Private Morocco tours · Sahara Desert specialists

A luxury desert camp under a pink evening sky in Merzouga – 5 Day Honeymoon Sahara Tour from Marrakech

Honeymoon 5 Days / 4 Nights Private tour

5-Day Honeymoon Sahara Tour from Marrakech with Luxury Desert Camp

Two nights in the desert are the heart of this honeymoon: one in a luxury camp deep in Erg Chebbi and one at the foot of the dunes, with a free day between them for sunrise, a 4x4 outing and doing very little.

  • Private Tour
    Only
  • Local
    Driver-Guides
  • Comfortable
    Vehicles
  • Handpicked
    Accommodation
  • Fully
    Customisable

Tour overview

A Private Journey for Two

Two nights in the desert are the heart of this honeymoon: one in a luxury camp deep in Erg Chebbi and one at the foot of the dunes, with a free day between them for sunrise, a 4x4 outing and doing very little. Riads with character frame the journey on either side.

Our 5 Day Honeymoon Sahara Tour from Marrakech starts and finishes in Marrakech, covering about 1,200 km by road over five days. Along the way you will experience the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a night in a desert camp, tea with nomad families and Gnawa music in Khamlia and the palm groves of the Draa Valley. Each stop is a real visit on foot, with your driver-guide explaining what you are looking at and local people adding their own stories.

Accommodation is chosen for character and location rather than size: one night in a kasbah-style guesthouse in the Dades Valley, one night in a luxury desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, one night in a comfortable hotel in Merzouga and one night in a riad or boutique hotel in Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou. You travel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, a 4x4 or a minibus depending on the size of your party, with an English-speaking driver-guide who knows these roads well. Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese-speaking guides are available on request.

It is designed for couples: honeymooners, anniversaries, or simply two people who want a few days to themselves. Everything is private, and the accommodation is chosen for atmosphere as much as comfort. The longest day on the road is day 1, with 6–7 hours of driving; every other day is shorter, and all of them are broken up by visits and stops. Like all our tours it is fully private, so the plan below can be lengthened, shortened or rearranged to fit your dates.

  • Duration5 days / 4 nights
  • StartMarrakech
  • EndMarrakech
  • Tour typePrivate honeymoon tour
  • GroupJust your own party
  • LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese
  • TransportPrivate 4x4 or minibus with A/C
  • AccommodationKasbah-style guesthouse, Luxury desert camp, Comfortable hotel and Riad or boutique hotel

Highlights

Tour Highlights

  • Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass
  • Walk through the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
  • Explore the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
  • Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi at sunset
  • Spend a night in a Sahara desert camp
  • Follow the palm groves of the Draa Valley

Detailed itinerary

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

  • 320 km
  • 6–7 hours
  • Dades Valley
  • Dinner
The earthen towers of the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou

The two of you set off from Marrakech after breakfast, climbing into the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with time to stop at every view that tempts you.

Ait Ben Haddou, the famous ksar from so many films, comes next. Wander up its lanes to the granary, then have lunch with the ksar in view.

In the afternoon you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and the Valley of Roses to the Dades, where a charming guesthouse is your home for the night.

  • Crossing the Tichka pass at 2,260 m
  • Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
  • Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
  • Valley of Roses
Day 2

Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Camel Trek

  • 260 km
  • 4.5–5 hours
  • Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
  • Breakfast and dinner
Riders on a camel caravan at sunset in the Merzouga desert

After a slow breakfast with a view, you take a short detour up the Dades Gorge to the Monkey Fingers, then drive east to Tinghir.

Todra Gorge is a magical walk for two, between cliffs that seem to touch the sky, with the cold river beside you. Lunch follows nearby.

In the afternoon the road leads to Erfoud and then Merzouga, where camels carry you into the dunes at sunset. Your desert camp welcomes you with dinner, music by the fire and a private tent under the stars.

