Private Morocco travel
The Sahara is what most travelers come to Morocco for, and it is the part of the trip most easily done badly. Gateway2Morocco runs private Sahara desert tours the right way: your own vehicle and guide, a sunset camel trek, a properly vetted Berber camp, and your choice of Morocco's two great dune seas, Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga.
Private Sahara desert tours covering both major dune seas: Erg Chebbi, the iconic Merzouga dunes, and Erg Chigaga, Morocco's most remote Sahara, accessible only by 4x4. Every itinerary includes a sunset camel trek, a night in a luxury Berber camp under the stars, the High Atlas mountain pass, and a stop at UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou on the way in. Trips run from 8 to 14 days, in a private vehicle, for your group only.
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Private departures
The Sahara is what most travelers come to Morocco for, and it's the part of the country most easily done badly. The standard pattern, a budget Marrakech operator, a shared minibus, and a basic camp, is exactly the trip you don't want. Gateway2Morocco runs Sahara desert tours the right way: a private vehicle for your group only, properly vetted Berber camps, a sunset camel trek, and your choice of dune sea, either Erg Chebbi (the iconic Merzouga dunes near the Algerian border) or Erg Chigaga (Morocco's wild, remote Sahara, reached only by 4x4 from Mhamid).
Every Sahara tour we run includes the High Atlas mountain pass via Tizi n'Tichka, a stop at UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou (the kasbah that keeps drawing Hollywood film crews), the dramatic Dadès and Todra Gorges, and a night under more stars than most travelers have ever seen at once. Our drivers know the desert pistes by feel, our camps are licensed and inspected, and pricing is quoted in USD with no hidden surcharges. See our full range of Morocco tours if you'd like the Sahara paired with more of the Imperial Cities.
Morocco has two major Sahara dune seas. They look similar in photos, but the experience is quite different, so here is how they compare.
From the moment you meet your camels in the late afternoon to sunrise the next morning, here is how a night at a Gateway2Morocco Sahara camp typically unfolds.
Meet your camels (around 4:30 PM): your driver or camp host meets you at the staging area. Light bags are loaded onto the camels, and you keep only an overnight kit.
Sunset camel trek (around 5:00 PM): a slow 60–90 minute walk into the dunes with your Berber camel guide, timed for long shadows and soft photo light.
Arrival at camp (around 7:00 PM): welcomed with Moroccan mint tea, bags dropped in your tent (en-suite at the luxury tier), and the last light fading over the dunes.
Dinner under the stars (around 8:00 PM): a three-course tagine dinner cooked over the fire, with Berber music afterward and glass-roofed stargazing tents at the luxury tier.
Sunrise over the dunes (around 6:00 AM): the moment most travelers call the highlight of their whole trip, followed by a camel ride back to the trailhead and a full breakfast before returning to the road.
The Sahara is a year-round destination, but the experience changes a great deal by season. Daytime temperatures can climb well above 40°C in July and drop close to freezing on January nights.
You only need an overnight kit for the camp; everything else stays in your vehicle. Here is the short list our travelers say they wish they'd known about before arrival — see our full tailor-made Morocco tours for how we build the rest of the itinerary around your Sahara nights.
There are dozens of Marrakech-based operators running Sahara tours, and most are resellers running the same shared-minibus circuit. Here is what's different about ours.
Two nights in the desert (one full day) is the standard, and what we recommend. One night can feel rushed, since you arrive in the late afternoon, sleep, and leave early the next morning. Three or more nights start to feel repetitive unless you're combining the stay with desert hiking, sandboarding, or specific photography goals.
Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is the better choice for first-time Sahara visitors: tall, iconic dunes, easy access by paved road, and a wide range of camp tiers from classic to 5-star. Erg Chigaga is the better choice for repeat visitors, photographers, and travelers who want a genuine expedition feel, with fewer tourists, 4x4-only access, and a deeper Sahara experience.
You can drive directly into both Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga camps by 4x4 if you prefer, which is useful for travelers with mobility concerns or anyone who would simply rather not ride a camel. Most travelers do the camel trek anyway — it's 60–90 minutes one way, and the slow walk into the dunes at sunset is genuinely one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
Summer (June–August) in the Moroccan Sahara is brutal, with daytime temperatures that can climb above 40°C. We don't recommend Sahara tours during these months unless specifically requested. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal, with warm days and cool nights. Winter (December–February) brings warm days but cold nights, sometimes near freezing, so camps provide extra layers and blankets.
Yes, for the camps we use. Bathrooms are private at the luxury tier or shared but functional at the classic tier. Water is filtered and food is cooked fresh, with solar power for lighting and phone charging. Cell signal varies by location — Erg Chebbi has reasonable coverage from most carriers, while Erg Chigaga is patchier, so we provide a satellite communicator for emergencies on 4x4 expeditions there.
Yes. We've taken children as young as six on the camel trek to Erg Chebbi, with younger children typically riding with a parent. The camel trek is gentle and the camels are well trained, and the slow pace works well for families. Erg Chigaga is also family-suitable, though its longer 4x4 drive is better suited to children eight and up.
Yes. Our standard 5-star option at Erg Chebbi offers private en-suite bathrooms, fine dining, and attentive round-the-clock service. For fully private clients we can also arrange an exclusive camp, your group only, at either Erg Chebbi or remote Erg Chigaga, with custom dining, glass-roofed stargazing tents, and Berber musicians on request. See our luxury Morocco tours page for details.
Marrakech to Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is roughly 9–10 driving hours total, broken across two days with an overnight at Dadès Gorge rather than a single-day push. The route crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with stops at UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Roses Valley, the Skoura oasis, and Todra Gorge. Marrakech to Erg Chigaga is shorter overall (about 1.5 days) via Aït Ben Haddou and Agdz, followed by 60-plus kilometers of 4x4 piste from Mhamid into the dunes.
No. The camel trek is gentle and requires no walking, the desert camp is comfortable, and the daily drives include regular stops. The only physically demanding option is an optional sunrise dune hike, which is entirely optional. Travelers with mobility limitations can skip the camel trek and go directly into camp by 4x4 without missing the desert experience.
These are all available on request. Sandboarding is offered at both Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga, with boards provided by the camp. Quad biking is more common at Erg Chebbi. Camel trekking comes standard and stargazing is included, and photography-focused sessions can be arranged for serious photographers.
For peak season (March–May and September–October), we recommend booking four to six months ahead, since the best camps fill quickly. For the Christmas and New Year period, aim for eight to ten months out. For shoulder seasons such as February–March or November, eight to twelve weeks is usually enough lead time. Last-minute Sahara trips are sometimes possible, so feel free to call us directly.
Adventure10 days · 9 nights
Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes → Erfoud → Merzouga → Dades Gorge → Marrakech
Travel Morocco from Tangier to Marrakech on a 10-day private tour, including Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, Erg Chebbi Sahara, Aït Ben Haddou and the High Atlas.
From USD 3,400/ person · 2 travellers sharing
Adventure9 days · 8 nights
Marrakech → Agdz → Mhamid → Sahara (mobile camp) → Erg Chigaga → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Experience a 9‑day private Morocco Sahara adventure from Marrakech through Agdz, M’Hamid, a wild mobile desert camp, Erg Chigaga and Aït Ben Haddou, with boutique riads, luxury dune camp, private 4x4 transport, expert local guides, and most meals included
From USD 3,060/ person · 2 travellers sharing
Tell us your dates, your group size, and whether Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga calls to you, and you'll receive a complete tailor-made itinerary designed around your Sahara trip.
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