with music and stars
06:30 Sunrise time on dunes; short walk or camel back to hotel / camp for breakfast 09:30 Visit Khamlia village (≈7 km south of Merzouga) for Gnawa music performance, meeting local musicians, learning about their heritage. 12:30 Lunch near Merzouga or in Khamlia, depending on arrangements 14:00 Desert 4×4 excursion: see the “black desert” volcanic rocks, visit nomads, perhaps fossil mines if route permits 17:30 Return to camp; optional sunset walk or photography session 19:30 Dinner in the camp; rest
06:30 Sunrise over dunes and final camel ride 08:30 Breakfast; depart Merzouga 12:30 Stop for lunch in Erfoud or Rissani 15:30 Through Atlas foothills, possibly stopping for scenic views 19:30-20:30 Arrival in Marrakech; end of tour
Location Map
Frequently Asked & Question
About 7 kilometers south of Merzouga. It’s very close to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Gnawa music is a spiritual musical tradition combining African, Berber, and Arab-influences. Expect performance with guembri (a three-stringed bass lute), krakebs (metal castanets), drums, clapping, and chanting. The rhythm is often hypnotic, sometimes used in trance or spiritual healing.
Spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) are good — cooler temperatures in desert, more comfortable travel. Winters are cold at night; summers can be very hot during the day. Also visiting during the Gnawa festival in Khamlia (usually summer) offers richer musical experience.
From Marrakech to Merzouga is a long drive (often 8-10 hours depending on route, stops, pace). It’s best to travel early in the morning, rest during stops. The road to Khamlia from Merzouga is short and accessible.
Layers (desert nights are cold), sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), comfortable walking shoes, camera, water bottle, light rain jacket (just in case), maybe a wrap or scarf for sand.
Yes, for children aged ~6 and above, especially if itinerary is paced. Very young children may find the long drives and desert nights more challenging.
Yes. You’ll have desert camps for the nights in the dunes, and standard hotels or guesthouses in Merzouga or nearby towns. Luxury camps often offer more comforts (beds, toilets, sometimes even WiFi, solar lighting).
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