A 4-day New Years Eve desert tour from Marrakech offers an unforgettable experience, blending adventure, culture, and celebration under the stars of the Sahara. The journey typically includes crossing the High Atlas Mountains, visiting UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, exploring dramatic gorges like Todra and Dades, and culminating in a magical night in the dunes of Merzouga or Erg Chigaga. On New Year’s Eve, travelers enjoy a festive dinner at a luxury desert camp, complete with Berber music, drumming, and stargazing. /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
The itinerary often includes camel treks at sunset and sunrise, visits to traditional villages, and scenic drives through palm oases and rugged landscapes before returning to Marrakech or continuing to Fes. Options range from budget-friendly group tours to private luxury experiences, with prices varying based on accommodation and inclusions. Pack warm clothing for chilly desert nights and book early, as these tours are popular during the holiday season./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours from Marrakech
4-Day New Year’s Eve Desert Tour from Marrakech
itinerary /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
Tour Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Start & End Location: Marrakech
Tour Type: Private or Small Group
Ideal For: New Year’s Eve celebration, Desert lovers, Cultural explorers
Highlights of the Tour/4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
- Camel ride at sunset and sunrise in Erg Chebbi dunes
- Special New Year’s Eve celebration in the desert
- Visits to UNESCO heritage sites and ancient kasbahs
- Scenic drives through valleys, gorges, and mountains
- Authentic Moroccan meals and Berber cultural immersion
🗓️ 4-Day New Year’s Eve Desert Tour from Marrakech
Route: Marrakech ➝ Ouarzazate ➝ Rose Valley ➝ Dades ➝ Todra ➝ Merzouga ➝ Anif ➝ Agdz ➝ Ait Ben Haddou ➝ Telouet ➝ Marrakech
Ideal for: New Year’s celebration, camel ride lovers, Sahara explorers, Kasbah & history fans/4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
✅ Day 1: Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Ouarzazate – Rose Valley – Dades Valley
After breakfast or early hotel pickup, you’ll leave behind the hustle of Marrakech and head into the High Atlas Mountains. As you ascend through the winding road of Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), the scenery shifts to terraced hills, cedar forests, and remote Berber villages perched on the slopes. Several panoramic photo stops are offered, especially where traditional mudbrick houses blend into the mountains./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
Your first cultural break is at a women’s argan oil cooperative, where you’ll see how argan cosmetics and culinary products are handmade.
As you descend the pass, the land flattens and opens to the dry plains near Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara. Known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” this city has hosted major films like Gladiator, Babel, and Kingdom of Heaven. You’ll pass or optionally visit the Atlas Film Studios and Kasbah Taourirt.
From Ouarzazate, the drive continues east toward the Valley of Roses, through the Skoura oasis filled with thousands of date palms and kasbah ruins. You’ll stop in Kalaat M’Gouna, the heart of Morocco’s rose production (famous in May during the rose festival), and enjoy the changing colors of the cliffs and fields.
The day ends in the Dades Valley, known for its stunning canyon-like formations and rock spires nicknamed “Monkey Fingers.” Overnight in a charming local riad or guesthouse nestled in the valley./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
– Overnight: Dades Valley
– Meals: Dinner & Breakfast included
– Driving: ±6–7 hours with stops
✅ Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Khettarat Wells – Merzouga
After a relaxed breakfast, you drive through the Dades Gorges, following the snaking road along the river. There’s time for short walks or photo ops near dramatic cliffs and Berber villages.
From Dades, the route continues to the Todra Gorge, one of the most breathtaking canyons in North Africa. Here, you can walk between towering red rock walls that rise 300 meters above a shallow river. You may see climbers tackling the vertical cliffs or nomads herding goats through the gorge.
After lunch, you’ll pass through Tinjdad and visit the ancient Khettarat irrigation wells — underground water channels used to bring water to oases. It’s a unique look at desert engineering that sustained life here for centuries.
As you continue southeast, the landscape becomes more arid and golden, announcing your arrival to Erg Chebbi dunes. In Merzouga, you’ll be greeted with mint tea and prepare for your camel ride into the Sahara dunes at sunset.
Ride your camel across waves of orange sand as the sun drops below the horizon. Arrive at a desert camp lit by lanterns, where your bags will be waiting in your tent.
New Year’s Eve celebration: Enjoy a festive dinner with traditional tagines, couscous, Moroccan sweets, and mint tea. Celebrate under the stars with live Berber drumming, dancing, and New Year countdown around the fire — a magical Sahara experience./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
– Overnight: Luxury or Standard Desert Camp in Merzouga
– Meals: Dinner & Breakfast included
– Driving: ±6 hours (excluding camel ride)
✅ Day 3: Merzouga – Anif – Tazarine – Agdz – Ait Ben Haddou
After an optional early morning wake-up to see the sunrise over the dunes, you’ll enjoy breakfast at the camp and return by camel or 4×4 vehicle to Merzouga village.
The route today takes you on an off-the-beaten-track path through the Jbel Saghro mountains, a stark, volcanic range with lunar landscapes and nomadic routes. You’ll pass through the desert towns of Anif and Tazarine, small Saharan outposts where fossil and mineral trade is common.
