Explore Moroccan Kasbahs and Camp in the Sahara
Stroll through remarkable gorges, explore ancient kasbahs and ride camels through the dunes to a Berber camp
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guidesAll accommodation
2 nights in a riad, 2 nights in a hotel and 1 night in a Berber campMeals
All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinnersTransfers
Airport transfers and everything in betweenSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Wander the winding streets of ancient, walled kasbahs and through the pathways of dramatic deep gorges
Spend a night at a traditional Berber camp and sleep under the huge desert sky spotting shooting stars
Experience the best of Moroccan culture and nature as you soak up vast landscapes, sleep in riads and learn about ancient traditions
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Marrakech
Driving
Your host will meet you at the airport and take you to your traditional riad accommodation in Marrakech’s historic medina. You'll then get the chance to spend the day exploring the city’s colourful souks, wander the UNESCO-listed main square and indulge in some amazing Moroccan food.
Day 2
From Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou
Driving
You will be picked up in a modern 4x4 or minibus before setting off on a journey that will take you up and over the Atlas Mountains before descending to the desert on the other side. Along the way you'll stop at a high mountain pass, a 17th-century kasbah, and an oasis where you'll learn a bit about Berber folklore and grab lunch. The day ends in Ait Ben Haddou, a red clay city where films and shows like Gladiator and Game of Thrones have been filmed. Relax with dinner and sunset in this picturesque walled city.
Day 3
Draa River Valley and camel trekking in the Sahara
Driving
Heading to the scenic Draa River Valley today you'll check out the area’s numerous kasbahs and oases. Calm water backed by the snowy Atlas Mountains makes this valley particularly beautiful. Later in the day you will arrive in Merzouga to meet your camels and gear up for an epic night in the Sahara Desert. The 1.5-hour sunset camel trek will end at a traditional Berber camp in the dunes. Enjoy hot mint tea and fresh dinner around the fire, and sleep under the stars or in a comfortable Berber tent.
Day 4
Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
Driving
After a leisurely breakfast in the camp (and a incredible sunrise if you're early enough) you’ll be picked up by your driver and taken to Todra Gorge, an impressive canyon with sheer 160m cliff walls. Hike around to check out the views, and when you’re done exploring continue the drive through the Dades Valley to your hotel. Known as the 'Valley a Thousand Kasbahs', this rose red landscape is spectacular.
Day 5
Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Driving
This morning’s drive will take you along the Rose Valley to Skoura Oasis, a surprisingly verdant village in the desert. Continue onto Ouarzazate to have lunch at a kasbah, then finish the trip with a leisurely drive back over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech for a final night in the old town.
Day 6
Goodbye Morocco
Driving
Relax over your last Moroccan breakfast, explore the town some more if you have time, then transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Marrakech Airport (RAK)
Arrive anytime on Day 1
Ends
Marrakech Airport (RAK)
Depart anytime on Day 6
Transfers
Private transfers between the airport and your riad are included for any time you choose to arrive on day 1 and depart on day 6, or if you have booked additional pre or post trip accommodation with your host.
If you are making your own arrangements to extend your stay in Morocco, private transfers between Marrakech airport and Marrakech city are not included but can be arranged with your host for an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for details.
Travel options
There are daily flights to Marrakech from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Please note that mobile boarding passes are not accepted at Marrakech airport. You will need to present a printed boarding pass on departure.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Moroccan food has a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tagine (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous, and bastillas (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger. For breakfast, you'll be served a selection of jams, bread, cookies and fruit with juice, coffee and tea. The included dinners will be fresh and healthy, including dishes such as soup, classic Moroccan tagine, couscous, olives, nuts and fruit. Lunches are usually a combination of salads, vegetable dishes, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish, and seasonal fruit.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form
What is the accommodation like?
Marrakech
In Marrakech, you'll stay in a beautiful riad – a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time, based on availability and group size. All are chosen for their excellent reputation, great location, lovely decor and welcoming service.
Ait Ben Haddou and Dades Valley
On Days 2 and 4 you'll sleep in small local hotels both featuring private rooms with unique decor and ensuite bathrooms.
Sahara Desert
You'll stay by the village of Merzouga, close to the Erg Chebbi dunes in the Sahara Desert. The Berber camp here provides permanent carpeted tents with beds – or, if you prefer, blankets so you can sleep directly under the stars.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Easy
This is a relaxed trip that is mostly cultural exploration with a dash of activity. The camel trek, though a little uncomfortable, is easy and fun for most travellers. Any other hiking is optional and entirely up to whether you want to join or not.
