Flying into Agadir? This private 4-day tour takes you from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara and on to Marrakech. You pass through the walled city of Taroudant, the saffron fields of Taliouine, the Dades and Todra gorges and the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, where you spend a night in a desert camp.
This private desert tour from Agadir takes you from the Atlantic coast to the Sahara in four days, ending in Marrakech.
Agadir is one of Morocco’s busiest airports for flights from Europe, but most desert tours start in Marrakech. This route starts at your hotel in Agadir and heads inland through the Souss Valley and the Anti-Atlas, a part of Morocco few tours cover. From Ouarzazate, it joins the classic desert route through the gorges to Merzouga, then returns west through the Draa Valley and over the High Atlas to Marrakech. Prefer to fly home from Agadir? We can add a fifth day to drive you back to the coast.
Taroudant is surrounded by some of the best-preserved earthen ramparts in Morocco. Taliouine is the center of Moroccan saffron production. At Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes rise to around 150 meters, among the tallest in Morocco.
The best time for this trip is March to May or September to November. From June to August, desert afternoons can pass 40°C, and from December to February, nights in the Sahara drop close to freezing, so bring a warm layer.
Helpful reading: Sahara desert from Agadir
Pickup from your hotel in Agadir in the morning. Drive east through the Souss Valley to Taroudant, a market town surrounded by some of the best-preserved earthen walls in Morocco, for a walk through the souks. Continue into the Anti-Atlas to Taliouine, where saffron is grown on the terraced hillsides. Stop at a saffron cooperative to learn how the spice is harvested. Continue through Tazenakht, known for its carpets, to Ouarzazate for dinner and the night.
Meals included: Dinner
Leave Ouarzazate through the palm groves of Skoura and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Gorge, famous for its rock formations and hairpin road. Continue to Tinghir and walk into the Todra Gorge between high limestone walls. The afternoon drive crosses open desert plains to Merzouga, where camels wait at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride into the dunes for sunset, then have dinner and spend the night in a desert camp.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner
Watch the sunrise over the dunes and ride back for breakfast. Drive through Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet, then head west along the southern edge of the Jbel Saghro range via Alnif, known for its fossils, and N’Kob, a village of kasbahs. Arrive at Agdz in the Draa Valley for the night in a kasbah or riad among the palm groves.
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast, drive over the Anti-Atlas to Ouarzazate and on to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar. Walk through its lanes and climb to the top for the view. In the afternoon, cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and arrive in Marrakech in the early evening. Drop-off at your riad or hotel, or continue to Agadir with an extra day.
Meals included: Breakfast
How much does the 4-day desert tour from Agadir cost?
Our private 4-day Agadir to Merzouga desert tour, ending in Marrakech, starts from $490 per person, based on 2 travelers. That includes the private vehicle and driver-guide, 3 nights, the camel ride, and breakfasts and dinners. Returning to Agadir adds a day. Send us your dates for an exact quote.
Can the tour start and end in Agadir?
Yes. We can add a fifth day from Marrakech back to Agadir (about 3 hours by motorway), or plan a loop that returns through Taroudant.
How long are the driving days?
Days 2 and 3 are long, around 7 to 8 hours with stops, because the Sahara is far from the coast. The other days are shorter, with plenty of sightseeing.
Can you pick us up at Agadir airport?
Yes. We can meet you at Agadir Al Massira Airport or at your hotel in Agadir or Taghazout.
Is this tour private?
Yes. You have your own vehicle and driver-guide, and we can adjust the stops to suit you.
When is saffron harvested in Taliouine?
The saffron flowers bloom in autumn, usually from late October to mid-November. You can visit the cooperatives and buy saffron all year round.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
Spring and autumn are ideal. Winter is also good on the coast, but nights in the desert and the High Atlas can be very cold.