Arrive in Agdz, located in the lush Draa Valley, home to one of Morocco’s longest rivers and thousands of palm trees. It’s an ideal place to stretch, enjoy lunch, and walk in the oasis if time allows.
In the afternoon, you’ll reach Ait Ben Haddou, a stunning ksar (fortified village) that looks like a movie set — because it is. Built with red earth and perched on a hill, this site is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Explore the maze-like alleys, climb to the top for a panoramic view, and imagine yourself back in medieval Morocco./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
– Overnight: Guesthouse or riad near Ait Ben Haddou
– Meals: Dinner & Breakfast included
– Driving: ±7–8 hours with stops
✅ Day 4: Ait Ben Haddou – Telouet – Tizi n’Tichka Pass – Marrakech
After breakfast and optional sunrise photos of Ait Ben Haddou, the route returns to Marrakech — but with a detour through the Ounila Valley, a secret route filled with Berber villages and red cliffs. Few tourists take this route, making it a special journey.
You’ll stop at the beautiful yet partly ruined Kasbah Telouet, once the palace of the powerful Glaoui family. The interior mosaics and architecture, though decaying, still show the grandeur of Morocco’s noble past.
Afterward, rejoin the main road and descend the Tizi n’Tichka Pass once again. Along the way, there are plenty of rest stops, scenic cafés, and viewpoints for final mountain photos.
Arrive back in Marrakech by late afternoon or early evening, marking the end of your Sahara New Year’s adventure../4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
– Overnight: Not included
– Meals: Breakfast included
– Driving: ±3–4 hours
✅ What’s Included /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
- ✅ Private modern air-conditioned 4×4 vehicle or minibus with professional driver
- ✅ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech
- ✅ 3 nights accommodation:
- 1 night in a traditional guesthouse in Dades Valley
- 1 night in a luxury or standard desert camp in Merzouga
- 1 night in a riad or guesthouse near Ait Ben Haddou
- ✅ Daily breakfast and dinners (vegetarian options available)
- ✅ Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi dunes (one camel per person)
- ✅ New Year’s Eve celebration in the desert (live Berber music, campfire ambiance, special dinner)
- ✅ Local taxes and fuel
- ✅ English / French / Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- ✅ Sandboarding (free & optional at the camp)
- ✅ Luggage transfer to desert camp by 4×4
- ✅ Guided walk through Ait Ben Haddou village
- ✅ Scenic stops & photo breaks throughout the journey
❌ What’s Not Included /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
- ❌ Lunches during the tour (restaurants available en route, around 10–15€ per meal)
- ❌ Drinks (water, soda, alcohol)
- ❌ Entrance fees to optional monuments (e.g., Kasbah Taourirt, Film Studios, Kasbah Telouet)
- ❌ Personal travel insurance
- ❌ Tips for driver, guides, or camp staff (optional but appreciated)
- ❌ Optional activities not mentioned (e.g., quad biking, 4×4 dune driving)
4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours from Marrakech
📝 Note
We also offer fully customizable Morocco tours ranging from 4 to 15 days, with the flexibility to start from any major city including Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, or Tangier.
If you wish to:
- Extend your desert trip beyond 4 days
- Start your tour from a different city
- Add special experiences like coastal visits, imperial cities, or mountain hikes
📩 Just let us know! We’ll design a tailor-made itinerary that fits your travel dates, interests, and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this a private or group tour?
This is a private tour by default, but we can also organize small group options on request. You’ll travel in a comfortable private vehicle with a dedicated driver-guide. /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
2. What type of accommodation is included?
You’ll stay in:
- A traditional guesthouse in Dades Valley (Day 1)
- A desert camp in Merzouga (Day 2) — available in standard or luxury versions
- A riad near Ait Ben Haddou (Day 3)
Let us know if you want upgraded/luxury accommodations throughout the tour.
3. Will we celebrate New Year’s Eve in the desert?
Yes! The New Year’s Eve night is spent in the dunes of Merzouga with:
- Special dinner
- Berber music around the campfire
- Traditional dancing and festive ambiance
A unique and unforgettable desert experience!/4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
4. Do I need to bring a sleeping bag or towel?
No, everything is provided at the desert camp including clean bedding, blankets, towels, and basic toiletries. For luxury camp, private bathroom facilities are available.
5. What should I pack for the desert tour?
- Warm clothing for evenings (it gets cold in the desert in December)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat
- Camera or phone with good battery
- Day backpack and personal items./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
6. Is the camel ride safe? Can I skip it?
Yes, the camel ride is safe and guided. If you prefer not to ride, we can arrange a 4×4 transfer to the desert camp at no extra charge.
7. Are meals included?
Breakfast and dinner are included every day. Lunch is not included, but we stop at local restaurants with varied and affordable menus.
8. Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly meals can be arranged. Please let us know your dietary needs in advance.
9. How long is the drive each day?
Approximate drive times:
- Day 1: 6–7 hours with scenic stops
- Day 2: 5–6 hours
- Day 3: 5–6 hours
- Day 4: 3–5 hours
We include plenty of rest, photo, and meal breaks along the way. /4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
10. Is the tour suitable for children or older travelers?
Yes, the tour is family-friendly and customizable to suit children or seniors. We can arrange shorter camel rides or additional comfort options as needed. ./4-Day New Years Eve Desert Tours
