7-Day Sahara Desert and Morocco Tour
MOROCCO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Dreaming of spending a night in the Sahara Desert with uninterrupted views of the sparkling stars above? Our amazing 7-day trip around Southern Morocco could be just what you’re looking for! Starting our journey in bustling Marrakech, we’ll travel east over the stunning Atlas Mountains, home to Morocco’s highest peaks and traditional Berber communities, until we reach Dades Gorge, stopping for a tour at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou on the way. Now in the heart of the desert region, we’ll travel further south and begin to see the incredible landscape of the Erg Chebbi dunes in the distance as we approach. Arguably one of the most beautiful places in Morocco, we’ll camel trek into the heart of the dunes for an unbelievable desert sunset before heading back to camp for a night under the stars. Waking to a magnificent sunrise, we’ll leave the desert behind and continue our journey to Ouarzazate, a town known as the gateway to the Sahara, before heading back to Marrakech for the final nights of our tour. A city known for its culture, souks and enchanting medina, Marrakech is a firm favourite among tourists and locals alike, making it the perfect destination to wrap up our enthralling adventure.
✔ Spend a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert
✔ Camel trek to the top of the Erg Chebbi dunes for a stunning sunset
✔ Explore the endless alleyways and architectural delights in Marrakech
✔ Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou



Day 1 – Arrive Marrakech
When you arrive in Marrakech., make your way to the hotel for check-in, which will be from 2pm onwards. Today is an arrival day so there are no planned activities. If you arrive in time, you can join your guide and the rest of the group for dinner to get to know your fellow travellers! Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 2 – Marrakech / Dades Gorge
You will be leaving Marrakech today to travel over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, where you will enjoy superb views of the mountains and Berber Villages on the way. You will stop for lunch and a tour at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou. Then you will continue on towards the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley, before arriving at Dades Gorge, where you will spend the night. (Driving Time: approx 5 hours)
Day 3 – Dades Gorge / Merzouga
After breakfast, you will head to the Todra Gorge, a massive 300m-deep fault in a narrow valley, thick studded with palmeries and Berber Villages. After lunch, you will travel further into the desert, to the tiny village of Merzouga, where you will camel trek into the beautiful Erg Chebbi Dunes for a magnificent sunset. Tonight you will be sleeping under the stars in a desert camp. (Driving Time: approx. 4 hours)
Day 4 – Merzouga / Ouarzazate
Today you will wake up to the most spectacular sunrise in the Sahara Desert. After breakfast, you will continue on to the small town of Rissani, where you will visit the Ksour and Kasbahs of Tafilalt. You will also visit the Zaouia of Moulay Ali Sherif and experience local market day in Rissani. You will then continue on to the town of Ouarzazate, where you will spend the night. (Driving Time: approx. 5 hours)
Day 5 – Ouarzazate / Marrakech
After breakfast, we will be driving back to Marrakech. You will be taken to get checked-in at your hotel and will then have the rest of the day at leisure to explore Marrakech. Stop at one of the many rooftop bars and watch the sunset over Jemaa el Fna Square before dinner at a traditional restaurant for your penultimate night in Morocco! (Driving Time: approx. 4 hours)
Day 6 – Marrakech
After breakfast this morning you will begin your city tour of Marrakech. You will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jemaa el Fna Square, and see snake charmers, story tellers and musicians, as well as plenty of exciting food stalls. You can wander the souks and Medina alleyways to see traditional Moroccan handicrafts, and marvel at the beautifully decorated Bahia Palace. A dinner will be arranged for your last night in Morocco!
Day 7 – Depart Marrakech
Today is a departure day so there are no planned activities. You are free to depart Marrakech at anytime.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE MOROCCO TOUR
- Sharing a twin room in 3-star hotels with breakfast
- One night in a desert camp
- Dinner whilst in the Sahara
- City tour of Marrakech
- English-speaking local guides
- 90-minute camel ride in the Sahara
BOOKING PROCEDURE
- Up to eight weeks before departure, a place can be reserved for the Morocco tour on payment of a deposit of £150.00, after this date it would be the full amount of the trip.
- Click the book now button and fill in the details and tick the box confirming you accept booking conditions.
- The outstanding balance is due 8 weeks before travel.
- Flights are not included in the cost of this trip and will need to be booked separately. Please do not book flights until we have given the go-ahead. Feel free to ask us if you need any help with booking.
- Please ensure you have checked visa requirements. Get in touch if you are unsure.
