4×4 Tour with Berber Desert Camp
3 Days 4×4 Tour and Camp
Package Prices Start From:
€425 per person
Including one night at Berber Camp.
Price based on two people travelling by private vehicle.
Difficulty Rating: 3
Key: on a scale of 1-5
1 = Short distance
5 = Long distance
Morocco Desert Tour 3 Days Adventure
The shortest way to comfortably reach the remote Sahara desert of Morocco is with a desert tour of 3 days . The distance to the Moroccan Sahara is considerable, that is, after all, its appeal in seeking to travel off the beaten path. Please visit our Guest Book to read what some of our guests have said about their Morocco desert tour to the Berber camp.
We break up the driving distance with one night overnight en-route, typically on the first night. The first night’s guest house varies according to the time of year (i.e. due to daylight hours); click on our Map icons below to see the locations of each guest house. This does not change the overall driving route.
Be prepared for one long day of travel and an early start from camp. We wouldn’t advise this trip for children.
The itinerary includes:
- 4×4 vehicle with driver-guide for 3 days, with collection and return at riad / hotel (or airport) in Marrakech;
- 1 night guest-house accommodation (with breakfast and evening meal);
- 1 night Berber desert camp tented accommodation (with breakfast and evening meal, drinking water, hot drinks);
- guided camel-ride from camp.
Please contact us for a tailor-made price quotation.
For further images of the Sahara Desert please click here.
The Route
The Itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou
Transfer from Marrakech by 4×4 vehicle with driver-guide to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou. Traverse the High Atlas Mountains via the highest main road pass in Morocco (at 2260m), offering some exhilarating driving via lush valleys and traditional Berber villages. Take the route to Telouet (for the Kasbah Glaoui) and then follow the course of the beautiful Ounila Valley, in the mountain foothills, to reach Ait Ben Haddou. Ait Ben Haddou is essentially a living museum, comprising a ksar and has been used as the backdrop in many international movies. You will overnight just outside this village, in a restored kasbah guest-house, with evening meal & breakfast included.
Day 2
Draa Valley to Erg Chigaga
Early morning transfer to the great dunes of Erg Chigaga, via the Draa Valley, Zagora and M’hamid El Ghezlane (at the end of the sealed road). The Draa is Morocco’s longest river and the drive south along the valley is punctuated by glorious palm oases and crumbling kasbahs. Drive off-road for 2hrs to reach overnight camp at the foot of the tall dunes before sunset. Take a camel ride. Overnight at the camp with evening meal & breakfast included.
Day 3
Lake Iriqui and Marrakech
Greet the new day from a vantage point at the top of a dune before breakfast. Early morning transfer back to Marrakech. Exit the desert a different way, via a dried river course and the vast dried salt flats at Lake Iriqui, to reach Foum Zguid (in approx. 3 hours off-road journey). Follow the route northwards via Tazenakht to once more join the route across the High Atlas mountain range per day 1. Expect to reach Marrakech by the late afternoon/early evening.
© Images courtesy of A. Disaro & Wild Morocco.
When to tour?
Try to avoid the height of summer and depth of winter
Temperatures not only in the Sahara but also in Marrakech, Ouarzazate & Anti-Atlas are in the 40s °C in summer. In winter (typically January) snow in the mountains can close the high passes at times, or lead to unexpected delays and route changes. The weather conditions in the desert are prone to change quickly and never predictable. However windy conditions in the desert are common, this is not the same as a sandstorm.
Going the extra mile
Don’t underestimate geographical distances and travel times. Although Morocco is smaller than Spain, traveling in the South can lead to long driving hours due to the nature of the terrain here (mountains, desert, valleys). Be prepared to travel on average 5-6 hours per day. It’s far better to miss out a couple of places to maximise time elsewhere and to enjoy the journey. You can always come back!
Dirham
The Moroccan currency is the Dirham (MAD) and is a closed currency (although it may be possible to purchase it at certain airport forex desks). We recommend that you simply use an ATM on arrival, or change currency at a bureau de change once here. You don’t need to carry large amounts with you, you are never far from a bank. Approx. exchange rates are £1 : 14 MAD and €1 : 10.7 MAD.