Desert & oases
Dunes, kasbahs & starlit nights
Cinematic Ouarzazate, UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou, the Todra and Dadès gorges, and Merzouga's orange Erg Chebbi dunes: this is where the Sahara begins. Bivouacs under the Milky Way, camel rides at dusk, Drâa palm groves and Erfoud fossils — a journey out of time among Berbers, Arabs and Saharawis.
Best period
Oct–April · avoid July–Aug
Ambience & flavours
Berber tajine under the tent · Saharan tea · sunsets on the dunes
Key cities
Ouarzazate
"Hollywood of the desert" — film studios, Taourirt kasbah and gateway to the Sahara.
Aït Ben Haddou
UNESCO pisé ksar, the mythic backdrop for Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
Suggested itineraries
Express desert road in 3 days
Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and a night in the dunes.
Sahara loop in 7 days
Cinema, kasbahs, gorges and bivouac under the stars.
When to go — month by month
January
Dune nights -5°C, ideal by day
February
Cold dry, pure sky
March
Ideal — spring, almond blossom
April
Mild and dry, perfect
May
Still pleasant before heat
June
Very hot (45°C), avoid midday
July
Extreme — for adventurers only
August
Still very hot
September
Heat eases, ideal
October
Magnificent — autumn colours in oases
November
Ideal — golden palm groves
December
Mild days, freezing nights
Must-see
Sites in this region· 13
Aït Ben Haddou
UNESCOOuarzazate
Fortified earthen village on the Drâa caravan route, UNESCO since 1987; backdrop of many films (Gladiator, Game of Thrones).
Kasbah Taourirt
Ouarzazate
Former residence of Pasha Glaoui in Ouarzazate, a huge early-20th-century earthen labyrinth.
Atlas Studios
Ouarzazate
One of the world's largest film studios by area; sets of Cleopatra, Gladiator and Asterix open to visitors.
Vallée du Drâa
Zagora
Morocco's longest palm grove, a 200 km green ribbon between Ouarzazate and Zagora, dotted with ochre kasbahs.
Zagora
Zagora
Oasis town at the foot of Jebel Zagora, famous for its 'Timbuktu 52 days' sign and desert caravans.
Mhamid el Ghizlane
Mhamid
Last village in the southern Drâa, gateway to the Sahara and starting point for the Chigaga dunes.
Erg Chigaga
Mhamid
Morocco's largest dune field, 60 km from Mhamid: 300 m dunes, wilder than Merzouga.
Erg Chebbi (Merzouga)
Merzouga
Orange dune sea 28 km long and up to 150 m high near Merzouga — the postcard image of the Moroccan Sahara.
Khamlia
Merzouga
Village of sub-Saharan slave descendants south of Merzouga, famous for daily Gnawa music sessions.
Gorges du Todra
Tinghir
300 m vertical limestone cliffs only 10 m apart at the narrowest point — a world-class climbing destination.
Gorges du Dadès
Boumalne Dadès
Spectacular valley known as the 'Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs', famous for its 'monkey fingers' rocks and dizzying hairpin road.
Gastronomy & flavours
Crafts & shopping
What to pack
Chèche head wrap (wind + sun), warm fleece for dune nights, headlamp, sand goggles, strong sunscreen.
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