multi day
2 Day Merzouga Adventure
Two days in the Sahara: quad biking, a 4x4 tour, a camel trek, a night at a desert camp, sunrise and nomad visits.
5 Day Off-Road Explorer
A five-day off-road trip across the Sahara and the country around it, taking in dunes, mountains, valleys and old trade routes.
Tour Overview
The 5 Day Off-Road Explorer is a longer expedition that takes you past Merzouga into the wider Sahara region. Over five days you cross very different ground: the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi, the black desert near Rissani, palm oases and old kasbahs. We use quads, buggies and 4x4s along the way, so you see the desert from more than one seat. It suits people who want to see how much the Moroccan desert changes once you leave the main dune field.
Tour Highlights
- Dunes, black desert and palm oases
- Erg Chebbi and the Rissani black desert
- Old kasbahs and trade routes
- Four nights of accommodation
- Quad, buggy and 4x4 driving
- All meals and activities included
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Merzouga & Quad
You arrive in Merzouga and check into your hotel at the edge of the dunes. After lunch and a rest, your guide takes you to our base for gear fitting and a safety briefing, followed by practice laps on flat sand. Then the quad ride begins, climbing into the first ridges of Erg Chebbi.
The afternoon light is the best for a first look at the dunes, and the guide stops at a nomad camp for tea on the way. You finish on a high dune as the sun goes down, before riding back to your hotel for dinner and a well-earned night's sleep. If anything felt uncomfortable on the quad, tell your guide, as the vehicle and pace can be adjusted for the days ahead.
Day 2: Buggy & Erg Chebbi
The second day is devoted to Erg Chebbi itself. You take the wheel of a buggy and follow the guide on a long route across the dune field, which stretches some 28 kilometres from north to south with crests rising to around 150 metres. There are regular stops at viewpoints and plenty of time for photos.
After a relaxed lunch in the shade, the route continues past the seasonal lake that sometimes fills after winter rain and attracts birds, and through quiet valleys between the dunes. You return to Merzouga in the late afternoon with a real sense of the scale of the erg. The evening is free to relax at your hotel, with dinner and an early night before tomorrow's journey north.
Day 3: 4x4 to Rissani
Today you leave the dunes in a 4x4 and head north across the hamada toward Rissani, stopping at fossil beds and small oases on the way. Rissani is the historic heart of the Tafilalet, close to the ruins of Sijilmassa, the medieval caravan city that once traded gold and salt across the Sahara.
If your visit falls on a market day, the souk is a lively mix of spices, dates, livestock and handmade goods, and your guide helps you find your way through it. You also see the old ksour, the fortified earth villages of the palm grove. The night is spent in a traditional guesthouse in the area, with a home-cooked dinner.
Day 4: Oases & Valleys
After breakfast at the guesthouse, the 4x4 follows the green line of the Ziz Valley, where date palms, gardens and earth villages line the river for kilometres. You stop near Erfoud, known for its dates and fossil workshops, and walk through palm gardens where families still share water using traditional channels.
In the afternoon you drive back south toward the dunes, with viewpoints over the valley and the open desert. You arrive at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi in time to watch the sunset from the sand, followed by dinner and a quiet evening around the fire. After a night under a roof, the silence of the dunes feels even deeper.
Day 5: Sunrise & Return
An early start lets you climb a dune near camp and watch the sun rise over the Sahara, the perfect last image of the trip. The dunes are cool and silent at this hour, and the light changes quickly, so keep your camera ready. Bring a warm layer for the walk up, as desert mornings can be chilly even in summer.
After breakfast at camp, your guide drives you back to Merzouga to shower and collect your luggage. You then continue your journey, toward Fes, the Todra Gorge and Marrakech, or to Errachidia for onward transport. Your guide can help you plan the route and timing, and suggest places worth a stop on the way.
What's Included
- All vehicle tours
- Four nights accommodation (camp + guesthouse)
- All meals
- Professional guides
- All activities and entrance fees
What's Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Drinks
Equipment Information & Vehicle Details
This route goes beyond Erg Chebbi to the black desert and Rissani, so our 4x4s and buggies carry extra fuel and water for the longer transfers. Because the terrain is more varied, we also pack a fuller repair kit. The four nights mix proper desert-camp bedding with a comfortable guesthouse stay in Rissani, and our mechanics inspect every vehicle each morning before we leave. Learn more about our fleet.
Safety Information
The ground changes a lot on this trip (dunes, black desert, kasbahs and valleys), so our guides set the pace to suit it. Rockier black-desert sections are taken more slowly than the open dunes. Every vehicle carries a first-aid kit. Rest periods are built into each day as standard, and guides check in regularly with anyone who looks tired. Read our full safety standards.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
A moderate level is enough. You should be comfortable with a full day of activity and some walking.
Yes. Every day includes rest stops, and the schedule is flexible.
Book This Tour
To check dates or ask a question about 5 Day Off-Road Explorer, send us a message on WhatsApp, call us or use the booking form on this page. We reply within 24 hours to confirm your booking.
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