4 days trip from Marrakech to Magic South

4 days from Marrakech to the Magic South — Merzouga and the Draa valley

This four-day loop out of Marrakech crosses the High Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga and comes back through the Draa valley, with the return night spent at Agdez — a working date oasis under Jbel Kissane, rather than a modern town.

That overnight is what distinguishes this tour. Our other four-day Merzouga route, the 4-day Erg Chebbi tour, drives a further 78km on the third evening to overnight in Ouarzazate, the region’s main town, with its film studios and hotels. Stopping at Agdez instead keeps you in the palm groves at the head of the Draa, among the old kasbahs and the ksour along the river, and shortens the third day — though it makes the fourth a little longer.

The route in brief: over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass on Day 1 to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades gorges; through the Todra gorges and the Ziz valley on Day 2, arriving at Merzouga for an hour’s camel trek and a night at the desert camp; back west on Day 3 through Rissani, Alnif and Tazzarine and down the Draa to Agdez; then on Day 4 Ouarzazate and the Atlas Film Studios, Ait Ben Haddou, the Ounila valley and the kasbah of Telouet before the pass back into Marrakech.

Which to book: take this one if you would rather wake up in an oasis village on your last morning. Take the Erg Chebbi version if you want the shorter final drive and a larger town with more hotel and restaurant choice for the third night.