- Ensure you have purchased travel insurance, as this is mandatory for all trips.
ESSENTIAL TRIP NOTES
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
PASSPORT
You will need to make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from date of entry and that you have a couple of blank pages. Please ensure the name on your booking and flight match your passport.
VISAS
It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure they obtain the correct visa for travel. Information can be found for British Nationals on the FCO website. If you are a British national, you will not need a visa if you are travelling for less than 3 months. On arrival, please ensure your passport is stamped to avoid any problems when departing Morocco. If you hold any other nationality passport or originate from any other country, please check the relevant embassy website.
PHOTOCOPIES
You may want to take a copy of your passport and flight confirmations with you – if you lose the originals it is easier to get replacements if you have copies.
FLIGHT TICKETS AND ACCOMMODATION
Please ensure you have proof of return travel tickets and hotel accommodation to hand for arrival as you may need to present details of this.
INSURANCE
Travel insurance is mandatory for all trips and you need to carry a copy of your certificate with you. If you haven’t purchased It already, we have partnered up with Columbus Travel Insurance and you can buy your policy through us.
MONEY & COSTS
CURRENCY
The currency in Morocco is the Morocco Dirham. We always recommend purchasing some local currency in advance of travel when possible, but you can also take Euros, British Pounds or Dollars with you and exchange when you get there. Alternatively, you can take cash out of ATM’s which are available in Marrakech and some hotels. Credit cards will be accepted in most hotels, but we don’t recommend relying solely on your credit card.
COSTS
We recommend budgeting £15 – £20 a day for meals, water, and drinks, but this is just an indicative amount and can vary from local restaurants to more western style, so you may end up spending less or more. Any souvenir shopping you wish to do would be on top of this. You will have a better idea of how much you usually spend when on holiday, so please plan accordingly.
TIPPING
If you feel as though you have received a good service, please reward your local guides and drivers with a tip. We recommend £3 – £5 per person, per day for local guides, and £1 – £2 per person, per day for drivers. Tipping is of course voluntary but is gratefully accepted in recognition of good service.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
If you would prefer to have your own room on this trip, the additional cost would be £175. Please let us know at the time of booking as it cannot be guaranteed closer to the time. Please note that you may be required to share in the desert camp.
TRANSPORT
BY ROAD
Driving is the only way to get around this part of Morocco, and therefore there will be a number of long drives during this trip. The drives will be broken up with stops at various places of interest. If you ever feel like you need to stop and stretch your legs, just let your guide or driver know. You will be travelling in private air-conditioned vehicles throughout.
WHAT TO PACK
ESSENTIALS
- Comfortable walking shoes or trainers as well as sandals
- Light fitting clothes in the summer months as temperatures get very hot (MAY-SEP) and warm clothes during the winter periods (NOV-MAR) – it gets very cold in the desert regions at night so take jumpers, long sleeved tops, trousers and closed shoes.
- Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country and we recommend dressing to respect the local culture – you will need to keep your shoulders and knees covered at religious sites so it’s useful to take a scarf.
- Adequate sun protection if necessary – hats, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Waterproof jacket (just in case!)
- Paracetamols, rehydration sachets, plasters
- Insect repellent
- Re-fillable water bottle (if it has built in filters)
- Camera with spare batteries and memory cards – you’re going to want to take some photos!
- Power bank
- Plug adaptors – These can be viewed via the link: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/morocco/
LUGGAGE
We never recommend taking more luggage than you can personally carry as there might not always be someone on hand to help you. One suitcase ideally that can be wheeled, and a small day pack will be more than enough. Make sure you have checked baggage allowance and weight limit restrictions with your chosen airline.
VALUABLES
Whilst travelling around, we recommend you don’t bring anything you won’t really need – expensive jewellery and watches are not necessary, you can leave them at home. Be vigilant always and avoid carrying large amounts of money around with you. You could invest in a money belt to go under your clothes to keep cards, money or air tickets in for extra safety.
HEALTH & MEDICAL
INOCULATIONS
You should visit your doctor or travel nurse a minimum of 8 weeks before your departure date to make sure your vaccinations are all up to date. Please check the government website if you need more information.
DRINKING WATER
It is not recommended to drink tap water in Morocco. Although it is clean and safe for locals to drink, what you are used to at home will differ and you could end up with an upset stomach. You should keep hydrated whilst you’re out there, so make sure you always have a bottle of water with you.
MEDICATION
If you take medication for anything or think you may need something whilst you are away, it’s better to take it with you from the UK as items may not be as readily available as they are here.
