Lost in the Magic: My 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech

There are the trips you plan — and there are the journeys that change you. The 3 days in the desert from Marrakech was more than an escapade. It was a life-changing trip that I participated in with my oldest friends and left us with memories as indelible as those memorials flung across the desert floor.

Day 1: Marrakech — Exploring the New World of the Atlas Mountains

We departed in the early morning from Marrakech, still half-asleep but very excited. Pounding up into the High Atlas Mountains in our 4x4, the city disappearing behind us and gave way to winding roads and snow-capped peaks that took our breath away, well, that was just our beginning.

Our guide, Youssef, regaled us with stories of the Amazigh people and paused for us to sample fresh bread from clay ovens. When we arrived at Aït Benhaddou, I felt as though I were walking through history. We ambled through the ancient kasbah — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and envisioned life there hundreds of years ago. It was like entering a Moroccan fairy tale.

We would spend the night in an intimate guesthouse nestled in the Dades Valley between cliffs dyed red by the setting sun.“Now!” said Oliver. We dined on tagine and laughter late into the night and the magic of the desert pulled us already.

Day 2: Todra Gorges to Sahara Desert

We woke up in the valley of peace, and then hit the road again — next stop, the Sahara.

In the Todra Gorges we parked at the bank of the river, while local rock climbers scaled the towering cliffs. The road ended up leading to golden plains, and when we first caught sight of the dunes of Merzouga, our hearts jumped.

Riding a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes was an experience I will never forget. The sand burned orange and red around us as the sun set. I recall laughing as our camels jiggled and tripped — and then falling mute once the desert unfurled into infinity and silence.

We spent that night in a Berber camp under the stars. And there was music and dancing and fireside stories. I lay on my back under the stars, feeling more connected to the world — and to myself — than I had in years.

Day 3: Sunset on the Dunes

I rose before dawn to climb a dune. I was in pain in my legs, but the view was worth every single one of those steps. And a sunrise over the Sahara is something you can never take a picture of — it is to be experienced. The light poured slowly onto the sand and turned the sand gold and still.

We head back to the dry and dusty. On the long drove back to Marrakech, I gazed out the window, reflecting on our experiences and feelings of isolation. And I wasn’t the same person who had exited the city three days prior.

Why I’d Do This Again in a Heartbeat

If you’re considering signing up for one of the 3 days desert tours from Marrakech, Just do it! This is not just a trip — it’s a transformation. It is laughter with friends under desert skies, moments of silence watching the sunrise and the excitement of stepping into an entirely different world.

Morocco spoke to something deep inside of me. And I know I’ll be back.