Group 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour with Luxury Camp

Most people take a tour and act as mere observers standing outside and looking in. This isn’t an experience, but a cold view of the world around you. This is when having the right guide is critical, pushing you to leap from lonely observer to an enriched participant in a life you’re not familiar with. Monsif is not a tour guide, he is an amazing storyteller with deep knowledge and passion for his beautiful country. Every hill we crested, mountain top reached, plain crossed and desert traversed had a wonderful story about the people that adapted to this ever changing landscape. He shared personal stories of life in the Atlas Mountains with a love for the lifestyle and culture that you could feel. He shared the languages of Morocco with us and encouraged us to interact with the people, to make new friends and learn for ourselves what life in Morocco is like. This tour quickly became an adventure and we were the main characters guided by Monsif as the narrator. Ending the tour was like finishing a great book, bittersweet that it ended while eager to read part two of the story. If you haven’t guessed by now, our family doesn’t simply recommend that you take the tour; we say that you go ahead and put on your adventure hat, be curious and book your trip with Monsif.

Great experience, beautiful tour. Ibrahim, the guide, was truly friendly and kind, always available. Highly recommended, super affordable price, stunning hotels, perfect stops for beautiful places and views.

I recently went on a private 3-day tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert (Erg Chebbi) and wasn’t sure what to expect based on reading some negative reviews but now that I went on the tour, I can’t imagine it being any better than how it went. Our driver, Ibrahim, picked up my friend and I from our Riad in Marrakech and was so friendly and helpful throughout the tour; he explained what areas we were driving through (as you will be in the vehicle for most of the tour) and since it was a private tour, he was willing to bypass the places we weren’t too particular about stopping and added stops if we requested. We particularly loved driving through and stopping in the Dades and Todra Gorges. We had tea with Nomads which was such a cool experience. The guys managing the hotel we stayed on the first night (Hotel Babylon) were extremely accommodating and the Sahara desert camp was very comfortable with air conditioning in the rooms. The guys at the camp were also extremely accommodating. I would highly recommend doing this tour!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best Tour of Our Morocco Trip! Koreans usually use desert tours that are famous for Koreans and Korean travelers. We wanted to feel a little more local atmosphere because we were a honeymoon trip, and we decided to choose Marrakech Desert Trips for tours that European travelers often use. In conclusion, it was really the best choice. The schedule was very good. It wasn't just sitting in the car for a long time, it was a way to travel for an hour to an hour and a half and then explore new attractions. It allowed me to experience Morocco's diverse landscapes and culture naturally. Above all, the guide Hassan was really impressive. We asked a lot of questions before booking the tour and we were always quick and friendly to answer them, and we were careful about what we wanted during the trip. What was especially good was that there was no depression at all. I could enjoy the trip much more comfortably, even if I went to a tourist destination or a store and there was no atmosphere to burden or motivate me to buy. Rather, they recommended foods like Madfouna, which the locals enjoy, helping them experience real Morocco. In addition, with this tour, you could experience both the main attractions of Morocco and the highlights of the Sahara. The sunsets and sunrise of the desert, camel trekking, canyons and oasis, and the town of Berber were all really different. And the most complimentary part is driving. Morocco has a long drive, but it was very stable and smooth. It was felt that passengers were always carefully cared for so they weren't uncomfortable. I've been on tours in many countries so far, but I've rarely met guides and drivers who drive so safely and carefully. I recommend it to those who are planning a honeymoon. Thanks to Marrakech Desert Trips and Hassan I was able to spend the most memorable time in Morocco. Thank you very much! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My husband and I did a four-day private desert tour with Abdou. The whole experience and his expertise were unforgettable. Abdou planned lots of fun stops for us along the way and was flexible with our needs. We enjoyed having a private experience to personalize the trip. I would recommend this tour without reservations. Splurge for the private option if it is within your budget. Request Abdou as your tour guide, we absolutely loved him.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but people should know what they’re signing up for with this tour company. Before booking, I made it very clear that my main reason for joining this trip was to go sandboarding in the dunes. At no point did the company mention that the sandboards were practically unusable because the bindings/strap-ons were broken, and there were no skis or proper alternatives available. Had I known this beforehand, I would not have booked. Another misleading claim is the “air-conditioned van.” The van we traveled in either had no functioning AC or it was so ineffective that it made no difference. Spending long hours on the road in Morocco without proper air conditioning is not what was advertised. The journey itself was filled with unnecessary tourist-trap stops where you are clearly expected to spend money. These stops added little value to the experience and felt more like commission-based partnerships than genuine sightseeing opportunities. The accommodation was also disappointing. The hotel provided low-quality food, had no drinks available, and seemed completely unprepared for guests. One room even had feces splashed on the wall. When a guest sent photos to the owner, she was reportedly offered an immediate refund on the condition that she would not post about it publicly. That alone should tell you something about how complaints are handled. Communication was another major issue. Staff at the desert camp spoke very little English, making even simple requests difficult. With limited phone signal in the area, getting help or clarification became frustratingly complicated. The owner repeatedly promised solutions whenever problems were raised, but either tried to charge excessive additional fees for basic requests or simply failed to follow through on what was agreed. We were promised certain arrangements for the following morning, but none of them happened. After the camel ride, some guests simply wanted a towel to shower. Hotel staff laughed and refused to provide one. It felt like customer service was completely absent throughout the trip. Another misleading aspect is the “3-day desert tour” description. In reality, you don’t reach the Merzouga desert until around 7 PM on the second day and then leave at approximately 6 AM the next morning. You spend very little actual time in the desert compared to the amount of time spent driving. The most telling part is that our entire group was disappointed. Throughout the trip, people kept discussing the same issues and agreed that future travelers deserved to hear an honest account. Many of the glowing reviews seem to come from people who had very low expectations or were simply willing to accept whatever they were given. There were many other problems I’ve probably forgotten, but the overall experience was far below what was advertised. If you’re considering a desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, I would strongly recommend looking at other companies. This tour felt poorly organized, misleading in several key areas, and unwilling to take responsibility when things went wrong.