  • Red cliffs of the Dades Gorge
  • Stroll between the Todra cliffs
  • Into the dunes by camel at dusk
  • Night in a desert camp
Day 3

Day 3: Merzouga – Khamlia – Nomad Families – Erg Chebbi by 4x4

  • 60 km
  • about 2 hours, off-road
  • Merzouga
  • Breakfast and dinner
A traditional nomad tent in the desert near Merzouga

Wake together for the sunrise, the quietest and most romantic moment of a desert stay. From a dune near your tent you watch the sand change colour, then share a slow breakfast at the camp before returning to Merzouga.

Later in the morning a private 4x4 takes the two of you around Erg Chebbi: Gnawa music and tea in Khamlia, the dark plain of the black desert, and a visit to a nomad family in their woven tent. Your driver can also stop at fossil beds or, after rain, at the lake where flamingos sometimes gather.

The afternoon is unhurried: a swim, a massage or simply a book in the shade. Dinner and the night are at a hotel beside the dunes, or a second night in camp if you prefer.

  • Dawn over the sand
  • Gnawa drums at Khamlia
  • Visit to a nomad family
  • Black stone desert and fossils
Day 4

Day 4: Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – Nkob – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate

  • 370 km
  • 6 hours
  • Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou
  • Breakfast and dinner
Palm groves beneath a desert mountain in the Draa Valley

A last sunrise over Erg Chebbi for the two of you, then breakfast in Merzouga before taking the southern road west.

You pass Rissani, Alnif and Tazzarine, and stop for lunch in Nkob, where old kasbahs stand against the dark Saghro mountains.

In the afternoon you follow the palm groves of the Draa Valley and cross the Tizi n'Tinififft pass, arriving in the evening at a guesthouse near Ait Ben Haddou for a quiet dinner.

  • Back to the village at sunrise
  • Market of Rissani
  • Jbel Saghro foothills
  • Draa Valley palm groves
Day 5

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech

  • 195 km
  • 4 hours
  • End of the tour
  • Breakfast
Ait Ben Haddou seen from the dry riverbed

A gentle last day. Start in Ouarzazate with a visit to Taourirt Kasbah or the film studios, depending on what appeals to you both.

At Ait Ben Haddou you have the ksar almost to yourselves in the morning. Wander up through its earthen lanes to the hilltop granary, where the view stretches over the river, palm trees and mountains.

After a leisurely lunch the road climbs to the Tizi n'Tichka pass and winds down to Marrakech, where you arrive in time for a sunset drink on a rooftop terrace.

This is the end of the tour: your driver brings you to your hotel in Marrakech. We can also take care of an extra night or the airport transfer.

  • Taourirt Kasbah visit
  • UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou
  • Optional Atlas Film Studios
  • High Atlas crossing

Good to know

What’s Included

Included in the tour

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minibus, depending on your group size) for the whole tour
  • English-speaking driver-guide; Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese-speaking guides on request
  • Fuel, tolls and parking
  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, riad, airport or port
  • 4 nights of accommodation with breakfast
  • Dinner on the nights shown in the itinerary
  • Sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi, one camel per person
  • Night in a luxury desert camp with dinner, breakfast and music around the fire
  • Sandboarding at the camp
  • 4x4 excursion around the dunes: Khamlia, nomad families and the black desert
  • Private tent in the desert camp and a romantic dinner set-up for two
  • Free stops for photographs, tea and walks whenever you wish

Not included

  • International and domestic flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments, museums and film studios
  • Tips for your driver-guide, local guides and camp staff
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses and optional activities

Optional activities

  • Quad or buggy ride in the dunesOne or two hours on the sand around Erg Chebbi with a guide, bookable on the day in Merzouga.
  • Second night in the desertStay an extra night in camp for a slower pace, a walk in the dunes at dawn and time to do nothing at all.
  • Atlas Film Studios in OuarzazateA guided walk through the sets of films and series shot in the region. Entrance is paid on site.
  • Hot-air balloon flight over MarrakechAn early-morning flight with views of the Atlas, followed by breakfast in a Berber tent.
  • Traditional hammam and massageA scrub with black soap in a local or spa hammam, the best cure for a week of desert dust.
  • Moroccan cooking classShop for ingredients in the market and learn to prepare a tagine, salads and bread with a local cook.

