A desert-focused run from Ouarzazate east to the great Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, taking in the kasbah trail and the Todra Gorge along the way, with two desert experiences built in.
Day by day
Your 4-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Ouarzazate to the Dadès
Begin with Aït Ben Haddou and Taourirt Kasbah, then drive the kasbah trail through Skoura and the Valley of the Roses to the Dadès Gorge for the night.
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Skoura palmeraie
- Dadès Gorge
- 2
Day 2
Todra Gorge to Merzouga
Walk the sheer Todra Gorge at Tinghir, then continue east via Erfoud (fossil country) to Merzouga at the foot of Erg Chebbi.
- Todra Gorge
- Erfoud fossils
- Arrival at Erg Chebbi
- 3
Day 3
Erg Chebbi & a desert camp
A full day in the dunes — camel trek, optional 4x4 dune-bashing or a visit to the Khamlia Gnawa musicians — then sunset and a night in a tented camp on the sand.
- Erg Chebbi dunes
- Camel trek
- Khamlia Gnawa music
- Desert camp
- 4
Day 4
Sunrise & return to Ouarzazate
Catch sunrise over the dunes, then drive the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs back west to Ouarzazate, arriving in the evening.
- Sunrise over the dunes
- Route of a Thousand Kasbahs
Good to know
Practical notes
- Merzouga is roughly 300 km east of Ouarzazate; four days lets you break the drive with the gorges rather than rushing.
- Erg Chebbi has Morocco's tallest dunes (around 150 m) — far more dramatic than the Zagora sands.
- Erfoud and nearby Rissani are known for marine fossils and date markets if you want a stop.
Frequently asked
How far is Merzouga from Ouarzazate?
About 300 km east along the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs, via Tinghir and the Todra Gorge. It is a long but scenic drive, best broken with a night in the Dadès.
Is Erg Chebbi worth the drive from Ouarzazate?
For dune scenery, yes — Erg Chebbi has the tallest dunes in Morocco. The gorges and kasbahs en route make the journey itself part of the experience.
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