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Tangier to Sahara Expedition
Off-road from Tangier to the Sahara, from the Strait of Gibraltar down to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Nador to Merzouga Expedition
An off-road 4x4 trip from Nador to Merzouga, from the Mediterranean coast down to the Sahara dunes.
Tour Overview
The Nador to Merzouga Expedition runs from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara. We start in the port city of Nador and drive by 4x4 past coastal cliffs, over the Rif Mountains and high plateaus, and down through river gorges. The trip ends at the dunes of Erg Chebbi. If you are arriving in northern Morocco and want to see how much the country changes from north to south, this route shows it well.
Tour Highlights
- Cross from Mediterranean to Sahara
- Coast, mountains and desert in one trip
- Rif Mountains off-road trails
- Ziz Valley and gorges
- Finish at the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Three nights accommodation
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Nador to Rif
Your guide meets you in Nador, on the Mediterranean coast, and after a short look at the lagoon of Marchica you head inland into the eastern Rif. The road climbs through green hills, olive groves and small Riffian villages, with wide views back toward the sea on clear days.
The guide makes stops for photos, a coffee in a village café and a walk where the landscape opens up. As the day goes on, the hills become drier and more rugged, a first sign of the change from the Mediterranean north to the interior. You spend the night in your hotel along the route, with dinner and time to rest before the long drive south.
Day 2: Plateaus & Gorges
Today the route leaves the Rif and heads south past Guercif, a crossroads town on the way to the interior, onto the high, open plateaus of eastern Morocco. The landscape is vast and empty, with steppe, scattered nomad tents and long straight tracks. Your guide stops wherever there is something worth seeing, from shepherds with their flocks to dramatic folds in the rock.
You follow the Moulouya River valley through Missour, passing gorges and red-earth villages, with the snowy peaks of the Middle and High Atlas appearing on the horizon. You arrive in Midelt in the late afternoon, a quiet town known for its apples and minerals, where you spend the night at your hotel, with dinner and time to rest.
Day 3: Ziz Valley to Merzouga
After breakfast you cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and descend into the Ziz Valley, one of the most beautiful drives in Morocco. The river cuts a deep gorge through the mountains, then opens into a long ribbon of date palms and earth villages. You stop at viewpoints over the palm groves and pass through Errachidia and Erfoud.
By mid-afternoon the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise ahead of you. In Merzouga you meet your camels and ride into the dunes as the light turns golden, watching the sunset from the sand before reaching a desert camp. Dinner is served under the stars, often followed by drumming around the fire. Pack a small bag for the night; your main luggage stays safely in Merzouga.
Day 4: Sahara & Departure
Get up early to climb a dune near camp and watch the sunrise over the Sahara, the dunes turning from grey to gold as the sun clears the horizon. After the long journey from the coast, through the Rif, the eastern plateaus and the Ziz Valley, it is a fitting reward. Bring a warm layer, as the early morning can be cold.
Breakfast is served at camp, then the camels carry you back to Merzouga, where you can shower and collect your luggage. From here you continue your journey, westward toward the Todra Gorge and Marrakech, north toward Fes, or to Errachidia for onward transport. Your guide can help you plan the next step and suggest good places to break the journey.
What's Included
- 4x4 vehicle with driver/guide
- Three nights accommodation
- All meals
- Fuel and insurance
- All activities
What's Excluded
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Flights to Nador
Equipment Information & Vehicle Details
Going from the Mediterranean coast through the Rif Mountains to the Sahara, our 4x4s deal with mountain switchbacks, high plateaus and soft desert sand on the same trip, and they are set up for all three. Each vehicle carries a full toolkit, a spare tyre and a tow rope. The three nights combine mountain-town accommodation with a hotel in Merzouga before the final day in the dunes. Learn more about our fleet.
Safety Information
The Rif roads are narrow and winding. Our drivers know them well and take them at a measured pace, and seatbelts are mandatory for the whole crossing. Once the route drops into the Ziz Valley and on to the desert, the driving style changes to suit. Each morning, guides brief the group on that day's terrain and any weather to watch for. Read our full safety standards.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
In Nador. We can arrange pickup from Nador airport or the ferry terminal.
Yes, we can run it from Merzouga to Nador. Contact us to arrange it.
Book This Tour
To check dates or ask a question about Nador to Merzouga Expedition, 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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