Before you go

Practical Information

Pickup and drop-off

We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakech, or from Menara Airport, at around 8:00 am. In the medina, where cars cannot reach every door, your driver meets you at the nearest gate and helps with luggage.

The tour ends at your accommodation in Marrakech or at Menara Airport. On tours that arrive in the evening, we recommend booking a flight for the following day.

A different start or end point is rarely a problem. Because every tour is private, we can begin in one city and finish in another; tell us where you are staying and we will adapt the route and the quote.

What to bring
  • Comfortable walking shoes or trainers, plus sandals for the camp
  • Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
  • Light, loose clothing for the day and a warm layer for the evening
  • A small overnight bag for the desert; your main luggage stays safely in the vehicle or at the hotel in Merzouga
  • A scarf or cheche for the camel ride (you can buy one on the way)
  • A warm jacket from November to March, when desert nights can drop close to freezing
  • Head torch or phone light for the camp
  • Passport and a copy of your travel insurance
  • Cash in Moroccan dirhams for lunches, tips and small purchases; ATMs are scarce between the main towns
  • Camera, spare battery and a power bank
  • Any personal medication, and motion-sickness tablets if mountain roads affect you
Best time to travel

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route. Days are warm and clear, nights are mild, and in April and May the valleys of the south are green and the roses of Kalaat M'Gouna are in bloom.

Winter is a good time for the desert if you bring warm clothes: skies are bright and the dunes are quiet, but temperatures after dark can fall to around freezing and the High Atlas passes occasionally close for a few hours after snow. In July and August the Sahara is very hot in the afternoon, so we shift the camel trek later, start driving earlier and can recommend a camp with air-cooled tents.

During Ramadan the tour runs as normal. Some restaurants close during the day in smaller towns, your driver-guide will know where to stop, and evenings are especially lively after sunset.

Important information before booking
  • This is a private tour. The vehicle, the driver-guide and the departure date are yours alone, and the itinerary can be changed before or during the trip.
  • Driving times are approximate and do not include stops. We stop often, so expect each day to take longer than the hours shown.
  • Prices depend on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation category you choose. Tell us these three things and we will send an exact quote.
  • The camel ride to the camp takes about an hour to an hour and a half. If you would rather not ride, or are travelling with small children or have back problems, we take you to the camp by 4x4 at no extra cost.
  • We offer two desert camp options, both with private tents, en-suite bathrooms and hot showers: a mid-range luxury camp, and a luxury camp with more spacious tents, air conditioning and heating. Please say which you prefer when booking.
  • Day 1 is the longest on the road (6–7 hours of driving). If you prefer shorter stages, ask us to add a night along the way.
  • Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal meals are easy to arrange; let us know about allergies or dietary needs in advance.
  • Roads in the mountains are winding. If you suffer from motion sickness, sit in the front and bring medication.
  • Most nationalities do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but please check the entry requirements for your passport before travelling.

Questions and answers

5 Day Honeymoon Sahara Tour from Marrakech: Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 5-day tour from Marrakech private?

Yes. You travel only with the people in your own party, in a private vehicle with your own driver-guide. That means you choose the departure date, set the pace and can stop wherever you like along the way.

How much driving is there each day?

It varies from day to day. The longest stretch is on day 1, with 6–7 hours on the road, and the other days are noticeably shorter. In total the tour covers about 1,200 km. All times are approximate and broken up by visits, lunch and photo stops.

What is the desert camp like?

