Marrakech to Merzouga: the route explained

Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi are about 560 km from Marrakech, which means 9 to 10 hours of driving without stops. That sounds long, but the road is one of the most beautiful in Morocco. Here is what you will see on the way.

Stage 1: across the High Atlas

Leaving Marrakech, the road climbs into the mountains through Berber villages and walnut groves to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres, the highest road pass in the country. On the other side, the landscape turns to red earth.

Stage 2: Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate

A short detour leads to Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village of earthen houses listed by UNESCO and seen in countless films. Then comes Ouarzazate, nicknamed the Hollywood of Africa for its film studios, and the Taourirt Kasbah.

Stage 3: the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs

East of Ouarzazate, the road follows a string of oases: the palm groves of Skoura, the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M'Gouna, then the Dades Valley with its strange rock formations. Most tours spend the first night here.

Stage 4: the Todra Gorges and the desert

The next morning, a walk in the Todra Gorges, where the canyon walls rise 300 metres, then the road crosses Tinghir and Erfoud, the fossil town, before the dunes appear. In the late afternoon, you swap the vehicle for a camel.

The way back: the Draa Valley

Many tours return by a different road, through Rissani, the villages of the Anti-Atlas and the Draa Valley, Morocco's longest palm-lined valley, before crossing the High Atlas again.

How many days?

• 3 days is the minimum: one night in the Dades, one in the desert, and two long driving days.
• 4 to 5 days is the comfortable option, with a full day around Erg Chebbi and shorter drives.
• 2 days is not enough for Merzouga: choose Zagora instead.

Our tip

Do the route with a private driver-guide rather than driving yourself: the mountain roads are demanding, and a local guide turns a long drive into a series of encounters.