All four of our Sahara routes start the same way — Marrakech, the High Atlas, Ait Benhaddou, the Dades Gorges, then Merzouga for a camel trek and a night at a desert camp. Where they differ is pace, price, and where the trip actually ends. If you already know you want the Sahara and you're just deciding which version, here's the real comparison.
4-Day Sahara Desert Group Tour — From €292
Our best seller, and the tightest version of the route: arrival day in Marrakech, then two driving days out to Merzouga, the desert camp night, and one long day back — roughly 1,010 km round trip, departing every Saturday. This is the one to book if you want the classic Sahara experience in the fewest days, and you're not fussed about a slower pace through the Dades Gorges. It's also the cheapest way onto this route.
5-Day Marrakech, Atlas & Sahara Adventure — From €385
The same round-trip route stretched over an extra day, departing every Tuesday. The difference isn't distance, it's pace — you get a full night in the Dades Valley rather than treating it as a stopover, plus more time in the Berber villages along the Valley of Roses. Worth the extra €93 if two full driving days back-to-back sounds like more bus than holiday.
6-Day Marrakech, Sahara Desert & Fes Tour — From €482
This is where the route stops looping back to Marrakech. It follows the same first three days as the 4-day tour, then continues north to Fes instead of turning around — about 920 km one-way, departing every Saturday, finishing with a full guided day in the Fes medina. Pick this one if you're continuing your trip north afterward, flying out of Fes, or just don't want to spend a full day repeating the drive back across the Atlas.
8-Day Marrakech, Sahara, Fes & Chefchaouen Tour — From €971
The longest and most different of the four: it follows the same Sahara-to-Fes route as the 6-day tour, but the desert night is upgraded to a private, luxury camp rather than a shared one, and it adds two extra day trips from Fes — Chefchaouen's blue medina, and the Middle Atlas cedar forests around Ifrane. About 1,490 km total, departing every Saturday. This is the pick if you want the desert night to be genuinely comfortable, plus more of northern Morocco, without booking three separate trips.
Quick Tip
If you're not sure whether to finish in Marrakech or Fes, think about your onward plans first — the 6-day and 8-day tours save you a full return driving day, but only make sense if Fes actually fits your route home.
Which One to Pick
Short on time or budget: the 4-day tour covers the whole Sahara experience in the fewest days for the lowest price. Want a slower pace without spending more days on the road overall: the 5-day version adds breathing room to the same loop. Continuing north, or flying out of Fes: the 6-day tour skips the return drive entirely. Want the most comfortable desert night and more of the north: the 8-day tour is the only one with a private luxury camp, plus Chefchaouen and Ifrane included.
If your trip also includes Marrakech-based excursions or the Atlantic coast, our 8-Day Marrakech Adventure & Sahara Desert Tour and 8-Day Morocco Desert & Atlantic Coast Tour both bundle a Sahara loop with other regions — worth a look if you want more than just the desert.
