What are the must-see sites on a Moroccan desert circuit?

Ait Benhaddou kasbah (UNESCO), Dades Gorges, Todra Gorges, Erg Chebbi dunes (Merzouga), Draa Valley palm groves, and the starry night sky from a Sahara bivouac.

Is Merzouga or Zagora better for a desert experience?

Merzouga offers the iconic tall Erg Chebbi dunes (up to 150m) and a more dramatic landscape. Zagora is closer to Marrakech (1 night minimum) with smaller dunes but equally stunning scenery.

Can I see wildlife in the Moroccan desert?

Yes - desert foxes, dromedaries, lizards, and many bird species. At night, the complete absence of light pollution reveals the Milky Way in breathtaking clarity.

Are the kasbahs along the desert route worth visiting?

Absolutely. Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site used in many films. The Dades Valley has dozens of smaller kasbahs that showcase traditional Berber architecture.

What is the best time of day for desert photography?

Sunrise and sunset create the most dramatic shadows on the dunes. The golden hour light turns the sand from orange to deep red. We time our bivouac stays accordingly.

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Que Voir in the Desert in Morocco : Merzouga vs Zagora

Que voir in the desert Moroccan : dunes of the Erg Chebbi (Merzouga), palmeraie of Zagora, gorges of the Todra, valley of the Dades, kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, oasis de Skoura. Circuits organised by the Riad Vendôme : Zagora 2j (280€), Merzouga 3j (380€), Grand Tour 4j (560€).

Par Eric, owner of the Riad Vendôme · Mis to jour the 20 February 2026

Le Sahara Moroccan ne se resume pas to of the dunes of sable. Gorges vertigineuses, oasis secrets, kasbahs ancient, Berber villages isolated — here is the merveilles that home attendent on the road of the desert.

circuit desert of Merzouga dunes Erg Chebbi from Marrakech

L'Erg Chebbi to Merzouga : the most hautes dunes in Morocco

It is l'image of the Sahara que all the monde a en head : a ocean de dunes golden extendsant sur 22 km, montant up to 150 metres de hauteur. L'Erg Chebbi is the joyau of the desert Moroccan. Au coucher of the sun, the dunes changent de couleur — or, cuivre, rose, violet — in a show that defie the photographie. Le sunrise, from the sommet a dune, is a moment de thanks to absolue que the mots ne suffisent pas to decrire.

› Circuit Merzouga 3 days from Marrakech

The gorges of the Todra : a canyon to couper the souffle

Sur the road of Merzouga, the gorges of the Todra are a stop that laisse without voix. Des falaises de 300 metres se dressent de each side a narrow passage where coule a filet water turquoise. Le soleil n'y penetrates que a few heures per day, creant of the roundx de light extraordinaires on the roche ocre and rose. It is one of the sites naturels the most spectaculaires in Morocco.

Ciel embrasé at sunset on the dunes of Zagora

The dunes of Chigaga : the Sahara sauvage

Moins connues que the Erg Chebbi, the dunes of Chigaga near de M'hamid are the secret the mieux kept of the Sahara Moroccan. Accessibles only en 4×4 or by camel, elles offer an experience de desert brut, without noe infrastructure touristique visible. Le silence y is total, l'isolement complete. It is here que the latest familles nomades of the Sahara Moroccan vivent still.

› Circuit Zagora & Chigaga from Marrakech

La valley of the Draa : the most longue palmeraie in Morocco

Entre Ouarzazate and Zagora, the valley of the Draa is a ruban de verdure de 200 km au mivenue for l'aridity. Des millions de palm trees-dattiers, of the kasbahs en rammed earth, of the villages where the temps semble s'be arrete. Au printemps, the rosiers sauvages parfument the air. It is the most belle route of the sud Moroccan.

La Kasbah d'Ait Benhaddou : patrimoine UNESCO

Classified au patrimoine mondial de oneSCO, this forteresse de terre and de paille is one of the most belles kasbahs in Morocco. Elle a served de decor to Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence d'Arabie. Tous our circuits desert incluent a stop to Ait Benhaddou on the chemin of the return.

Le Djebel Saghro : paysages lunaires between deux deserts

This massif volcanique between Merzouga and Zagora offers of the paysages extraordinaires : gorges sombres, formations rocheuses fantastiques, Berber villages hanging to flanc de mountain. It is the partie the most secret and the less visitee of the sud Moroccan — accessible en 4×4 or en trek.

› Circuit 4×4 Grand Sud with Djebel Saghro

Bivouac Berber under the star of the Sahara Moroccan

Merzouga or Zagora : lequel choose ?

Criterion	Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)	Zagora (Chigaga)
Dunes	Golden, up to 150 m	Claires, vastes and sauvages
Distance	560 km of Marrakech	360 km of Marrakech
Duration min.	3 days / 2 nights	2 days / 1 night
Affluence	Plus touristique	Authentic, little de monde
En route	Gorges of the Todra, Erfoud	Valley of the Draa, Tamgroute
Ideal for	Photos, first fois	Aventure, connaisseurs

Envie de discover the desert ?

Eric organises your circuit from the Riad Vendôme. Packages all included from €280/person.

› Voir tous our circuits desert · WhatsApp +212 600 608 608

Our articles on the desert

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The Riad Vendôme

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Le Riad Vendôme is classified by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.