7-Day Sahara Desert Tour Packages
Have you imagined sleeping under Saharan stars, surrounded by dunes that stretch beyond the horizon? A week in the desert takes you deep into Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga dunes in Morocco, sleeping in desert camps, and camel trekking at sunrise. Merzouga serves as main base, or routes through Zagora. The silence is almost aggressive in its completeness, and stars at night are unbelievable.
Insider tips: Recommended 7-day Sahara Desert tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaSahara Desert travel expert at TourRadar
7 Day Morocco Itinerary, incl. Marrakech and Sahara Desert
From Marrakesh to Merzouga, this 7-day expedition covers 5 destinations, featuring 6 breakfasts and 2 dinners. The route passes through Todra Gorge, Sahara Desert camps, UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, and Atlas Mountains. Private transport and camel rides included for approx. $80 per day.
- Day 1
Marrakech Arrival
Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport and make your way to your medina accommodation. Try to book an afternoon flight to avoid the busy morning traffic. Your evening starts with a group orientation followed by dinner near Djemaa el-Fna square. A recent visitor shares: "The evening atmosphere in the square is electric - come hungry and try the food stalls at position 32 and 14, they're local favorites."
- Day 2
Marrakech to Skoura (4-5 hours)
Start early for your journey through the Atlas Mountains to Skoura Oasis. Take motion sickness medication if needed before tackling the winding mountain roads. Your afternoon includes a guided tour of traditional mud-brick kasbahs in the Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. One visitor notes: "Bring good walking shoes - the paths between kasbahs can be uneven and dusty, but the ancient architecture is absolutely worth it."
- Day 3
Skoura to Merzouga Desert (4 hours)
Head to the Sahara, stopping for a 2-hour walk in the stunning Dades Gorge. Reach Merzouga in time for a sunset camel trek into the dunes. A traveler advises: "Watching the sunset while perched atop a camel in the Sahara was humbling. Bring a warm layer - desert nights get surprisingly cold." Your evening includes dinner and traditional drumming under the stars at the desert camp.
- Day 4
Merzouga Desert
Immerse yourself in desert life. Take a morning 4x4 trip to visit nomadic families, learn to cook traditional tajine in the afternoon, and try sandboarding during golden hour. A guest shares: "The sand is surprisingly tough to climb but incredibly fun to board down. Wear closed shoes that you don't mind getting filled with sand!"
- Day 5
Merzouga to Ait Benhaddou (6 hours)
Travel to the UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou. Explore this ancient fortified village with a guide and climb to the top for sunset valley views. You can join an optional evening tagine cooking class with local experts.
- Day 6
Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech (4.5 hours)
Return to Marrakech. Spend your afternoon touring the medina, Bahia Palace, and the winding souks. A visitor suggests: "Visit the spice souks before sunset when the light streams through the slatted roof - magical photos guaranteed." Spend your evening exploring the food stalls at Djemaa el-Fna.
- Day 7
Marrakech Departure
Start your day with an optional hot air balloon ride over the Atlas Mountains and palm oases (book ahead, ends by 9-10 AM). Use your remaining time for souk shopping before leaving. Book flights after 1 PM if you're doing the balloon ride.
Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
Towering dunes of Merzouga, dramatic canyons of Todra Gorge, and traditional villages like Rissani unfold over 7 days. The tour highlights camel treks, luxury desert camping, and visits to ancient kasbahs across the Sahara region.
7 Day Morocco Itinerary, incl. Agadir and Marrakech
A grand desert circuit spans 1,200 km from Agadir to Marrakech. The route takes in Essaouira's medina, crosses Atlas Mountains, visits Todra Gorge, and includes camping at Merzouga's dunes. Features 6 nights accommodation across 3 riads and 1 luxury desert camp.
- Day 1
Agadir to Essaouira
Start your Morocco trip with a 3-hour drive north from Agadir to Essaouira. Get on the road before 9 AM to beat traffic and catch the afternoon fish market when boats bring in their fresh catch. Pick seats on the right side of the vehicle for the best views of the Atlantic coastline.
- Day 2
Essaouira
Spend the day exploring Essaouira's UNESCO-listed medina. Visit Skala du Port early at 8 AM before the crowds show up. If you're interested in windsurfing, the strong trade winds from April to November make this spot ideal. Book lessons ahead if you want to try it. One traveler shared: "The afternoon light hitting the blue fishing boats in the port creates the most amazing photo opportunities. Don't miss the wood craftsmen's quarter - the cedar wood scent is intoxicating."
