This 4 day, 3 night wellness retreat takes you from Marrakech to the Sahara at a slower pace. Instead of rushing in and out of the desert, you spend two nights in Merzouga: one at our own camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes and one in a desert hotel with a pool, with a full day in between to rest, practice and breathe.
This Sahara wellness retreat suits couples, friends and solo travelers who want quiet time in nature, and it is also built for yoga teachers and retreat leaders who want to host their groups in the Sahara while we take care of everything else.
We welcome teachers who want to bring their groups to the desert. You lead the practice, and we handle the private transport, the camp, the meals and the timing of each day around your sessions. The program can be extended to five days or more, with longer stays in the dunes. Contact us with your group size and dates, and we will send you a private group offer.
Want to know more about yoga, hammam rituals and slow travel in the desert? Read our guide to wellness tours in Morocco, and see our Sahara packing list before you go.
Your driver-guide picks you up in the morning from your riad or from Marrakech Menara Airport. The drive over the High Atlas is unhurried, with stops for mint tea, mountain views and a short visit to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO listed fortified village. You arrive early in the afternoon at a quiet guesthouse in the Dades Valley. Before sunset, take a gentle walk through the palm groves and rose fields along the river, then stretch on the terrace as the light turns the cliffs red. Dinner and the night are at the guesthouse.
After breakfast, drive to the Todra Gorge and walk slowly between rock walls that rise up to 300 meters, with the cool river at your feet. Continue east through Tinghir and the desert plains to Merzouga. In the late afternoon, ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes and climb a dune for a guided sunset meditation, sitting on rugs as the sand turns gold, then red. Dinner is served at our own desert camp, followed by the campfire, Berber drums and a sky full of stars. The night is spent at the camp.
Wake before dawn for sunrise yoga or meditation on the dunes, with mats and rugs set out for you. After a slow breakfast, the day is yours: rest in the shade, read, journal or walk barefoot over the sand. If you want company, we can visit the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia or a nomad family for tea. In the afternoon, move to a desert hotel with a pool at the edge of the dunes, where you can swim, book an optional hammam and argan massage, and watch the sunset from the terrace before dinner.
After an early breakfast and a last look at the dunes, begin the scenic drive back to Marrakech through Alnif, the palm groves of the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate, then over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. It is a long day on the road, so we stop often to stretch, eat and rest. You arrive in Marrakech in the evening, and we drop you at your riad or at the airport. If you prefer a gentler return, ask us to turn this into a 5 day trip with a night in Ouarzazate or Skoura.
Can yoga teachers bring their own group?
Yes, and we would love to host you. Teachers and retreat leaders bring their groups to the Sahara with us, and we take care of the transport, the camp, the meals and the timing of each day around your sessions. Contact us with your group size and dates for a private group offer.
Is a yoga teacher included?
No. Private travelers can follow their own practice, and we provide the mats, the rugs and the quiet time at sunrise and sunset. If you want a teacher, bring your own or ask us and we will help.
Do I need yoga experience?
No. You can join the meditation, practice at your own level or simply rest. Every activity is optional.
Can this trip be longer?
Yes. Many guests add a night in Ouarzazate or Skoura on the way back, or stay longer in the desert. We can also plan longer retreats around a group program.
Is the desert camp your own?
Yes. We run our own camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes with no middleman, so we can shape the evenings and mornings around rest and practice.
What is the best time of year for this retreat?
March to May and late September to November. Winter days are lovely but nights at camp are cold, and summer is very hot, so we plan desert time around sunrise and sunset.
