From Marrakech, three days is the honest minimum for the real Sahara. The first day crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, then follows the Valley of Roses to Kelaat M'Gouna and the canyon walls of Boumalne Dades, where the first night is spent in an air-conditioned room with a private bathroom.
The second day threads the Todra Gorge, where the rock closes in to a few dozen metres, before the land flattens, reddens and finally breaks into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Camels, or a 4x4, if you prefer, carry you into the sand for sunset. Dinner, Berber drums and a night under more stars than you have ever seen follow at the camp of your choosing.
The third day starts with sunrise over the dunes and ends back in Marrakech, dropped at your hotel or riad. Two formats share the same route: a shared departure, with a standard camp included and a better camp available as an option when you book, and a fully private version with a boutique riad on the first night and the Royal Desert Camp on the second.
