Step-by-Step Guide from People Who Actually Live Here
Every week we receive the same question: “Help – there are too many desert tours! Which one is right for me?”
After 12+ years and 8,000+ happy guests, here’s the exact checklist we use to create perfect Sahara trips.
Step 1 – Choose Your Starting City & Direction
| Starting City | Distance to Erg Chebbi | Best Route Choice | Recommended Minimum Nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 560 km | South → Merzouga → Marrakech (loop) | 3 nights / 4 days |
| Fes | 460 km | North → Merzouga → Marrakech (one-way) | 3 nights / 4 days |
| Casablanca/Rabat | Add 1–2 days | Usually via Fes or Marrakech | 5+ days |
Best value & most scenic: Marrakech → Merzouga → Fes (or reverse)
You see both High Atlas + Middle Atlas mountains and never backtrack.
Step 2 – Decide How Many Nights You Actually Want in the Dunes
| Nights in Desert | Experience Level | Our Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 night | Quick taste – sunset + sunrise | Only if you have <3 days total |
| 2 nights | Perfect balance – authentic + luxury | 95 % of our guests choose this |
| 3+ nights | Deep immersion, 4×4 day trips, nomad visits | Worth it on 5–8 day tours |
Two different camps (1 traditional Berber + 1 luxury with private bathroom) = the winning formula.
Step 3 – Pick Your Ideal Pace (2025 Updated)
| Duration | Pace | Typical Itinerary Summary | Driving per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | Rush | Marrakech → Merzouga (10–11 h drive) → 1 night → back | 9–11 hours |
| 3 days | Standard | Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades → Merzouga (1 night) → back | 6–8 hours |
| 4 days | Relaxed ★ | Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades/Todra → Merzouga (2 nights) → Marrakech or Fes | 4–6 hours |
| 5+ days | Luxurious | Extra stops (Skoura, nomad families, private dune picnic) | <4 hours |
★ Our #1 recommendation: 4-day tour with 2 nights in the desert. You arrive relaxed, leave enchanted.
Step 4 – Choose Your Camp Level (Be Honest!)
| Level | Bathroom | Bed Type | Price pp (4-day tour) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Shared | Mattress | €280–340 | Budget adventurers |
| Comfort | Private | Real bed | €380–460 | Most people |
| Luxury | Private + hot shower | King bed, heating/A/C | €480–650 | Couples, families, 40+ |
| Ultra-Luxury | Jacuzzi tent | Everything | €800+ | Honeymoon or special birthday |
Important: If the website only shows one camp photo taken 10 years ago → run.
Step 5 – Must-Ask Questions Before You Pay
- Is the camp private or shared with 50–100 people?
- How many hours will we actually ride camels? (60–90 min each way is perfect)
- Can we return by 4×4 instead of camel on day 2? (most good camps allow this)
- Are meals private or buffet for 200 tourists?
- What is the exact name and recent Google reviews of the camp?
Step 6 – Sample Perfect 4-Day Itinerary (Our Best-Seller)
Day 1 – Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO) → Dades Valley (boutique riad)
Day 2 – Dades → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → sunset camel trek → Night 1: Traditional Berber camp
Day 3 – Full desert day (sunrise, sandboarding, optional nomad visit) → Night 2: Private luxury camp with shower
Day 4 – Sunrise → breakfast → scenic drive to Fes or back to Marrakech (drop-off ~7 PM)
Total price 2025 (private tour, 2 people): €420–520 pp (luxury version)
Final Checklist Before Booking
- Private 4×4 (not a minibus with 17 strangers)
- Maximum 6 hours driving per travel day
- At least 2 nights in the desert if you have 4+ days
- Recent photos/reviews of the actual camp (2023–2025)
- Free date changes & transparent cancellation policy
Ready for Your Perfect Desert Trip?
We only offer private tours and the exact camps we would send our own families to. No middlemen, no surprises.
📱 WhatsApp: +212 663 752 058 (answer in <10 min)
📧 Email: contact@amoroccotour.com
Stop scrolling – start planning the desert trip you’ll talk about for the rest of your life.