High on our list was a 3-day Sahara trip when we decided to go on a city trip to Marrakech. We booked a 6-day trip, which would leave us room to visit the Sahara.
When in Marrakech (read here about all the beautiful pictures you can take there and check out the full CITY GUIDE here), you have two main options to go and visit the desert. You can either visit the Zargora desert on a 2-day trip or head to Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) on a 3-day trip to see the Sahara. We choose the latter, as we heard stories about it being way more beautiful. On the way, you also pass for example Aït Ben Haddou and Dades Gorge.
There are several places to book your tour. Every riad will offer to book it for you and there are many stalls to be found in the centre of Marrakech. They of course claim, it is better to pay a little bit more and the quality will be better. I would say, most of the tours will look the same and in the end, many tour offices are bundled into one tour. We booked our tour at a stall (check out the image below for the exact location), for around €55 per person! This included food, the tour, one night in a hotel on the way and one night in the desert. The tent in the desert was shared with others and not the fanciest one you can imagine. Other, more fancy camps, exist, but you will pay a lot more. However, if you feel more comfortable booking your 3-day trip beforehand, GetYourGuide also offers a good option.
The exact location where we booked the tour is not on the map. However, this indicates where it is. From the crossing between Rue Douar Graoua and Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, you walk towards the restaurant indicated, and it is the first tour shop on the right.
Be warned: the drive is long and not that pleasant. When you feel easily motion sick, make sure you are prepared, because the road has a lot of turns! The first stop on the trip, and in my opinion the best stop on the trip was Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage sight.
The tour also takes you past the picture-perfect Ouarzazat and Dades Georges. Afterwards, we stayed one night at a hotel (which was waaaaay better than expected, it even had a pool).
Yes, we arrived! The highlight of our 3-day Sahara trip was the Sahara itself! After arrival, you’ll have to prepare for a 1.5-hour camel ride to the camp. I never saw a desert before and was so, so impressed by the beauty. Orange-coloured sand, EVERYWHERE. Views are breathtaking and the experience of sleeping in a camp in the Sahara is a once-in-a-lifetime event.
If there will ever be a next time, I would consider staying a night longer in a more fancy camp. Even though there is not much to do, just soaking up the beauty and views is enough.
