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Twisting road of the Dades Gorge between red rock walls, Morocco Private

Merzouga to Marrakech Tour in 2 Days: Todra, Dades and Aït Benhaddou

Leave the dunes behind and travel west through gorges, kasbahs and the High Atlas, with a night in the Dades Valley along the way.

  • 2 days
  • Merzouga → Marrakech
  • Private
  • From US$ 259 (€230) per person
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Overview

The road from the Sahara to Marrakech is one of the most scenic drives in Morocco, and this private Merzouga to Marrakech tour gives it the two days it deserves. On day one you walk into the Todra Gorge and sleep in the Dades Valley. On day two you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, visit Aït Benhaddou and cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass.

It is the perfect way to finish a desert stay if you reached Merzouga by bus, from Fes, or as part of a longer route. You travel in your own air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver, stopping for photos, coffee and a good lunch whenever you like. Your luggage stays in the car, so you can walk the gorges and the ksar with just a camera and a bottle of water.

Planning the opposite direction? Our 3-day desert tour from Marrakech covers much of the same road as a round trip with a camel trek and camp night.

Highlights

  • Todra Gorge, with cliffs about 300 m high
  • Night in the Dades Valley
  • Rose Valley and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
  • Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara
  • Aït Benhaddou ksar, a UNESCO site
  • Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Merzouga – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

    After breakfast in Merzouga, drive west across the desert plains via Erfoud and the old khettara irrigation wells, a network of underground channels that once watered the oases. Reach Tinghir, with its huge palm grove and earthen villages, and stop at a viewpoint for photos.

    Walk into the Todra Gorge, where limestone walls rise high above a clear stream. Have lunch nearby, then continue to the Dades Valley. Drive up the gorge to see the twisting road and the rock formations nicknamed the "monkey fingers." Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner with a view of the cliffs.

    Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Dades – Rose Valley – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech

    Follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley, where Damask roses become rosewater and creams, and past the palm grove of Skoura. Stop in Ouarzazate to see the Taourirt kasbah and the film studios from outside.

    Continue to Aït Benhaddou and climb through the UNESCO-listed ksar for the view over the plain. After lunch, cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, then descend through Berber villages to Marrakech. Arrive in the evening at your riad or hotel. End of tour.

    Overnight: — (end of tour) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

Price per person by group size
TravelersStandard Superior
1 traveler US$ 472 (€420) US$ 523 (€465)
2 travelers US$ 259 (€230) US$ 309 (€275)
3 travelers US$ 188 (€167) US$ 239 (€212)
4 travelers US$ 152 (€135) US$ 203 (€180)
5 travelers US$ 131 (€116) US$ 181 (€161)
6 travelers US$ 117 (€104) US$ 168 (€149)
7 travelers US$ 107 (€95) US$ 158 (€140)
8 travelers US$ 152 (€135) US$ 203 (€180)

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup in Merzouga and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
  • Fuel, parking and tolls
  • 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast
  • Optional upgrade to superior accommodation

Not included

  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides in Todra and Aït Benhaddou (optional)
  • Entrance fees
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Tips for the Merzouga to Marrakech tour

Day 2 is the long one, about eight to nine hours with stops, mostly on mountain roads. Take motion-sickness medicine if you need it and keep a sweater handy for the pass, which is cold in winter and can close briefly for snow.

The tour works well for couples, friends and families. Wear good shoes for the gorge and the ksar, and carry small cash for entrance fees, lunch and tips. Want to understand the desert options before you book? See our guide to Morocco's deserts.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Merzouga to Marrakech?

About 560 km, or 10 hours without long stops. Split over two days, you drive around four to five hours on day one and eight to nine hours on day two, including visits.

Where do we sleep?

In a hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast included. You can choose standard or superior accommodation when booking.

Can we include a camel trek before leaving?

Yes. Add a night at a desert camp in Merzouga before the tour, or ask us to combine it with the Merzouga luxury desert camp experience.

Can the tour end at Marrakech airport?

Yes, but arrival times depend on traffic and stops. We recommend booking flights for the next day, or at least late in the evening.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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