Planning · Costs
How much does a Marrakech desert tour cost in 2026?
By Rachid — Owner and itinerary editor, Rachid Excursions
Prices for Marrakech desert tours vary widely, so it helps to start from published rates and compare inclusions line by line. Here are the current Rachid Excursions listings, what should be included and where extra costs usually appear.
| Tour | Basis | Current published price |
|---|---|---|
| Ourika Valley day trip | Shared | €18 per person |
| Ouzoud Waterfalls day trip | Shared | €23 per person |
| Essaouira coast day trip | Shared | €20 per person |
| 2-day Zagora desert | Shared | €60 per person |
| 3-day Merzouga desert | Shared tiers | €70 / €95 / €120 per person |
| Private Merzouga or Chegaga | Private | Written group quote |
Shared group tours — the budget option
- 2-day Zagora desert (shared): currently published from €60 per person
- 3-day Merzouga desert (shared): €70 / €95 / €120 per person by room and camp tier
- Ouzoud waterfalls day trip (shared): currently published from €23 per person
- Essaouira coast day trip (shared): currently published from €20 per person
Shared tours put you in an air-conditioned minibus with other travellers; the group maximum for your departure is confirmed in writing. Fixed route, fixed departure times. What should always be included: round-trip transport, riad/hotel pickup, camel trek, one or two nights in a Berber camp, dinner and breakfast in the desert.
Private tours — your own driver, your own pace
- 3-day private Merzouga: written quote based on group and accommodation tier
- 4-day private Chegaga: written quote based on group and camp tier
- Luxury en-suite desert tent: on the shared tour this is the €120 Luxury tier; on a private tour it is part of the written quote
- Continue to Fes instead of returning: check the current written supplement for the specific route
Private tours are quoted for the whole group, so divide the written total by the number of travellers before comparing it with the shared per-person tiers, and weigh that against the flexibility on stops and timing.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Lunches — not included on our multi-day desert tours; budget about 100–150 MAD (€10–15) per lunch stop, the amount listed on the Zagora tour page
- Luxury camp upgrade — quoted separately from the base price
- Tips for driver and camp staff — customary but optional (€5–10/day)
- Platform booking fees — GetYourGuide/Viator add their margin on top of the operator price
How to avoid overpaying
Compare direct and platform offers using the same dates, room type, camp tier, pickup, meals and cancellation terms. Confirm every inclusion and any deposit terms in writing; a lower headline price is not comparable when the accommodation or transport basis differs.
Sources and verification
These sources support destination, heritage, climate, health or travel-advice context. Prices and supplier details are confirmed in writing for each booking.
- Morocco official tourism portal
Moroccan National Tourism Office
Official destination context for Marrakech, desert, coast and Atlas travel.
- Morocco travel advice
UK Government
Current travel, safety, entry and local-law guidance.
Frequently asked
Tours mentioned above
Merzouga 3 Days — Shared
3 Days · 2 Nights · Normal / Standard / Luxury
A shared 3-day / 2-night desert tour from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, from €70 per person (Standard €95, Luxury €120), leaving at 07:30. The price covers transport, a hotel night in Dades and a night in a desert camp, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners and a 1-hour camel ride; lunches are extra. The route: cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka to the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and Kasbah Taourirt, then the Rose Valley and Dades. Day 2 drive to Merzouga for a camel ride at sunset and a Berber desert camp with drumming and dinner. Day 3 sunrise over the dunes, then return to Marrakech — or continue to Fes for +€25.
Zagora 2 Days — Desert Tour
2 days · 1 night · Ait Ben Haddou · Ouarzazate · Camel ride · Desert camp
A shared 2-day / 1-night desert trip from Marrakech to Zagora for €60 / MAD 600 per person, leaving at 07:30. It includes transport, hotel pickup, a guide at Aït Ben Haddou, a 1-hour camel ride, a night in a Berber camp, dinner and breakfast; lunches are extra. Zagora is not Merzouga: its dunes are smaller than Erg Chebbi, and you trade dune size for one night instead of two. Climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass, spend the morning in UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou with a local guide, visit Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate, then continue south to Zagora for a sunset camel ride and a night in a Berber desert camp under the stars. Wake up to sunrise over the dunes and return to Marrakech via Ouarzazate.
Private Merzouga Desert Tour
Private · 3 Days · 2 Nights in the Sahara
Our signature Sahara experience: cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka, visit the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, then ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes to sleep under the stars in a traditional Berber camp.