Your New Year desert adventure begins in Marrakech, where your driver-guide will meet you and begin the scenic drive southeast through the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Cross the famous Tizi n’Tichka Pass, at around 2,260 meters above sea level, and enjoy breathtaking views of mountain villages, terraced farms, and dramatic landscapes along the way.

Continue to the world-famous Ait Ben Haddou, a remarkable fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site located along the old caravan route. This iconic ksar has appeared in many famous films, including The Mummy, Babel, Alexander, and The Message. After time to explore, continue to Ouarzazate, known as the Hollywood of Morocco, before traveling through the palm groves of Skoura and the fragrant Rose Valley.

Arrive in Dades Gorges, where you will check in to your hotel, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

After breakfast, continue your journey through the beautiful landscapes of Dades Gorges, including a stop to admire the unusual Monkey Fingers rock formations and the panoramic viewpoints of the valley road.

Later, drive to the spectacular Todra Gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of Morocco, where you will have time to walk and explore this dramatic natural site. After lunch, continue through the palm groves of Tinjdad toward Erfoud, a town famous for its fossils and marble craftsmanship. Here, you may visit a local fossil workshop before continuing to the desert.

Arrive in Merzouga, where your hotel near the dunes awaits. Check in, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the special New Year celebration to come.

After breakfast, enjoy a deeper discovery of the desert region. Begin with a visit to Rissani, home to a traditional souk where local people from the surrounding desert communities come to trade and shop. This market is one of the most authentic in southern Morocco.

Continue to Khamlia village, known for its powerful Gnawa music and cultural heritage linked to sub-Saharan traditions. Here, enjoy live music and dance before tasting a local specialty such as Berber pizza.

Later, return to your hotel in Merzouga, where your camels will be waiting. Begin your camel trek into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, riding for around an hour and a half across the golden sands to reach your Berber desert camp.

After dinner, the New Year’s Eve celebration begins. Enjoy a magical atmosphere with Berber folklore, Gnawa musicians, drumming around the campfire, and festive celebration under the stars. This is one of the most unforgettable ways to welcome the New Year in Morocco.

Overnight in the Sahara desert camp.

Wake up early to witness the beautiful sunrise over the dunes, a peaceful and unforgettable way to begin the first day of the New Year. After returning by camel to the hotel area and enjoying breakfast, begin the journey westward.

Travel through Rissani once again, then continue toward Alnif, Tazarine, N’Kob, and the magnificent Draa Valley, one of Morocco’s most beautiful oasis routes lined with endless palm groves and ancient villages.

Pass through Agdez and cross the Anti-Atlas Mountains before arriving in Ouarzazate. Check in to your hotel, enjoy dinner, and spend the night in Ouarzazate.

After breakfast, enjoy a short discovery of Ouarzazate, including the famous cinema studios and the historic Kasbah Taourirt, one of the city’s best-known landmarks.

Later, begin the return drive to Marrakech, crossing once again the spectacular High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Enjoy scenic stops along the way before arriving back in Marrakech, where your 5-day New Year’s Eve Sahara desert tour comes to an end.