Desert Tours from Ouarzazate: Merzouga, Zagora and Erg Chigaga Guide

Desert Tours from Ouarzazate – Plan a desert tour from Ouarzazate: Merzouga dunes, Zagora or Erg Chigaga, driving times, best season, how many days and private tour ideas.

Ouarzazate is often called the door of the desert. Sitting between the High Atlas and the Sahara, it is the natural starting point for the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Draa Valley and the great dunes of the Moroccan south. In this guide we explain which desert you can reach from Ouarzazate, how long the drives are and which private tour fits your time.

Why start your desert tour in Ouarzazate?

• Closer to the Sahara: from Ouarzazate the desert is a day closer than from Marrakech, so you spend more time in the dunes and less on the road.
• Kasbahs on the way: the Taourirt Kasbah in town, the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (about 30 km away) and the Skoura palm grove.
• Cinema history: the Atlas and CLA film studios, where many famous films and series were shot.
• Easy access: Ouarzazate has its own airport with flights from Casablanca and some seasonal routes, and it is about 4 hours from Marrakech over the Tizi n’Tichka pass.

Which desert can you reach from Ouarzazate?

Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes

Merzouga is the most popular choice and the one we recommend for a first Sahara trip. The road (about 360 km, around 6 hours without stops) follows the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, two of the most beautiful landscapes in Morocco. At the end you find Erg Chebbi, a sea of high golden-orange dunes, with Berber and luxury camps, camel rides, 4×4 trips, sandboarding and nomad visits.

Zagora and the Draa Valley

Zagora is about 165 km from Ouarzazate, around 3 hours via Agdz and the long palm groves of the Draa Valley. It is the quickest way to see desert landscapes, but the dunes near Zagora are small. It suits travellers with very little time.

Erg Chigaga

The wild dunes of Erg Chigaga lie beyond M’Hamid, about 260 km from Ouarzazate, followed by a 4×4 track of around two hours. It is remote and quiet, but the journey is long and the camps are more basic. Not sure which to pick? Read our comparison Merzouga vs Zagora.

How many days do you need?

• 2 days: the minimum for Merzouga, with one night in a desert camp. See our 2 days Ouarzazate to Merzouga desert tour.
• 3 days: a more relaxed pace with time in the gorges, as in our 3 days Ouarzazate to Merzouga desert tour.
• Ending in Marrakech: loop back across the High Atlas with the 3 days tour from Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Merzouga or the 4 days version.
• Ending in Fes or Casablanca: cross the country with our 4 days tour from Ouarzazate to Fes, the 5 days tour to Casablanca via Merzouga or the 6 days tour from Ouarzazate to Casablanca.

All our tours are listed on the page tours from Ouarzazate.

A classic 2-day route from Ouarzazate to Merzouga

Day 1: leave Ouarzazate in the morning, cross the Skoura palm grove and the Valley of Roses, stop in the Dades Gorges and walk in the Todra Gorge. Continue via Tinghir, Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga, then ride a camel into the dunes for sunset, dinner and a night in a desert camp.

Day 2: watch the sunrise from the top of a dune, return by camel, then drive back to Ouarzazate or continue to Marrakech or Fes.

Best time to go

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons. In summer the days in the desert are very hot, so we start early and rest at midday. In winter the days are sunny and pleasant but the nights are cold, and our camps provide warm blankets. More details in our guide to the best time to visit Morocco.

Tips for your desert trip

• Bring a scarf for sun and wind, sunglasses, sunscreen and a warm layer for the evening.
• A small backpack is enough for the night in the camp; your main luggage stays in the vehicle.
• Choose a private tour to stop wherever you like for photos and to travel at your own pace.
• Groups of 10 travellers or more get 30% off: see our Morocco special offer.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Merzouga from Ouarzazate?

About 360 km, around 6 hours of driving via Skoura, the Dades Valley, Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, without stops.

Can I visit the desert from Ouarzazate in one day?

Not the big Sahara dunes. A day trip can reach the Draa Valley and the small dunes near Zagora, but for Merzouga or Erg Chigaga you need at least 2 days with one night in a desert camp.

What is the best time for a desert tour from Ouarzazate?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Summer days are very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, but tours run all year.

Can the tour end somewhere other than Ouarzazate?

Yes. Our tours from Ouarzazate can end in Marrakech, Fes or Casablanca, and every itinerary can be adapted.

Ready to see the Sahara? Contact us and our local Berber team will plan your private desert tour from Ouarzazate.