The desert can get quite hot, with daytime temperatures averaging 15 - 40°C from March to October, and 5 - 20°C from November to February. Nighttime temperatures drop significantly and can even approach freezing in the winter. As much as 10mm of rain can fall in any month, particularly from October to January, but generally the desert is dry.
In the summer (June, July, August), daytime temperatures have been known to approach 45°C on occasions in the desert and in the towns and cities on this trip, so please ensure that you come prepared with sun protection, light and airy clothing and electrolytes/rehydration solutions if travelling at this time of year. If it becomes unsafe to camp in the desert due to extreme summer temperatures, your host will accommodate you in a nearby hotel instead.
Brilliant
Very well organised Excellent value for money Great fun & outstanding staff and accommodation all the way through. I will definitely use them again
Boxing Day away.
Can’t give these guys and gals enough praise. Walked out of the airport to be greeted by someone to take me to the Riad from then to the end of the holiday it was faultless
Great short trip into Atlas Mountains and Sahara
This trip is definitely worth doing - an alternative view of Morocco away from the bustle of Marrakech. There is inevitably a lot of travelling to get to the key locations, but if you accept this the time soon passes, and the sites you visit are worth the effort. It helps if you have a good group and the group we travelled with were the best I’ve been with on a group trip. The accommodation was also of a far higher quality than I was expecting. Personal highlights for me were the camel journey and desert camp (not rough camping!), and the mountain hotel (spectacular setting). There are a couple of things to improve. The bus was quite modern but very cramped - I’m 172cm tall and I had trouble getting my knees in, and with 14 people in a 14-seater bus there was no flexibility (this is where it’s great to be with a really good group). Hussein our guide was very personable, but his communication was poor - we had to ask to get basic details, such as departure times, and he gave no information about Morocco or the places we were travelling through - I came away feeling I had learned nothing about the country and this felt like a wasted opportunity. Overall, a good trip and worth doing, but it could be even better.
Exceptional Trip
Please do not hesitate and book this trip! Our guide and driver was fantastic and the Sahara magical. Our guide made sure we reached sites when less crowded at the best times of dat! I recommend paying the bit extra to do the quad biking.
As the other reviews have said, please expect the long drives but this is necessary in order to see everything. Please read the other reviews as there were some useful tips on packing/money.
If you are gluten free, I recommend packing GF cereal for Marrakech for the breakfasts. As soon as I was with our guide, I was looked after very well and certainly did not go hungry!
Incredible trip
This was my first much better adventure and I am really impressed, I’m looking forward to booking another. Group was incredibly varied but all amazing company. Guide and driver were a great laugh, company and help.
The trip itself was incredible, a lot of driving, as stated clearly, but very regular breaks at lovely locations and also meant I got to see a large amount of Morocco in a relatively short time. All accommodation was lovely and staff were welcoming and friendly. Highlight was definitely the Sahara portion of the trip, after a tranquil camel ride to the camp we had a lovely dinner then danced around the fire with the staff and some other guests from Algeria. Would highly recommend this trip and incredibly great value for the activities, food and guide/driver.
Oh my God!
Weeeeell beyond expectation! Mind blowing experience. Special thanks to our driver Lahcen (what a sense of humor!) and very special thanks to our guide and carer Houssain (what a personality!). Krzysztof
Best Adventure yet!
What can I say? This trip I highly as using MBA for the first time this is the perfect trip for newbies that want to start their adventures and travelling. Both our guide and driver was amazing 😍 and so kind and attentive to our needs and a wealth of knowledge. Would definitely do it again!
Best ever adventure
The trip was amazing. From meeting like minded people to exploring new culture. The guides were very friendly, knowledgable, helpful and patient. It was very easy going and enjoyable. Not much walking at all. The highlight was staying in the Sahara desert where we could enjoy music, dance and watch the night sky. Being able to see sunrise from the desert the next morning was the cherry on top. I would definitely recommend!
A wonderful easy-going adventure
My Mum & I had a truly lovely time on this trip, it was our first guided tour/adventure and it was so perfect having everything organised for us (besides the flights). Our guide (Houssaine) and driver (Youssef) were fantastic. They were incredibly warm, welcoming & knowledgeable. Youssef made the driving look effortless. In addition to the provided kit list, I took; quick dry towel, neck cushion (for the long drives), swimsuit, powder shampoo & body wash (my new fav travel items!), handheld fan & earplugs. All these extra items came in handy!
I wouldn't hesitate booking with Much Better Adventures again.
Guide and driver very nice,
Guide and driver very nice, although would have appreciated being given more information to learn about the history and culture of Morocco. As expected it was a lot of driving but the bus was comfortable. Food in Morocco was lovely. Hotels pleasant.