Marrakech to Merzouga
About 560 km and 8 to 9 hours of real driving over the High Atlas. It is a long day — but it is also one of the best drives in Morocco.
Can you do it in one day?
Physically, yes. We would advise against it. Eight to nine hours of mountain driving followed by a camel trek is a lot, and you will spend the whole journey passing things worth stopping for. Almost everyone who does it in a single push says afterwards they wish they had split it.
The route
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m, the highest road pass in Morocco, recently improved but still winding) → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dadès Valley → Tinghir and the Todra Gorges → Erfoud → Rissani → Merzouga.
The classic 3-day, 2-night version
Day 1 — Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dadès
Early start over the Tichka pass. Stop at the fortified ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO site and the backdrop of a long list of films. Continue past Ouarzazate and along the Valley of Roses to the Dadès gorges for the night.
Day 2 — Dadès → Todra → Merzouga
The Tinghir palm grove in the morning, then the Todra gorges where the canyon narrows to about 10 metres between 300-metre walls. On through Erfoud and Rissani, arriving in Merzouga in the afternoon — in time for the sunset camel trek and a night at the bivouac.
Day 3 — Merzouga → Draa Valley → Marrakech
Sunrise on the dunes, breakfast at camp, then the long return across the Draa Valley and back over the Tichka.
The 4-day / 3-night version adds a night and removes most of the rush. If you can spare the day, take it — you get a second night in the desert rather than a second day in a car.
Your options in practice
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Organised 3-day tour | Most people. Everything arranged, shared cost, guide included | Fixed pace; group size varies a lot between operators |
| Private transfer | Families, or anyone wanting to stop where they like | More expensive; agree the itinerary in writing first |
| Self-drive hire car | Confident drivers, total freedom | Mountain roads, night driving, active speed enforcement |
| Supratours / CTM bus | Budget travel | Long; may terminate at Rissani or Erfoud — we will collect you |
Practical notes
- Leave Marrakech early. Six or seven in the morning is normal and it makes the whole day work.
- The Tichka pass makes some people carsick. If you are prone to it, sit in the front and bring something for it.
- It gets cold at altitude even when Marrakech is warm. There can be snow on the pass in winter.
- Cash for the road. Small restaurants and stops between the cities are cash-only.
We arrange this route for guests regularly, in both directions. Tell us your dates and we will put it together.