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PRIVATE TOUR — 3 Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Errachidia
OVERVIEW
3 days tour to the Merzouga desert from Errachidia. During these 3 days and 2 nights, you’ll explore the desert area. You visit the nomads in their tents and enjoy the Gnawa music and dance performances of the Khamlia people. After that, you take a look at an old eyeliner mine, in addition to the Merzouga wildlife lake a few kilometres away from Merzouga. Then you stroll through the palm-tree grove, ride camels, and enjoy the magical sunset and sunrise on the sand dunes. Furthermore, you spend a night in a camp located in the middle of the Sahara desert. Finally, you visit the traditional souk of Rissani and Erfoud the fossils town. The tour ends in Errachidia.
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Start: Errachidia
End: Errachidia
Tour style: Private
HIGHLIGHTS
– Flying into Errachidia and heading directly to the Sahara Desert
– Exploring the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes
– Visiting an ancient Kohl mine by 4×4
– Meeting Sahara nomads and learning about their traditional lifestyle
– Enjoying traditional Berber tea with a nomad family
– Experiencing authentic Gnawa music and dance in Khamlia village
– Exploring the peaceful Merzouga palm grove
– Visiting the seasonal Merzouga Lake, known as the Flamingo Lake
– Discovering the desert’s fossil sites and oases
– Riding camels across the golden Sahara dunes
– Watching a spectacular sunset over Erg Chebbi
– Spending the night in a luxury desert camp
– Enjoying traditional Berber drumming around the campfire
– Stargazing beneath the clear Sahara night sky
– Experiencing sunrise over the Merzouga dunes
– Exploring the lively Rissani market and souk
– Visiting a traditional fossil workshop in Erfoud
– Enjoying panoramic views over the Ziz Valley
– Scenic drive through the dramatic landscapes of southeastern Morocco
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ERRACHIDIA – MERZOUGA (2 hours drive)
On the first day of your 3 day Merzouga desert tour, we pick you up from Errachidia (ERH) airport or your accommodation and drive south to the Sahara dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in Merzouga.
Flight option:
– Domestic flights from Marrakech operate 3 days a week (Ryanair), arriving between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
– Domestic flights from Casablanca operate 7 days a week (Royal Air Maroc), arriving at midnight.
(We can modify the itinerary to suit your arrival time.)
DAY 2: EXPLORE MERZOUGA – NOMADS – KHAMLIA (GNAWA VILLAGE) – MERZOUGA LAKE – ERG CHEBBI – PALM GROVE (2 hours drive)
After breakfast, you dedicate the day to exploring the Merzouga Desert (Erg Chebbi). The area offers sand dunes, a seasonal wild lake, fossil sites, small mines, and beautiful oases — ideal for light outdoor activities.
You start with an off-road drive to an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, then visit nomads in their woven tents and learn about their way of life over a cup of Berber tea. Next, you continue to Khamlia to enjoy Gnawa music and dance; many residents have roots in Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Free time for lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you stroll through a palm grove and drive a few kilometres to the wild lake of Merzouga (often called the flamingos’ lake).
Later, you switch to camels to cross the dunes, stopping on a high dune for sunset, then continue to the luxury camp. Enjoy Berber drumming around the campfire under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.
DAY 3: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – ERFOUD – ERRACHIDIA AIRPORT (2 hours drive)
Sunrise is highly recommended. After breakfast, you return by camels or by 4×4 to where your driver awaits. (Some of these places can be visited on the first day, or skipped entirely, based on your flight timing.) You visit Rissani — the former capital of Tafilalet and a lively market town on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays — then continue to Erfoud to see a fossil workshop. You drive north toward Errachidia with scenic stops, including a panoramic viewpoint over the Ziz Valley. Drop-off at Errachidia airport, early morning or at midday. End of the desert tour.
IMPORTANT!
Bear in mind that the 3 days from Errachidia to Merzouga is a suggested tour itinerary. If it doesn’t match what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll organise a different itinerary based on your preferences and the length of your stay. We offer customised and tailor-made tours and trips all around Morocco.
THE PRICE varies according to the number of people: the more people joining the tour, the lower the price becomes. Since the transportation cost is fixed, the price is divided according to the number of people. The price also depends on the quality of the accommodation. Contact us for an exact price.
Other options to consider:
– End the tour in Fes: 3 Days from Errachidia to Fes
– End the tour in Marrakech: 3 Days From Errachidia to Marrakech
– 4 Days from Errachidia to Merzouga & Marrakech
– Start from Marrakech: 3 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga
FAQ:
Is the 3 day Merzouga tour private or shared?
The 3 day tour is a private experience, so only the travellers making the enquiry take part. No additional people join the tour. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised experiences, which is why we mainly offer private tours.
Is the luxury tent private? Does it have a private shower?
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has private bathrooms with hot running water.
How long is the camel ride?
The camel ride lasts from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you’re staying in.
What is the alternative to camels?
If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that takes people and luggage in and out, which you’re welcome to use. Alternatively, ATVs can be arranged at an additional cost.
What happens to your luggage when you do the camel ride?
During the camel ride you take only what you need for the ride itself. The rest of your luggage is transported in the camp’s 4×4, and you’ll find it waiting for you at the camp.
What type of vehicles are used?
The vehicle will be either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both with A/C.
Vehicle details:
– 4×4: Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 pax)
– Minivans: Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo Van, or similar (up to 8 pax)
For groups larger than 8, a minibus seating up to 18 pax can be provided.
Dietary preferences
Please share any dietary preferences you have, and we’ll make sure your needs are met. Kindly let us know in advance so we can arrange lunch stops accordingly and notify the riad/camp, as dinners are included in the package.
Tour age suitability
This tour is suitable for all ages. Please note, though, that it involves roughly 5 to 9 hours of driving each day. Our vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops, but if you’re not used to this level of travel you may prefer a longer tour, such as our 5 Days From Marrakech to Merzouga, to reduce the amount of daily driving.
Pick-up and drop-off details
Pick-up and drop-off can be from either the airport or your accommodation in Errachidia.
Expenses
Currency exchange: Euros or USD can be exchanged for Moroccan dirham (MAD) at many locations across Morocco, including banks and exchange bureaus, and ATMs are widely available for cash withdrawals. While credit cards and foreign currencies (euros/USD) are generally accepted, it’s wise to carry local currency (MAD) for convenience.
Meal costs: Meals typically range from €5 to €20 per person, though prices vary by establishment.
Haggling / price negotiation: Haggling is an accepted and expected practice in Morocco; even locals take part in it.
BOOKING PROCESS:
1. Get in touch with us through the contact forms, email, WhatsApp, or our social networks, and tell us the number of travellers, the type of accommodation (excellent, luxury, etc.), your tour date (if available), and your chosen tour or some details so we can plan a new itinerary for you.
2. Booking: We ask for a small deposit to confirm the booking (preferably via our PayPal account). The rest is paid in cash to your driver/guide once you arrive, or through PayPal, which carries a 5% transaction fee. If you don’t have PayPal, we can send an online invoice you can pay by card. A bank/wire transfer is another option; it takes up to 12 days to appear in our system, and we can confirm the tour with a transaction receipt until the payment arrives.
WHY PRIVATE MOROCCO TOURS?
A private tour is an itinerary run exclusively according to your preferences. On a private trip you travel only with the people you choose. Private tours are more flexible when it comes to group size, travel dates, and what your trip includes. On top of that, you’ll have your own tour guide and driver at your disposal.
