The Little Prince: 4 Days in the Desert from Marrakech

A quick overview of the tour

Embark on a discovery of the Moroccan Sahara Desert with this comprehensive 4-day tour from Marrakech. A unique itinerary through the spectacular landscapes of the High Atlas, the Drâa Valley, the Saharan villages of M’hamid and Tamegroute, to the majestic Chegaga dunes, passing through Erg Lihoudi. Live an authentic experience in a desert bivouac, with a camel ride, sunset over the dunes, and immersion in nomadic culture. The return to Marrakech includes crossing the former Paris-Dakar track, the dried-up Lake Iriqui, the Berber villages of the Anti-Atlas, and visiting the jewels of the South: the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah (UNESCO), the Ounila Valley, and the Telouet kasbah.

This desert tour from Marrakech is perfect for lovers of wide-open spaces, 4x4 adventure, and cultural discoveries. It includes accommodation in a bivouac, traditional meals, guided tours, and exceptional landscapes.

Price:

From €850 / person

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ouarzazate – Drâa Valley – Erg Lihoudi

Early morning departure at 8:00 am from your hotel in Marrakech towards the southeast, crossing the spectacular High Atlas mountains and its famous Tizi-N-Tichka pass (2,260 m altitude), one of the highest road passes in Africa. You will then descend to the Ouarzazate region, the gateway to the desert, nicknamed the "door of the Sahara." Lunch break in Agdez, a small oasis village on the route, before taking the ancient caravan route that once connected Marrakech to the Sahara. This route follows the magnificent Drâa Valley palm grove, the largest oasis valley in Morocco, lined with traditional fortified villages called ksour. You will visit Zagora and Tamegroute, a village famous for its artisanal pottery workshops and its unique Quranic library, rich in ancient manuscripts. Arrival in the late afternoon in M’hamid, the last village before the desert, where the paved road ends. You will continue by 4x4 through the dunes to the bivouac located at the foot of the Erg Lihoudi dunes. You can enjoy a camel ride in this magical desert landscape at sunset, followed by a traditional dinner and a comfortable night in a nomadic tent.

Day 2: Erg Lihoudi – M’hamid – Erg Chegaga

After waking up in the heart of the desert and breakfast under the first rays of the sun, go for a walk around the golden dunes, an authentic and peaceful experience in the Moroccan Sahara. Return by 4x4 to M’hamid to visit this typical Saharan village with its ancient adobe kasbahs, testimonies of the region’s rich caravan past. In the afternoon, a spectacular 4x4 adventure on the desert track, crossing 66 km of varied landscapes: hamada (stone desert), erg (sand dunes), reg (pebble plains), and isolated oases. Arrival at the imposing Chegaga dunes, among the largest in Morocco with peaks rising to 300 meters. You will take a walk to the top of Erg Chegaga to admire an exceptional sunset over the vast desert. Dinner and night in a bivouac, with guaranteed comfort and authenticity.

Day 3: Erg Chegaga – Paris-Dakar Track – Foum Zguid – Ouarzazate

After an early wake-up to admire the sunrise over the dunes again, departure by 4x4 from Erg Chegaga to Ouarzazate. You will follow the dried-up bed of the Drâa wadi and the vast sandy plateau of Lake Iriqui, a former inland sea transformed into a desert area. The track will lead you along the mythical Paris-Dakar route, crossing the hamada and its lunar landscapes, to the village of Foum Zguid, a strategic point in the desert. Lunch on site before heading to Ouarzazate via the village of Taznakht, renowned for its traditional craftsmanship, particularly the production of handmade Berber carpets. Arrival in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon, a historic city and the cinema capital of Morocco, for a well-deserved dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 4: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ounila Valley – Telouet Kasbah – High Atlas – Marrakech

After breakfast, visit the famous Ouarzazate film studios, where many international films have been shot. Departure for the must-see visit of the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, an exceptional site and one of the most spectacular and well-preserved kasbahs in Southern Morocco. You will discover its adobe architecture, winding alleys, and rich history. Continuation through the Ounila Valley, famous for its colorful landscapes and typical Berber villages, then visit the Telouet kasbah, former residence of the powerful Pacha Glaoui. After lunch, you will take the road through the High Atlas and the Tizi-N-Tichka pass to return to Marrakech, with an expected arrival in the late afternoon at your hotel.