Circuit Désert Privé de 3 Jours de Marrakech à Fès
Duration
Transport Only
Private vehicle + dedicated driver-guide. Flexible pace — you choose and book your preferred desert camps and hotels.
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Overview
- Duration:5 days 4 nights
- Tour Type:Private tour, Sahara Desert Tours
Private Transport Private vehicle + dedicated driver-guide. Flexible pace — you choose and book your preferred desert camps and hotels.
This private 5-day tour combines Morocco's two great adventures. Your driver takes you from Marrakech to the village of Imlil, the starting point for the trek to the Toubkal Refuge (3,207 m) and the 4,167 m summit of Mount Toubkal, the highest point in North Africa. The trek itself is not part of the tour: you arrange the mountain guide, mules, meals and refuge night yourself, and a licensed guide is needed for the climb.
The second half heads to the desert. On Day 3 your driver-guide picks you up in Imlil and takes you over Tizi n'Tichka to Ait Benhaddou, Skoura and the Dades Valley, then through the Todra Gorge to Merzouga for sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Accommodation is not included on any night, so you choose where you stay.
Planning your journey? Read our in-depth route guide
Highlights
- Start the Toubkal trek from Imlil, through Berber villages to the Toubkal Refuge at 3,207 m
- Climb Mount Toubkal at 4,167 m, the highest peak in North Africa
- Explore the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Ait Benhaddou
- Drive through the Skoura oasis, the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley
- Walk the Tinghir palm oasis and the towering Todra Gorge
- Watch the sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes, the tallest in Morocco
- Private vehicle and driver-guide for the desert days
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Imlil (start of the Toubkal trek)
Pickup at around 8:00 and a 90-minute drive to Imlil (about 1,740 m), the starting point of the trek. Gear can be rented in the village.
From here, the trek via Aremd and the Sidi Chamharouch shrine to the Toubkal Refuge (3,207 m) is arranged by you with a licensed mountain guide (not included).
Day 2: Mount Toubkal (4,167 m) – descend to Imlil
Trek day: the early climb from the refuge to the 4,167 m summit, then the descent to Imlil, with your own mountain guide (not included).
There is no transport on this day. Overnight in Imlil at the accommodation of your choice (not included).
Day 3: Imlil – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Skoura – Dades Valley
Pickup from your accommodation in Imlil. Your private driver-guide takes you over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, with a lunch stop nearby.
Continue past Ouarzazate (optional film studios) and the Skoura oasis, through the Valley of Roses to the Dades and its rock formations. Drop-off at your accommodation (not included).
Day 4: Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi dunes
Pickup from your accommodation, then walk through the Tinghir palm oasis and the Todra Gorge, with a lunch stop nearby. Continue east via Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga.
Arrive in time for sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes, then drop-off at your hotel or desert camp (not included).
Day 5: Sahara sunrise – Ouarzazate – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech
Watch the sunrise over the dunes if you wish, then pickup from your accommodation. Long drive west, with a lunch stop in Ouarzazate.
Cross the High Atlas over Tizi n'Tichka and arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, at your hotel, riad or the airport. An extra day on the way can split the drive.
Tour map
Includes/Excludes
- Private air-conditioned transport from Marrakech to Imlil (Day 1)
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or van with a driver-guide for the desert days (Days 3–5)
- Drop-off at and pickup from your own accommodation each night
- Drop-off at your hotel, riad or the airport in Marrakech
- Accommodation (refuge, lodges, hotels and desert camps): we don't make hotel reservations
- Licensed mountain guide, cook and mules for the trek
- Meals and drinks, including during the trek
- Activities such as camel rides, sandboarding or quad biking
- Entrance fees to sites (paid directly)
- Personal trekking equipment and winter gear (can be rented in Imlil)
- Tips
- Travel insurance (recommended, must cover trekking at altitude)
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toubkal trek included?
No. The tour covers private transport: Marrakech to Imlil on Day 1, then the desert days from Imlil. You arrange the mountain guide, mules, meals and refuge night yourself. A licensed guide is needed for the climb.
Do your tour rates include hotel or desert camp bookings?
No. Morocco Trip Lines operates strictly on a private transport-only model: our tour rates cover your private licensed vehicle, fuel, highway tolls, and dedicated professional driver-guide. You book your own nights (hotels, riads, and desert camps) directly with properties that match your budget and taste, and your driver-guide drops you off at your accommodation each evening and picks you up the next morning. If you need recommendations for vetted riads or desert camps, we are happy to share our favorites!
How hard is the Toubkal trek, and do I need experience?
No climbing experience is needed, but you need reasonable fitness. Day 1 is 5–6 hours uphill and summit day is 6–8 hours over loose scree. The challenge is altitude and length, not technique.
Will I get altitude sickness?
Many people feel mild symptoms above about 3,500 m, such as headache, breathlessness and poor sleep. Drink plenty, eat well and walk slowly. A licensed guide watches for warning signs and will descend with you if needed.
What gear do I need, and what if I don't have it?
Broken-in boots, warm layers, a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and a daypack. From November to April, crampons and an ice axe are also needed. Missing items can be rented in Imlil.
Can I skip the summit and still do the tour?
Yes. You can spend Days 1 and 2 on valley walks around Imlil instead, and be picked up for the desert days as planned.
When is the best time for this tour?
May to June and September to October. July and August are very hot in the desert, and from November to April Toubkal usually needs winter gear.
How long is the drive back from Merzouga to Marrakech?
About 9 hours via Ouarzazate and Tizi n'Tichka. You can add an extra day in Ouarzazate or the Dades Valley to split it.
What should I pack for two such different halves?
Layers: near-freezing summit mornings and hot dunes in the same week. Boots and warm layers for the mountain, light clothes, a scarf and sandals for the desert, plus a small overnight bag.
How do I choose a desert camp that suits my budget?
Morocco Trip Lines operates strictly on a private transport-only model: we provide your private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, highway tolls, and dedicated driver-guide, giving you complete freedom to choose camps that suit your personal budget with zero middleman markups. Options range from authentic standard desert bivouacs to comfort and luxury desert camps featuring private en-suite flush bathrooms and hot showers. You can book directly on Booking.com, Airbnb, or directly with the camp. We are always happy to share our curated list of trusted, clean, and welcoming camps in Merzouga and Zagora, and your driver-guide coordinates seamless dune transfers and luggage handling directly with your camp.
Have a question or planning a trip? Message us to customize your route. We reply within 2–4 hours, usually directly on WhatsApp.
Why book with Morocco Trip Lines?
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