Two nights in Marrakech + guided family tour
A private 8-day family tour from Marrakech to the Merzouga Sahara — two nights in the desert with camel rides and sandboarding, Aït Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and the Draa Valley, at a family pace.
Our 8-Day Family Morocco Tour from Marrakech is designed for parents who want to introduce their children to the Sahara Desert while keeping the journey comfortable, interesting and flexible.
Rather than treating Merzouga as a quick overnight stop, this itinerary includes two nights around the Sahara. Families have time to ride camels, play in the sand, try sandboarding, explore Erg Chebbi by 4×4 and spend a night at a desert camp without immediately starting another long journey the next morning.
The route begins with time in Marrakech before crossing the High Atlas towards Aït Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, continuing through Todra Gorge to Merzouga — often one of the highlights for children.
The return follows a different route through Rissani, Alnif and the Draa Valley, with an overnight around Ouarzazate to break up the drive back to Marrakech. Because the tour is completely private, stops can be adapted to your family's pace.
Two nights in Marrakech + guided family tour
Cross the High Atlas Mountains
Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
Dades Valley & Todra Gorge
Merzouga & the Erg Chebbi dunes
Two nights around Merzouga
Welcome to Morocco. Meet your private driver at Marrakech Menara Airport and transfer directly to your hotel or riad. The first day is deliberately kept simple, especially for families arriving after a flight — no fixed schedule, so everyone can settle in and rest. Depending on your arrival time and your children's energy, take a short walk through the medina or visit Jemaa el-Fna in the early evening; families arriving early can explore nearby souks, enjoy a rooftop café or relax at the accommodation. If you choose a hotel with a pool, warmer months are a good chance for children to relax before the road trip begins. Overnight: Marrakech.
After breakfast, meet your local guide for an introduction to Marrakech. Rather than trying to visit every monument, the day adapts to the ages and interests of your children — walk through parts of the old medina, explore colourful souks and watch craftspeople in traditional workshops, with visits to Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia area and Jemaa el-Fna depending on your interests. There are plenty of chances to stop for drinks, snacks or lunch rather than a rigid schedule, and the afternoon can be kept free to return to the riad, enjoy a pool, shop or explore independently. Overnight: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.
After breakfast, leave Marrakech for the High Atlas Mountains — the journey is part of the experience, with mountain scenery, traditional villages and stops for photos and short breaks. Continue to Aït Ben Haddou, the famous fortified ksar, where children can enjoy walking through its narrow passageways and climbing to the upper section for views across the valley. After lunch, continue through Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley, checking into your hotel or riad for dinner — family-friendly accommodation with outdoor space or a seasonal pool can make the evening more relaxing after the drive. Overnight: Dades Valley. Meals: breakfast & dinner. Approx. driving: 320 km / around 6 hours excluding sightseeing and breaks.
After breakfast, leave the Dades Valley for Tinghir, with a panoramic viewpoint stop before Todra Gorge, where a short walk beside the river between the high limestone cliffs lets children get out of the vehicle and move around before continuing towards the desert. After lunch, travel through changing landscapes towards Erfoud and Merzouga; when the golden Erg Chebbi dunes appear, meet your camel guide near the edge of the desert, ride across the dunes and stop for the sunset — often a favourite for children who are old enough. Continue to your Sahara camp for dinner and traditional music. Overnight: Merzouga desert camp. Meals: breakfast & dinner.
Wake early if your family would like to watch sunrise over the Sahara. After breakfast, begin a private 4×4 excursion around Erg Chebbi, visiting Khamlia to listen to traditional Gnawa music and, depending on conditions, continuing across desert tracks to learn about nomadic life. There's time for sandboarding, often one of the most enjoyable Sahara activities for children and teenagers, and an optional quad-bike excursion can be arranged subject to age and operator requirements. Later, check into a hotel or riad around Merzouga; the afternoon is intentionally less structured, and with a pool during warmer months children can swim after the desert activities. Overnight: Merzouga hotel or riad. Meals: breakfast.
After breakfast, leave Merzouga and travel west. Stop in Rissani, a traditional town historically connected with Saharan trade, with a chance to see part of the local souk on market days. Continue through the rocky landscapes around Alnif towards the Draa Valley, where the scenery — palm groves, villages and dry mountain landscapes — is very different from Erg Chebbi, with stops for lunch, photos and rest whenever needed. Continue to Ouarzazate and check in; breaking the return journey here is particularly useful for families, avoiding one very long day from Merzouga to Marrakech. Overnight: Ouarzazate. Meals: breakfast.