Camps in Erg Chebbi have real beds with sheets and blankets, a dining tent and a fire circle. You choose between two options. Our mid-range luxury camp has private tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and comfortable bedding. Our luxury camp has more spacious tents with air conditioning and heating, high-quality bedding and premium bathroom amenities. Dinner and breakfast are served at the camp.

Do I have to ride a camel to reach the camp?

No. The camel trek is included and most guests enjoy it, but if you prefer, we take you to the camp by 4x4. This is also what we suggest for very young children, pregnant travellers and anyone with back or knee problems.

Can I change the itinerary or the start point?

Yes. The programme on this page is a starting point. We can add nights, swap stops, upgrade accommodation or end the tour in another city instead of returning to Marrakech. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the route and send a new quote.

Can you arrange something special for our honeymoon?

Yes. Tell us it is your honeymoon and we will arrange a private tent, a table for two away from the other guests and small touches along the way. If you have a particular idea, such as a photographer in the dunes, ask and we will tell you honestly what is possible.

What is the best time of year for this tour?

March to May and September to November offer the most comfortable temperatures. Winter is clear and quiet but cold at night in the desert; in July and August the Sahara is very hot, and we adjust the timings accordingly.

How much does it cost and how do I book?

Prices are always quoted on request: the price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation category, so we quote each request individually. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a detailed quote. You can ask for as many changes as you need before confirming.

Accommodation

Where You’ll Stay

Carefully selected riads, guesthouses, hotels and desert camps. The exact properties are confirmed with your quote, in the category you choose.

Kasbahs and palm gardens in the Dades Valley

Night 1

Dades Valley

Kasbah-style guesthouse

A family-run guesthouse or kasbah hotel built in the local earthen style, with en-suite rooms, a terrace over the valley and a home-cooked dinner.

A tent of a desert camp in Erg Chebbi glowing at dusk, with a terrace on the sand

Night 2

Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga

Luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi

A luxury camp among the dunes: a spacious private tent with an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, air conditioning and heating, and dinner served by lantern light.

The seasonal lake near Merzouga with the Erg Chebbi dunes behind

Night 3

Merzouga, at the foot of the dunes

Comfortable hotel

A well-located hotel with en-suite rooms, chosen for comfort and convenience after a day on the road.

Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate

Night 4

Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou

Riad or boutique hotel

A traditional house built around a courtyard, in or beside the old town, with individually decorated rooms and breakfast served on the roof terrace or in the patio.

Your night in the Sahara

Choose Your Desert Camp

We offer two camps in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Tell us which one you prefer when you enquire.

A desert camp glowing under the night sky in Erg Chebbi Available on request

Mid-Range Luxury Camp

  • Private tents with en-suite bathrooms
  • Hot showers
  • Comfortable bedding
  • Good balance between comfort and authenticity
A traveller sitting on a dune as the sun sets over the Sahara

Ready for Your Moroccan Adventure?

Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you this itinerary with a personal quote. You can change anything you like before confirming.

Plan Your 5 Day Honeymoon Sahara Tour from Marrakech

Quick answers for planning your 5 day Honeymoon Sahara tour from Marrakech with Magic Morocco Tours.

How to Spend 5 Days in Morocco

5 days in Morocco on this route means about 1,200 km by private vehicle starting and ending in Marrakech, with nights in Dades Valley, Erg Chebbi dunes and Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou. Spent this way, your 5 days in Morocco leave time to cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass and to walk through the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.

5 Day Morocco Itinerary at a Glance

The 5 day Morocco itinerary, day by day: day 1, Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley; day 2, Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Camel Trek; day 3, Merzouga – Khamlia – Nomad Families – Erg Chebbi by 4x4; day 4, Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – Nkob – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate; day 5, Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech. As the tour is private, this 5 day Morocco itinerary can be changed before or during the trip.

Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour Highlights

As a Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour, this trip reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes on day 2. There you ride a camel into the dunes and spend a night at a mid-range luxury desert camp (luxury camp on request). Shorter and longer Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour options are on our Tours from Marrakech page.