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Overview

This 4 day desert tour from Marrakech pairs an adventurous Toubkal trek in the High Atlas Mountains with a sahara desert tour from Marrakech to Zagora via Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate — the perfect short taste of both mountains and dunes among our wider range of marrakech desert tours. Travellers with more time often upgrade to the longer 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga's bigger Erg Chebbi dunes.

Highlights

Marrakech Imlil Toubkal Refuge Toubkal Refuge Imlil Marrakech Marrakech Ait Benhaddou Ouarza Zagora and Camel Trek from des Private driver-guide

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1

Marrakech Imlil Toubkal Refuge

Our private Atlas and Sahara tour from Marrakech sets off with hotel pickup and a drive into the High Atlas to Imlil (1,740 m), where we meet our mountain team for the Toubkal trek. We hike through the Mizane Valley, passing the village of Aremd and the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch, then climb the zigzag path up to the Toubkal Refuge at 3,207 metres, where we have dinner and spend the night.

Day 2

Toubkal Refuge Imlil Marrakech

Today, after an early start, we climb to the summit of Mount Toubkal at 4,167 metres, rewarded with breathtaking views over the High Atlas peaks and, on a clear day, the Sahara desert horizons. We then descend back to the refuge, continue down to Imlil and transfer you back to your hotel or riad in Marrakech.

Day 3

Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Zagora

Today we pick you up from your hotel in Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to the kasbah of Aït Benhaddou. We explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a local guide before continuing to Ouarzazate, where we visit the Atlas Studios and the Taourirt kasbah. We then drive on through Agdz and the Draa Valley to Zagora, from where we ride camels into the dunes to a traditional desert camp. Dinner and overnight stay in comfortable Berber tents with traditional music around the campfire.

Day 4

Zagora and Camel Trek from desert Atlas mountains Marrakech

We start our last day in the Sahara by watching the sunrise from the dunes, then ride the camels back to Zagora for breakfast. From there we drive via Ouarzazate and cross the High Atlas pass back to Marrakech. Local Morocco Tours will be delighted to craft the ideal combined Atlas and Sahara tour from Marrakech for your friends, family or group.

What's included

  • Transfers with local driver
  • Comfortable and private travel in A/C vehicle
  • Camel trek in Sahara desert, guided trek in Atlas Toubkal trek
  • Overnight in riads/hotels and desert camp
  • Dinners and breakfasts. All meals in Atlas

Not included

  • Lunches and soft drinks in desert travel
  • Entrance fees ,Tips

Guide languages

English, Spanish, French, and more languages are available upon request.

Departure

We can leave whenever you choose, although we normally leave at 9 a.m. — request a quote or contact us with your dates.

Route map

Departing from Marrakech

Four days combining the High Atlas and the Zagora desert is the most compact format for Morocco’s two great southern landscapes. Departing from Marrakech, Day 1 heads directly into the High Atlas via Imlil for a day-hike or overnight at the Refuge du Toubkal — reaching altitudes above 3,000m within 90 minutes of your hotel. Day 2 descends back to Marrakech and continues south over the Tizi n’Tichka (2,260m) toward Ouarzazate.

The transition from Atlas to Zagora takes the route through the Draa Valley — 40km of date palms, ancient ksars and the abandoned Kasbah of Tamnougalt. The dunes near Zagora are a different scale from the great erg at Merzouga — more intimate, less commercialised, and genuinely empty at sunrise. One night in a traditional desert camp at the edge of the Zagora dunes, a camel trek at dusk, and a return to Marrakech on Day 4 via the Draa complete the circuit.

This combined tour is ideal for travellers who want both mountain and desert in a single focused itinerary without the longer drive to Merzouga. All accommodation, camel trek, breakfasts, dinners, and private vehicle with driver-guide are included. Request a quote or see our combined Atlas and Sahara tours.

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