- Day 3
Essaouira to Marrakech
The drive to Marrakech takes about 2.5 hours through argan tree forests. You'll reach Marrakech by early afternoon. Get settled in the Medina area and spend your first half-day getting familiar with Djemaa el-Fna square. The food stalls set up at sunset but skip stalls 1 and 2 which are known tourist traps.
- Day 4
Marrakech
Start your day with a local guide to see Marrakech's main attractions. Head to Bahia Palace first when it opens at 8:30 AM to avoid crowds and heat. Visit the Saadian Tombs mid-morning when the sun lights up the detailed carvings perfectly. You'll walk 5-6 miles on uneven ground so wear good walking shoes.
- Day 5
Marrakech to Boumalne Dades
Leave early for your drive across the Atlas Mountains. The Tizi n'Tichka pass gets cold at 2,260m so bring warm layers. Stop at Ait Benhaddou kasbah around 11 AM for the best light for photos. Take the Valley of Roses route to Boumalne Dades to catch a beautiful sunset over the gorge.
- Day 6
Dades to Merzouga Desert
Visit Todra Gorge between 9-11 AM when sunlight fills the narrow canyon. Then head to Merzouga for an afternoon camel trek into the Sahara. A previous visitor advised: "Pack only what you need for one night in a small backpack. The camel ride is bumpy - secure your camera well and wear long pants to avoid chafing."
- Day 7
Merzouga to Marrakech
Get up before dawn to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. The drive back to Marrakech takes about 12 hours but offers great views through the Draa Valley. You'll cross the Atlas Mountains again past Ouarzazate seeing new scenery on this route. Plan to reach Marrakech around 7-8 PM.
Sahara Desert 7 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
From Agadir: 7 Day Private Tour via Essaouira, Marrakech & The Sahara Desert
7 Days Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
7 Day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert - Fes - Chefchaouen then end the tour in Casablanca
Imperial Cities & the Sahara Tour
7 Days Tour: In the great Desert of Morocco from Marrakech
6 Days Morocco Special Tour from Casablanca to Marrakesh
7-Day Private Morocco Food Tour & Sahara Desert Experience from Marrakech
Majestic Morocco: Sahara Desert Adventure
What people love about 7-day Sahara Desert tours
- Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
Good trip overall, I’m very happy and feel rejuvenated after the trip. CEO was really active and accommodating. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.
- Imperial Cities & Desert Tour
Thank you for my time in Morocco. It was very good. All my tour leaders were excellent. It would nice if our tour leaders could eat with us so that we could ask them questions and clarify any questions we have. The pace was very fast but I enjoyed everything especially Ait Ben Haddou and watching the sunrise in the Sahara Desert/
- From Agadir: 7 Day Private Tour via Essaouira, Marrakech & The Sahara Desert
Overall experience was good. Our half day tour in Fes was so/so, we were directed through many stores that our day guide had picked out. Obviously there is a lot of driving as places are far apart and the roads that connect them aren’t great. The accommodations were excellent and the two dinners included were also excellent. The highlight was the overnight desert experience, that was phenomenal. I wish there were more bathroom breaks scheduled into this and that maybe you could do a grocery store run at the beginning for bottled water and easy driving snacks as we were constantly buying and overpaying for water. Some of the restaurants we stopped at which we felt we had to eat lunch at weren’t very good but we had limited options along the way sometimes. Other times we were offered lunch at 11am or wait until the next stop, not knowing the next stop was 2-4 hours away. I think being clear with whichever driver you get about making stops etc is important and also our fault for not communicating clearly enough. A more clearly defined itinerary, giving approximate times for the when you will leave, when you will arrive to different locations would be very helpful. A more detailed itinerary which identifies which accommodations have dinner included in the reservation would also be very helpful. We were left a little stressed over not knowing the price for dinner one night, to thankfully find out it was part of the accommodation package. Defining cost for various activities on the itinerary would also be a very good initiate to put in place. Many of the stops have an entrance fee, on top of the cost of the tour. Giving your clientele all the information to manage expectations would be another great initiative you could putp into fruition. Overall more communication with your client about the experience would help greatly make this a 5 star experience. We would have appreciated some small changes to the itinerary based on our interests (ei: no stop at the studio in Ourzzazate). Better itinerary definitions and more clearly managing your clients expectations in regards to additional cost of all activities is an absolute must for your company.
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