Family tour · Marrakech to Merzouga · 4 or 5 days
A private family tour of 4 or 5 days from Marrakech to the Sahara, at a relaxed pace, with child-friendly stops, a camel ride and a night in a desert camp.
Duration
4 days, 3 nights, or 5 days with an extra night
Route
Marrakech - Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Valley - Merzouga - Draa Valley - Marrakech
Guides speak
English and Spanish
Price
On request, free quote with no obligation
Tour overview
The family-friendly Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour is a private Morocco tour package by Highlights Morocco Tours, designed for families with children. It lasts 4 days, or 5 days if you add a night, with shorter driving days, stops to stretch and play, a camel ride at sunset and a night in a desert camp beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. 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.
Travelling to the Sahara with children is easier when the route is planned around them. On this family tour we keep the driving days shorter, we stop often to stretch and play, and we leave time for the things children remember: Ait Ben Haddou, a camel ride and a night in a tent in the dunes.
Tell us how many children are travelling and how old they are, and we adapt the route and the pace. If you prefer a faster trip, look at our 3-day Merzouga tour; if your family wants the most relaxed option, add a fifth day.
Photos
Highlights
Itinerary
Marrakech - Dades
Dades - Merzouga
Merzouga - Draa Valley
Draa - Marrakech
Merzouga
Route map
The route crosses the High Atlas and follows the valleys of the south-east to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Marrakech
Start and end of the tour, with your private driver and local guide.
Tizi n'Tichka pass
The High Atlas road, with sweeping views and a stop to stretch.
Ait Ben Haddou
UNESCO-listed ksar of red-earth towers, a favourite with children.
Ouarzazate
The gateway to the Sahara, known for its kasbahs and film studios.
Dades Valley
First night on the road, with rock formations and palm groves.
Todra Gorges
Tall canyon walls near Tinghir, on the way to the dunes.
Merzouga
Camel ride at sunset and a night in a desert camp. The way back goes through the Draa Valley.
Caravan routes and kasbahs
For centuries, caravans crossed the Atlas Mountains between the Sahara and Marrakech. The ksour and kasbahs you pass on this tour, such as Ait Ben Haddou, grew along these trade routes, and a caravanserai was the roadside inn where caravans and their camels could rest.
Today you follow the same road by private car with a local guide, and finish where the caravans began their journey across the dunes: in Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi.
Morocco tour package
Family tour options
All options are private, with a driver and a local guide.
| Tour | Length | Best for | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family tour, 4 days | 4 days, 3 nights | Families with children of most ages | Relaxed |
| Family tour, 5 days | 5 days, 4 nights | Families who want an extra night and more time in the dunes | Very relaxed |
| 3-day Merzouga tour | 3 days, 2 nights | Older children and teenagers | Balanced |
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 family-friendly Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour is a private Morocco tour package by Highlights Morocco Tours. It lasts 4 days, or 5 with an extra night, with shorter driving days, a sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp. Your family has its own driver and a local guide who speaks English or Spanish.
The family-friendly Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour is a private Morocco tour with children in mind, run by Highlights Morocco Tours. It lasts 4 days and 3 nights, or 5 days with a second night in Merzouga. The route goes from Marrakech over the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and the Erg Chebbi dunes, then back through the Draa Valley. The vehicle and the guide are yours alone, so the family sets the pace, with time to stretch, play in the sand and rest.
Day 1: leave Marrakech and cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with photo and stretch stops, visit Ait Ben Haddou, stop in Ouarzazate and sleep in the Dades Valley. Day 2: the Todra Gorges, then the drive to Merzouga, a camel ride at sunset in the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp with dinner. Day 3: sunrise and breakfast at camp, a relaxed morning around Merzouga with time to play in the sand, then a drive west through the valleys and oases to the Draa Valley area for the night. Day 4: follow the road back over the High Atlas, with stops for photos and lunch, and arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon or evening. Optional day 5: add a second night in Merzouga for a full day in the desert at your own speed before the return.
This family desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is for parents who want a first Sahara experience with children, without rushing. Driving days are kept shorter than on classic itineraries, with regular stops, yet the High Atlas road and the distance to Merzouga still mean some hours in the car each day. It works well for school-age children and teenagers, and grandparents can join too. If your children are very young or get carsick easily, the optional fifth day gives a gentler rhythm, and we can talk it through before you book.
For a family trip from Marrakech to Merzouga, spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable seasons for children, with warm days and pleasant evenings. Summer is very hot inland and in the desert, so midday activity is limited and the car journeys feel long. In winter the desert camp is cold at night and snow is possible in the High Atlas, though days can be sunny and clear. Many families choose school holidays, so book early and tell us your dates so we can suggest what suits your children best.
For the family Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour, pack layers for each child, a warm jacket and hat for the night in the desert camp, sun cream, sunglasses and scarves for sun and sand. Closed shoes are best for sand and rocky paths. Bring snacks, water, a few games or books for the car and any medicine your children may need. Lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips are not included, so carry some cash in dirhams. Tell us your children's ages in advance so the guide can plan the stops.
The price of the family-friendly Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour is on request, because it depends on your dates, the number of adults and children, and whether you choose 4 or 5 days. Highlights Morocco Tours sends a free quote with no obligation, and you can request it by the contact form on this page, by WhatsApp or by email. The quote covers the private driver, the local guide, the sunset camel ride and the night in the desert camp with dinner and breakfast. Lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips are paid separately. Send us the ages of your children and we reply with an offer.
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. The family tour is planned around children, with shorter driving days, frequent stops and a relaxed pace. Tell us how old your children are and we adapt the route.
The 4-day tour suits most families. The 5-day option adds a night and more time in the desert, which is useful for younger children or if you want a very relaxed pace.
Marrakech is about 560 km from Merzouga. On the family tour the distance is split over 4 or 5 days, with stops to stretch, play and rest, so each day is shorter than on the 2-day and 3-day tours.
A camel ride at sunset is part of the tour. We adapt it to the age of your children, so tell us when you ask for your quote.
You spend a night in a desert camp beside the Erg Chebbi dunes, and the other nights on the road. We confirm the places and the room or tent options in your quote.
Light layers and a warm jacket for the night, hats, sun cream, sunglasses, closed shoes, snacks, water and any comfort items for the road. Desert nights can be cold.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are usually the most comfortable. Summer is very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold.
Tell us the ages of the children and any needs, such as child seats or special meals, when you ask for your quote, and we confirm in the quote what can be arranged.
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 Marrakech. 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.