Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech — Your Questions Answered

Riad Vendôme coordinates 5 circuits in the Moroccan Sahara from Marrakech: the Zagora 2 days/1 night circuit (from €280), the Merzouga 3 days/2 nights circuit (from €380), the Merzouga 4 days/3 nights excursion (from €250), the Grand Tour Merzouga + Zagora 4 days/3 nights (from €560) and the Grand South 4×4 circuit (from €490 for 2 guests).

Our all-inclusive packages (accommodation at the riad + circuit) start at €280 per person for the Zagora 2 days/1 night circuit and go up to €560 for the Grand Tour Merzouga + Zagora 4 days/3 nights. These rates include accommodation at Riad Vendôme, transport, full catering, nights in a bivouac and camel rides.

The best time is from October to April. Days are pleasant (20-30°C) and nights are cool but bearable. Spring (March-April) offers the most beautiful light. Avoid June to September, when temperatures exceed 45°C in the desert.

Merzouga has the Erg Chebbi dunes, the highest in Morocco (up to 150 m), with golden-orange sand and well-developed tourist infrastructure. Zagora and M'hamid offer the Chigaga dunes, more isolated and wild, with paler sand and very few tourists. Merzouga is 560 km from Marrakech (3 days minimum), Zagora 360 km (2 days minimum).

Bring warm clothing for the night (even in winter, 5-10°C), a head torch, high-protection sunscreen, a hat, a scarf to protect against the sand, sunglasses and a power bank for your phone. The desert camp provides mattresses, blankets, pillows and full meals.

Yes, the circuits are suitable for families. The camel ride and the night in a desert camp are unforgettable experiences for children. For families with young children (under 6), we recommend the Zagora 2 days/1 night circuit, the shortest one. Transport is by air-conditioned vehicle.

Yes, transport is in air-conditioned vehicles on paved roads. The camel ride (45 min) can be replaced by a 4×4 journey to the bivouac. The pace is adapted: no long walks, frequent breaks. Bivouacs are equipped with comfortable mattresses.

Yes, Riad Vendôme regularly organises circuits for groups of 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 20 guests. The riad can be exclusively hired for your group (up to 45 guests). The circuit is organised by air-conditioned minibus or several 4×4s. Sliding-scale rates from 6 guests.

No, most of the routes towards Merzouga and Zagora are paved and accessible by air-conditioned minibus. A 4×4 is recommended only for crossing the Djebel Saghro between Merzouga and Zagora and for reaching the most remote dunes. It also offers more comfort and flexibility for photo stops.

Absolutely. Eric adapts each circuit to your wishes: adding quad biking in the dunes, sandboarding, a visit to the Erfoud fossil workshops, an extra night in a luxury bivouac, a photo session, etc. Contact us via WhatsApp at +212 600 608 608 with your wishes.

The journey covers approximately 560 km. We do it in 2 stages (with a night in Tinghir) to enjoy stops: the Tichka Pass, the Todra Gorges, the Tafilalet oasis. It is a journey, not a simple transfer — every kilometre offers a different landscape.

Zagora is approximately 360 km from Marrakech, i.e. approximately 6-7 hours' drive via the Tichka Pass and Ouarzazate. It's the closest desert destination to Marrakech, which allows for a circuit of just 2 days.

A Toyota Land Cruiser comfortably seats 4 passengers. For 5-6 guests, we use a larger vehicle or two 4×4s. Beyond 6 guests, a minibus 4×4 is more suitable and more economical.

The desert camps are nomadic Berber tents set up at the foot of the dunes. Each tent has mattresses, warm blankets and pillows. The camps have sanitary facilities (toilets and basic showers). Dinner is prepared on site: tagine, couscous, mint tea, bread baked in the sand. It is rustic but comfortable.

Nights in the desert are cool, even in the hot season. In winter (December-February), temperatures can drop to 5°C. In autumn/spring, between 10-18°C. In summer, nights remain around 25-30°C. The desert camps provide thick blankets, but bring a warm jumper.

Yes, it is even recommended when the weather allows! Many travellers choose to put their mattresses outside the tent to sleep under the stars. The Sahara sky is one of the purest in the world — the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. The moonless nights are the most spectacular.

The Erg Chebbi is the largest sand sea in Morocco, located near Merzouga. It stretches 22 km long and 5 km wide, with dunes reaching 150 metres high. The sand is an extraordinary golden-orange that changes colour throughout the day — from pink at dawn to copper at sunset.

The dunes of Chigaga are located south of M'hamid, in the province of Zagora. Less well known than the Erg Chebbi, they are more vast and wilder, accessible only by 4×4 or by camel. It's raw desert, without visible tourist infrastructure — the most authentic Sahara experience in Morocco.

The Djebel Saghro is a volcanic mountain range between the Dades and Draa valleys, between Merzouga and Zagora. Its lunar landscapes, dark gorges and isolated Berber villages make it one of the most stunning routes in Morocco — accessible mainly by 4×4.

Yes, all our desert circuits include a stop at the Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou on the way back. This rammed-earth fortress, UNESCO-listed, served as a backdrop for Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. The visit lasts approximately 1 hour.

Contact Eric, the French owner of Riad Vendôme, directly by WhatsApp at +212 600 608 608 or by e-mail. Send your dates, the number of participants and your preferences. You will receive a personalised programme and a detailed quote within 24 hours. No deposit required.

It is highly recommended! After 2 to 4 days of driving in the desert, an oriental hammam and an argan oil massage at Riad Vendôme are the perfect complement. Our all-inclusive packages include the stay at the riad with access to the spa (hammam from €25/person, massage from €38).

Yes, January is an excellent time. Days are mild (18-22°C), and the winter sky is exceptionally clear for stargazing. Nights are cold (5-10°C) but the desert camps provide thick blankets. Spending New Year's Eve in the desert is an unforgettable experience.

Yes, southern Morocco is a safe and welcoming region. Our circuits are organised with professional driver-guides who have known the routes for years. We provide a satellite phone for the most remote journeys. Morocco is one of the safest destinations in Africa.

It is possible but not recommended for babies under 2 years old, because of the length of the journeys (6-8 hours of driving per day) and the conditions at the bivouac. For families with very young children, we instead recommend the Agafay desert, 45 minutes from Marrakech, with a luxury bivouac.