The trip left us with mixed feelings. The noteworthy stops along the way, as well as the beautiful desert and the desert camp, are definitely positive highlights – these impressions were truly enchanting and quickly made us forget the stress of the journey. Even though much was very touristically organized, we enjoyed the landscapes and experiences on site. Unfortunately, the long bus ride was extremely exhausting. Especially on a journey of 10 hours or more, a functioning air conditioning system is indispensable. However, the air conditioning in the bus was so weak that practically only the first row benefited from it, while everyone else was sweating heavily throughout the entire ride. The conditions were at times hardly bearable, especially for older travelers who suffered from circulation problems and headaches. The tour guide also provided the group with very little information. Additionally, one should know that tips are expected in many places – for this, one should have enough cash on hand. Overall, the trip was a special experience both scenically and emotionally, but there is significant room for improvement in terms of organization and comfort.

I was only on the first day of the trip of the private 3 day trip and already writing this review. I don’t usually leave bad reviews because things go wrong when travelling and I try to be understanding. But honestly, this tour has been a huge disappointment and feels like a waste of money and time. To be fair, the driver did arrive on time to pick us up from our riad. However, there was no help with luggage and he wasn’t parked at the nearest meeting point, so we ended up walking further than necessary. Our guide was called Monsief and, honestly, he ruined the whole trip for us. He came across as arrogant from the start, wasn’t welcoming or friendly, and seemed annoyed whenever we asked questions. His attitude completely changed the vibe of the trip and it’s the main reason I’m writing this review. The vehicle was spacious enough, but not a 4x4 as advertised and the AC barely worked. We stopped at some nice viewpoints, but the stops felt random and often seemed to depend on when Monsief wanted a cigarette break or wanted to stop somewhere he knew people. He also smoked without asking if anyone minded. Our first lunch stop near Ait Ben Haddou was disappointing. We paid 135 MAD each for a basic buffet and a drink. The food wasn’t great and it felt like we were expected to eat where he chose rather than having any options. Ait Ben Haddou itself was beautiful and definitely worth seeing, but it was extremely hot, so make sure you carry plenty of water. The first hotel, Babylon Dades, was okay. Don’t expect luxury because it definitely isn’t. It wasn’t terrible either, just somewhere to sleep for the night. The dinner wasn’t good and I could barely eat mine, but breakfast was much better. The staff were friendly and the views were nice. The next morning we left around 8:30am and stopped at some nice scenery spots before reaching Todra Gorge. Monsief told us we had 30 minutes to walk around and then went off to sit with people he knew. Again, he didn’t really act like a guide and seemed more interested in doing his own thing. By this point I was trying to ignore him so I could enjoy the trip. But honestly, his attitude kept getting in the way. Whenever we asked him to repeat something, he’d respond with comments like “Like I said before…” as if we were annoying him. Sorry, but if you’ve spent ten minutes giving information about a route you’ve been doing for years, people are naturally going to have questions. After our walk we got back to the car and asked if we could put the AC on because we were overheating. He said we had to wait until we left the mountains. That made no sense considering most of the trip is through mountains and desert. After asking again around 10-15 minutes later, he got annoyed, turned it on and said something under his breath about it being too hot for the engine. Then less than a minute later he stopped for a photo break with the engine still running door open and AC still on. I’m no car expert, but that explanation didn’t really add up with what he is doing. Later, he stopped near a petrol station and mumbled something neither my brother nor I could hear. When I asked him to repeat himself, he responded in a sarcastic tone asking whether it was okay for him to disappear for five minutes. which was weird but it was fine, but it was the way he spoke to us that became tiring throughout the trip, and even tho i said it’s ok he kept asking in a sarcastic tone if its ok. The desert part of the trip was good but again ruined t lack of communication and clear planning. The camel ride was enjoyable, but it wasn’t at sunset like we expected. It started around 5:30pm. We were lucky it was cloudy, so it wasn’t too hot, but we were still looking forward to riding into the sunset. I think this probably depends on the season, but if that’s the case, the website should make that clear. We probably could have started a bit later than 8:30am, as we ended up waiting an hour for the camel ride anyway. It would have been nice to rest a little longer at the hotel rather than having such an early set off. The Luxury Oasis Camp