Getting around: transfers and car rental
The desert tour includes all its transport — but you still have to land, reach the medina, and maybe explore on your own. Here is how to sort each piece without surprises.
Marrakech airport transfer
Menara Airport (RAK) is only about 6 km from the medina — roughly 20 minutes by car. Taxis exist, but the price negotiation at arrivals is famous. A pre-booked private transfer costs a fixed price and the driver waits for you in arrivals.
- Fixed price agreed when you book — no haggling at midnight
- Driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign
- Your flight is monitored; most options cancel free
Transfer bookings go through GetYourGuide, the same booking partner used for the tours on this site.
Renting a car
The road to Merzouga is fully paved and spectacular — but it is 560 km each way over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with hundreds of mountain bends and occasional winter snow. Renting makes sense if you love road trips and have 4–5 days; it is not a way to save time.
- Book with full insurance — mountain roads and medina traffic are unforgiving
- Fuel stations are regular on the main route; fill up before the desert stretch
- Avoid driving the Atlas passes after dark
Internet in the desert: get an eSIM
Moroccan mobile coverage is decent along the tour route and around Merzouga, but roaming fees are not. An eSIM with a Morocco data plan takes five minutes to install before you fly — no shop queues, no physical SIM. In the camps, expect connectivity to fade: that is part of the desert.
Domestic flights
Marrakech Menara (RAK) is the main gateway. For the desert itself, Errachidia (ERH) is about 130 km (~2 hours) from Merzouga and Ouarzazate (OZZ) a 5–7 hour drive — both served by limited domestic flights. Honest take: for most travellers the 3-day road tour beats flying, because the road is half the experience.