Dades Valley — Wikipedia, often called the ‘gateway to the Sahara’ and the ‘Hollywood of Africa’, makes an excellent starting point for a desert tour. Sitting already south of the High Atlas, it puts you within easy reach of Aït Benhaddou, the Dades and Todgha gorges, and the dunes of Berbers — Wikipedia at Merzouga — and desert tours from here can finish in Marrakech, Fes, or wherever suits your onward plans.
Ouarzazate Itself
Before heading for the dunes, Ouarzazate rewards a look: the historic Taourirt Kasbah, the fortified village of Aït Benhaddou nearby — a UNESCO World Heritage site used in Game of Thrones and countless films — and Atlas Studios, among the largest film studios in the world. Our 3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga builds these in at the start.
The Route to Merzouga
From Ouarzazate the road follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs east to the Dades Gorges for a first night, then continues via the Aït Benhaddou — UNESCO World Heritage near Tinghir — where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres — to Merzouga, where camels carry you across the dunes to a desert camp for the night. Our 5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour covers this same gorges-to-dunes sequence.
Where the Tour Finishes
A three-day tour from Ouarzazate can end in Marrakech via the High Atlas, or in Fes via the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques live near Azrou. Accommodation includes private tents in the desert camp, with breakfasts and dinners provided. Our 9-Day Morocco Itinerary from Casablanca via Chefchaouen and 6-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca to Marrakech via Rabat show the onward routes to each city.
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