was good. Again, I wouldn’t call it luxury, but the staff were friendly, dinner was nice, and the atmosphere around the campfire in the evening was great. One thing that disappointed us was the sandboarding. It was included in the package, but nobody actually takes you sandboarding. They just point at the boards and tell you not to break a leg. The nearest dune is a bit of a walk from the camp and then you still have to climb it yourself. We didn’t really feel comfortable doing it completely on our own. The next morning we watched the sunrise which is not over the Erg Chebbi dunes as advertised, however was still beautiful. Again, nobody actually took us there, they just pointed us in the direction and told us where to stand. Breakfast afterwards wasn’t great as there were pastries sitting out with flies on them. On the return journey things became even more frustrating. An hour into the drive we asked about the next stop and realised one of the advertised stops had been skipped( Draa Valley). Monsief insisted it wasn’t included in our tour and was only part of the four-day trip. We showed him the itinerary from the website and he called the office, it was a whole thing i had to message the company myself. To their credit, the company responded quickly and professionally when we contacted them directly on WhatsApp and sorted the issue out. We stopped at Draa Valley, but after about two minutes Monsief was already saying “let’s go”. There was barely enough time to look around or take photos before we were back in the vehicle. Ouarzazate was completely missed despite being shown on the itinerary. We basically drove through and that was it. No stop, no explanation, nothing. Towards the end of the trip he picked up a friend to drop off somewhere. I honestly didn’t mind helping someone out, but we’re paying customers, not mates on a road trip. The least he could have done was ask first. We also asked for a break after around two and a half hours of driving. Despite there being plenty of places to stop along the way, he told us we’d have to wait another hour. This also didn’t match the website which says regular stops can be made when needed. He stopped for water after we insisted in a local town. We eventually stopped at another place where he seemed to know people, which only added to the feeling that the stops were being chosen for his convenience rather than ours. Overall, the route itself is actually good. The scenery is amazing and some parts of the trip were genuinely enjoyable. The hotels were okay, although they shouldn’t be advertised as luxury. Communication could definitely be better, and a printed itinerary with clear stops and multiple food options would help avoid confusion. My biggest problem wasn’t the scenery, the hotels or even the food. It was Monsief. I honestly feel he ruined the trip. I spent more time trying to avoid his attitude than enjoying parts of the journey. He was dismissive, arrogant, unhelpful and seemed annoyed whenever anyone asked a question. He also spoke about us with other people assuming we couldn’t understand what was being said, which is incredibly unprofessional. For the amount of money paid, plus additional spending on lunches, drinks and tips, I expected a much smoother and more professional experience. I think booking with this company is a bit of a gamble. If you get a good guide and a good vehicle you’ll probably have a great time if they stick to the itinerary and communicate with you not just leave you to figure it out. Unfortunately, that wasn’t our experience. I would give this tour 1 star. The scenery, desert camp and the company’s response to my complaint are the only reasons it’s not less. Based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend this company unless they make significant improvements to their guides, communication and provide what’s actually advertised.

Nice trip overall, but we were slightly disappointed by the way the trip was advertised vs as delivered. We had expected to 'co-plan' our trip with driver as per our interests perhaps stopping at local villages etc. However most of our stops felt like enforced touristy traps and we struggled to communicate our desires for a more flexible/authentic approach with the driver Hassan who was very nice but a little quiet (we expected slightly more of a 'tour guide' rather than a 'driver' and had to ask a lot of questions to get the most out of the experience). The night at Hotel Babylon and food was excellent as were the staff there. Also stop at the Kettaras with local Nomad tour guide was a highlight. One night in Sahara was sufficient, camel ride was nice although slight concerns over camel welfare and bit overly touristy again. Every stop we had to spend money (tipping, coffees, snacks, lunches, tour guides), so not as 'inclusive' as expected. Overall the experience was interesting and we saw a lot of beautiful and unique landscapes. We just wish there were a few more exclusive /authentic sneak pics into spots along the way like a waterfall, local food/drink (rather than for tourists set menu) and other natural beauties/walking stops. Thank you.

Great trip with Ibrahim! A wonderful country to visit and had amazing times through the desert, atlas and much more