YELLOW FEVER
If you are travelling from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever, you will need to take a valid certificate with you to prove you have had the vaccine.
TRAVEL ADVICE
We recommend you read the travel advice for any country you are visiting ahead of your visit. This can be accessed on the FCO website.
TRAVEL TIPS
FREE TIME IN MARRAKECH
Explore the Medina and practice your bargaining skills in the souks for last bits of shopping (Please be aware, if you do take pictures of snake charmers or entertainment in the Medina, you will be expected to pay.)
Visit the Jardin Majorelle, botanical garden created by Jacques Majorelle, a French artist. It is open every day 8am – 6.30pm.
Visit a Hammam (local bath house). Typical prices are between MAD 50-100. Bring your own towel just in case.
DEPARTURE TO THE AIRPORT
We highly recommend following the guides instruction to get to the airport early. Travel time can take longer due to traffic and the queue to get to passport control can be very long inside the airport at Marrakech.

Find out more about this exciting country and all that it has to offer!
MOROCCO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Ever wanted to sleep in a tent made of camel hair in the middle of the Sahara desert? We thought so… this amazing 6 day trip is for you! Starting with a night in magical Marrakech, the following day you’ll enjoy incredible mountain scenery as you travel through the Atlas Mountains to Dades Gorge, stopping on the way to take a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, the backdrop to many Hollywood movies. Travel to Merzouga for a camel ride over the stunning Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset, sleep in a traditional tent under the stars for the night, and wake up to a beautiful desert sunrise. Continue your journey to Ouarzazate, the city known as the gateway to the Sahara. Finish this Morocco tour where you started, in mystical Marrakech, snake charmers, story tellers and all…
✔ Spend a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert
✔ Camel trek to the top of the Erg Chebbi dunes for a stunning sunset
✔ Explore the endless alleyways and architectural delights in Marrakech
✔ Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou



Day 1 – Arrive Marrakech
Day 2 – Marrakech / Dades Gorge
Day 3 – Dades Gorge / Merzouga
Day 4 – Merzouga / Ouarzazate
Day 5 – Ouarzazate / Marrakech
Day 6 – Depart Marrakech
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE MOROCCO TOUR
- Sharing a twin room in 3 star hotels with breakfast
- One night in Traditional Berber tent
- Dinner whilst in the Sahara
- City tour of Marrakech
- English speaking guides
- 90 minute camel ride
BOOKING PROCEDURE
- Up to six weeks before departure, a place can be reserved for the Morocco tour on payment of a deposit of £150.00, after this date it would be the full amount of the trip.
- Click the book now button and fill in the details and tick the box confirming you accept booking conditions.
- The outstanding balance is due 6 weeks before travel.
- Flights are not included in the cost of this trip and will need to be booked separately. Please do not book flights until we have given the go-ahead. Feel free to ask us if you need any help with booking.
- Please ensure you have checked visa requirements. Get in touch if you are unsure.
- Ensure you have purchased travel insurance, as this is mandatory for all trips.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Trip Type Discover
Group Size Between 10-14
Physical Rating Moderate
Currency & Spending Money Moroccan Dirhams / Spending £25 and upwards per day
Hosts One of our hosts will meet you at the hotel upon your arrival, and will be your main point of contact throughout the trip. Our hosts will organise dinners and anything else you might need, to ensure you have the best holiday.
Clothing Morocco is generally very hot and sunny and is regarded as a year-round destination, but depending on when you’re visiting it can get cold at night – especially in the desert. So if you are travelling between November and March, we recommend taking something warm to sleep in during your night in the desert. Thick, warm blankets will be provided. You will also need comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking when you are in Marrakech.
Health Always seek medical advice from your doctor or travel nurse a minimum of 8 weeks before you travel and make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Remember that your travel insurance may not cover you if you do not have up-to-date vaccinations.
Single Supplement £150 (Please note the single room option is not available for your night in the desert)
Travel Advice We highly recommend that you read the foreign travel advice for Morocco before your departure date.
MAGICAL MOROCCO: A GUEST POST BY KATE LANGTON
Earlier this year, the lovely Kate Langton joined the Solo Travellers community for the first time on one of our trips to Morocco. Check out her write up of the expectations, impressions and everything in between! Why did you choose Solo Travellers and what made you...
Find out more about this exciting country and all that it has to offer!
Need more information before booking?
Head to our Frequently Asked Questions page or Get in Touch with us directly. We‘re always available to answer any of your questions.