Round trip from Errachidia · 3 days · 2 nights
A private 3-day tour from Errachidia to the Erg Chebbi dunes: the Ziz Valley, Erfoud and Rissani, a camel ride at sunset and two nights in a Sahara desert camp, with a driver and a local guide.
Duration
3 days, 2 nights
Route
Errachidia - Ziz Valley - Erfoud - Rissani - Merzouga - back to Errachidia
Guides speak
English and Spanish
Price
On request, free quote with no obligation
Tour overview
The 3-day desert tour from Errachidia to Merzouga is a private tour by Highlights Morocco Tours. It follows the Ziz Valley to Erfoud and Rissani, reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga for a camel ride at sunset and two nights in a Sahara desert camp, with a full day in the desert, and returns to Errachidia on day 3. It includes a private driver and a local guide who speaks English or Spanish. The price is on request, with a free quote and no obligation.
Errachidia is one of the closest cities to the Erg Chebbi dunes, so you spend your time in the desert and not on the road. The first day follows the Ziz Valley, with its palm groves, to Erfoud and Rissani, and reaches the dunes in time for a camel ride at sunset.
The second day is free for the desert. You can walk the dunes at sunrise, visit the Gnawa village of Khamlia and add a quad or buggy ride, a camel trek or a 4x4 trip with the nomads. We adapt it to your pace, and we can extend the tour to the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley.
Photos
Highlights
Itinerary
About 130 km
Merzouga
About 130 km
Route map
The route follows the Ziz Valley south from Errachidia to the Erg Chebbi dunes. The return takes the same road.
Errachidia
Start and end of the tour, with your private driver and local guide.
Ziz Valley
A long palm grove with ksour and mud-brick villages.
Erfoud
The gate to the desert, known for its fossil workshops.
Rissani
Market town on the old caravan routes to the Sahara.
Merzouga
Camel ride at sunset, a full day in the desert and two nights in a camp.
Why this route
Errachidia sits on the edge of the Sahara, so you reach the dunes after a short drive and spend your days in the desert instead of in the car.
The tour gives you the valley, the desert gateway towns and a full day at the dunes, and it can be extended to the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley if you have more time.
Morocco tour package
Tour options
All options are private, with a driver and a local guide.
| Tour | Starts in | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day tour from Errachidia | Errachidia | A short drive and three days in the desert |
| 2-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour | Marrakech | A quick Sahara escape with long driving days |
| 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour | Marrakech | The classic Sahara trip with Ait Ben Haddou |
| 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour | Marrakech | More time in the Sahara and shorter drives |
Your quote
Meals, extra stops and the type of camp are confirmed in your free quote. Tell us what you prefer.
Good to know
Tour guide
The 3-day desert tour from Errachidia to Merzouga is a private round trip with your own driver and a local guide who speaks English or Spanish. The distance is short, about 130 km each way, so the days stay relaxed. You follow the Ziz Valley, see Erfoud and Rissani and spend two nights in a Sahara camp at Merzouga.
The 3-day Errachidia to Merzouga desert tour is a private Sahara tour by Highlights Morocco Tours that starts and ends in Errachidia. With your own driver and a local guide who speaks English or Spanish, you follow the Ziz Valley to Erfoud and Rissani and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. The tour includes a camel ride at sunset and two nights in a desert camp, with a full day in the desert between the two drives. At about 130 km and about 2 hours each way, the road is short.
Day 1: Meet your driver and local guide in Errachidia and leave in the morning, following the Ziz Valley and its palm groves to Erfoud. Day 1 also includes a stop in Rissani, a market town on the old caravan routes, before dinner, music and a first night in the desert camp. Day 2: Watch the sunrise over the dunes, have breakfast at camp and visit Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa music. Day 2 leaves room for an optional quad or buggy ride, a camel trek or a 4x4 trip with the nomads, then a rest, dinner and a second night in camp. Day 3: Enjoy a last sunrise, have breakfast and drive back along the Ziz Valley to Errachidia, where the tour ends.
The 3-day Errachidia to Merzouga tour suits travellers who are already in the Errachidia area, or who prefer a slow desert trip with little driving. With only about 2 hours on the road each way, the days leave plenty of room for rest, which helps families, older travellers and anyone tired of long transfers. Active visitors can fill the full day in Merzouga with a camel trek, a quad ride or a walk on the dunes. Those who want big mountain scenery on the route will find this tour quieter than the longer circuits.
For the Errachidia to Merzouga desert tour, spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons, with pleasant days and cool evenings by the dunes. In summer, Erfoud, Rissani and Merzouga can be very hot, so activities are best kept for early morning and late afternoon. In winter, nights at the Sahara camp are cold, and days can be fresh and clear; a snowfall in the High Atlas does not usually affect this short route directly. Sandy wind can appear in spring, so a scarf is always useful.
For two nights on the Errachidia to Merzouga tour, pack light layers for the day and a warm jacket or fleece for the camp, since the desert cools quickly after sunset. A scarf, sunglasses, a hat and sun cream protect you from sun and sand, and closed shoes are better than sandals for the dunes. The tour does not include lunches, drinks, entrance fees or tips, so bring cash for meals in Erfoud or Rissani, optional activities such as quad rides, and your driver and guide. Dinner and breakfast at camp are included.
The price of the 3-day Errachidia to Merzouga desert tour is on request. Highlights Morocco Tours gives a free quote with no obligation, which you can ask for by the contact form on the tour page, by WhatsApp or by email. The tour includes pick-up and drop-off at the agreed point, private transport with a driver, your local guide, a camel ride at sunset in the Merzouga dunes, and two nights in a desert camp beside the dunes. Support is available before and during your trip.
Why book with us
Local agency
Highlights Morocco Tours is a private tour operator based in Marrakech.
100% private
Only your group, with your own driver.
English and Spanish
Local guides who speak English or Spanish.
Tailor-made
Ask us to add a night, change a stop or adjust the pace.
WhatsApp support
Support before and during your trip.
Free quote
Send your dates and group size. No obligation.
FAQ
About the trip, how to book it and who we are.
Yes, if you want to spend your time in the desert and not on the road. Errachidia is about 130 km from Merzouga, so you reach the dunes the first day and have a full day in the desert.
Errachidia is about 130 km from Merzouga, which takes around 2 hours by car with stops in the Ziz Valley, Erfoud and Rissani.
Yes. It includes two nights in a desert camp beside the Erg Chebbi dunes, with dinner and music, and a camel ride at sunset. The camel ride depends on the season and your arrival time.
You can watch the sunrise over the dunes, visit the Gnawa village of Khamlia and add a quad or buggy ride, a camel trek or a 4x4 trip with the nomads. Prices for activities are confirmed on request.
Yes. We can add days to visit the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley, or end the trip in another city. Tell us your plans and we send a free quote.
We can arrange the pick-up at your hotel or another agreed point in Errachidia. Tell us your arrival details and we confirm what can be arranged in your quote.
Send us your dates and number of travellers with the contact form, by WhatsApp or by email. We reply with a free, no-obligation quote and, once you are happy with it, we confirm the booking and the details of your trip.
The price depends on your dates, the number of travellers and the type of camp, so we quote on request. Quotes are free and come with no obligation.
The tour starts and ends in Errachidia. We agree the pick-up point and time with you when we confirm your booking.
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Based in
Marrakech, Morocco
Support
Available 24/7 while you travel
Why travellers trust us
8+ years
Organising private tours across Morocco for many years.
Local Berber team
Brothers and friends who grew up in the desert and know every road and camp.
100% private
Your own driver and guide. Never a big shared group.
Talk to us directly
No call centre and no middleman. Free quote, no obligation.