Enjoy breakfast before beginning the return to Marrakech, with time for a short visit around Ouarzazate before leaving the region if your family wishes. Continue through the mountain landscapes towards the High Atlas, where your private driver can stop whenever the family needs a break rather than following a fixed group-tour schedule. Cross the mountains and descend towards Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon to check into your hotel or riad. The rest of the day is free — children can rest after the journey while parents enjoy the riad, or the family can return to Jemaa el-Fna for a final evening in the medina. Overnight: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.
Enjoy your final breakfast in Marrakech. The schedule today depends on your departure time — if your flight leaves later, spend the morning relaxing, shopping for souvenirs or taking a final walk through the medina. At the appropriate time, your private driver collects your family and transfers you to Marrakech Menara Airport; if you're extending your stay, the tour can instead finish at your hotel or riad. End of tour: Marrakech. Meals: breakfast.
Choose the stay style that matches your comfort level and budget.
Comfortable and budget-friendly stays in clean riads, standard hotels and desert camps. Ideal for travellers looking for a good experience at the best value.
A balanced choice offering extra comfort, beautiful properties and a more refined travel experience. Perfect for travellers who want comfort without going fully luxury.
Premium accommodation for travellers who want the highest level of comfort, elegance and service throughout their Morocco journey.
Our tour prices vary depending on the travel season and accommodation availability. April, October and December are particularly busy months in Morocco, with strong demand for hotels, traditional riads and Sahara Desert camps.
During these peak periods, accommodation providers may raise their rates, which can affect the overall tour price. We recommend booking in advance to secure your preferred accommodation and the best available rates.
Your final tour price is confirmed based on your exact travel dates, number of travellers and accommodation category.
There are no shared groups — the vehicle is reserved for your family, making it easier to stop for toilets, snacks, photographs or rest whenever necessary.
Many short Morocco tours reach the Sahara in the afternoon and leave immediately the next morning. This itinerary gives families a full additional day around Merzouga.
Camel riding, playing in the dunes, sandboarding, desert 4×4 exploration and camp music give children more to do than simply sitting in the vehicle and visiting monuments.
Instead of driving directly from Merzouga to Marrakech in one very long day, the return is divided with an overnight around Ouarzazate. The itinerary also includes less structured periods in Marrakech and Merzouga, and where possible we choose family-friendly accommodation with swimming pools, especially in warmer months.
A family travelling with a five-year-old has different needs from a family with teenagers. Because the tour is private, activities and stops can be adapted accordingly.
A family-friendly riad or hotel.
A traditional hotel or riad.
A private family tent at a Sahara camp.
A family-friendly hotel or riad near Erg Chebbi.
A comfortable hotel or kasbah-style accommodation.
A family-friendly riad or hotel. We can select accommodation according to your family's preferred room configuration, budget and comfort level.
Some driving is unavoidable when visiting the Sahara from Marrakech, but we divide the journey into stages and include Todra Gorge, Aït Ben Haddou and other stops where children can get out of the vehicle. Camel riding is optional — your family can travel to the camp by 4×4 instead.
Many families travel to Merzouga successfully. Parents should consider their children's age, tolerance for driving, weather conditions and individual needs when deciding whether a desert itinerary is appropriate.
Merzouga can be extremely hot in June and July, so desert activities are more comfortable early in the morning and later in the afternoon, while desert nights and the Atlas Mountains can be cold in winter — bring warm layers for evenings and early mornings.
For spring, summer and early autumn travel, a pool can be very useful for families, and we can prioritise suitable accommodation where available. Let us know the ages of your children so we can recommend the best room arrangements.
This itinerary is a good choice for:
“A 4-day family tour and everything was perfect thanks to Tour to Morocco and our guide Hassan — attentive, punctual and reassuring with the kids. He shared insights the guidebooks simply don't have.”
“Hassan is much more than a driver — he introduces you to the history of Morocco. On our 4-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga he was reliable and happy to adapt the plan, and the camel ride to the desert camp was absolutely worth it.”
“The landscapes were enchanting, and the staff was helpful, polite, friendly and reliable. Our 4-day Marrakech to Sahara tour with guide Aziz was great and the van was clean and comfortable throughout.”
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Share your travel dates and interests and our local team will craft a private tour tailored to you.
