Private 5 Days Sahara Desert Escape from Essaouira

Private 5 Days Sahara Desert Escape from Essaouira

Drive deep into the Sahara Desert and cross the Atlas Mountains of Morocco on this private 5-day tour, round-trip from Essaouira. You'll travel by private vehicle with a personal driver-guide, and experience life as a nomad in the desert. Spend one night in a Berber-style tent and ride a camel across old caravan routes. Your itinerary includes stops in the coastal city of Agadir in addition to Taroudant, Taliouine, Agdez, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh, and more.

Day 1: Essaouira – Agadir – Taroudant – Taliouine (D)

Upon hotel pickup in Essaouira by private vehicle, make an early morning departure. Crossing the Anti-Atlas Mountains, you'll pass by argan groves and travel up the Atlantic coast through the fishing village of Taghazout before arrival in Agadir.

After a panoramic city tour, continue to Taroudant, known as Little Marrakesh for its ramparts and medina. Visit the silver souk and have lunch on your own, then continue the route to Taliouine, the capital of Saffron, where you'll have dinner and stay the night.

Overnight: accommodation in Taliouine

Day 2: Taliouine – Taznakht – Agdez – Zagora 

(B, L, D)

After breakfast, set off for Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets, then continue to Zagora via Agdez and the Draa valley where you'll find the largest palm grove oasis in Morocco. On arrival, have dinner and stay the night.

Overnight: accommodation in Zagora

Day 3: Zagora – Bivouac 

(B, L, D)

After breakfast, take a walking tour of the oasis or relax poolside at your hotel in Zagora before departing for the desert. You'll have lunch and drive south  where the road ends, then continue by 4x4 vehicle or take a camel trek to the bivouac, a temporary camp far from civilization. Spend a night in a nomadic Berbers tent at the campsite. You'll have dinner under the stars around a campfire.

Overnight: campsite in nomad tent

Day 4: Bivouac– Zagora – Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate (B, L, D)

After breakfast depart to Ouarzazate, considered the gateway to the desert and referred to as the Moroccan Hollywood for its three film studios. You'll travel via Zagora and then through a lunar-like landscape with water sources known only to local desert dwellers.

After lunch, visit the cinema museum and continue to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a grouping of earthen homes declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. You may recognize it due to its role in numerous films such as

Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and

The Man Who Would Be King.

Overnight: accommodation in Guest house

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Marrakesh – Essaouira (B)

After breakfast, depart Ouarzazate to Marrakesh, crossing the High Atlas Mountains via Tichka Pass at 7,414 feet (2,260 meters). Discover a Berber village before arrival in Marrakesh, with an optional lunch before a visit to Jemaa el Fna place listed world heritage by Unesco. Then continue to Essaouira, with drop-off at your hotel concluding your 5-day tour.