Combining North Africa's highest summit with a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes costs €635. Booking the two separately costs more and works less well — here is the arithmetic.
The short answer
The 5-day Toubkal and Sahara tour is
€635 per person, covering both halves of the trip end to end.
The obvious question is whether you could just book a Toubkal trek and a desert tour
separately for less. You can book them for less. You cannot do them for less — and
the difference is a wasted day.
The arithmetic people actually want
| Option | Price | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 2-day Toubkal + 3-day Sahara | €418 | Return to Marrakech between them; 5 days plus a changeover |
| 5-day combined | €635 | Continuous route, private vehicle, no backtracking |
Booking separately looks €217 cheaper. What it costs you is the day between the two
trips — you come down from Imlil to Marrakech, sleep, then set off south the next
morning over ground you have partly already covered. The combined itinerary runs
Imlil → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades → Erg Chebbi as one line.
It also swaps a shared minibus for a private driver-guide on the desert leg,
which is most of the price difference on its own.
Where the €635 goes
| Item | Typical 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed mountain guide (trek) | 500–800 MAD / day | Split across the group |
| Private driver-guide (desert) | 800–1,200 MAD / day | Per vehicle, English/French |
| Toubkal Refuge, bed + half board | 300–350 MAD / night | Night 1, at 3,207 m |
| Imlil guesthouse | 200–300 MAD / night | Night 2, after the summit |
| Dades Valley hotel | 250–400 MAD / night | Night 3, dinner + breakfast |
| Erg Chebbi desert camp | 300–500 MAD / night | Night 4, dinner + breakfast |
| Mule porter (trek) | 250–300 MAD / day | Carries group gear |
| Camel treks at Erg Chebbi | Included | Sunset and sunrise |
| Toubkal park fees + transfers | Fixed | All included |
The five days
- Day 1 — Marrakech → Imlil → Toubkal Refuge (3,207 m)
- Day 2 — Summit Toubkal (4,167 m), descend to Imlil
- Day 3 — Imlil → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
- Day 4 — Dades → Todra Gorge → Erg Chebbi desert camp
- Day 5 — Sunrise over the dunes → Marrakech
Two of Morocco's biggest experiences without a wasted transfer between them.
What is not included
- Travel insurance — mandatory for the trek
- Personal trekking equipment and sleeping bag
- Lunches on the desert days — budget €12–15 per meal
- Crampons and ice axe for a winter summit (rental available in Imlil)
- Tips for the guides, driver, cook and muleteer
Is it the right trip?
If you have five days and want both the mountain and the desert, this is the
efficient way to do it. If you only care about the summit, the
2-day Toubkal trek at €193 does that
alone. If the dunes are the draw, the
3-day Sahara tour at €225 is the direct route.
The combination is worth its premium when you actually want both — not as a way of
saving money on either.
👉 See the 5-day Toubkal & Sahara tour — €635 per person, summit at 4,167 m and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, private throughout.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the 5-day Toubkal and Sahara tour cost?
Is it cheaper than booking the trek and desert tour separately?
Do I need trekking experience for the Toubkal leg?
What is not included?
Trips that go here
Guided by the team who wrote this guide.
Toubkal & Sahara from Marrakech — 5-Day Mountain-to-Desert Tour
- Summit Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m) — the highest peak in North Africa
- Sunrise from the roof of North Africa, then breakfast back at the refuge
- Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass and the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
€635 - €727 / person
Mount Toubkal Express — 2-Day Summit from Marrakech
- Summit Jbel Toubkal (4,167 m) in just two days from Marrakech
- Overnight in the Toubkal Refuge at 3,207 m
- Pass the Sidi Chamharouch shrine and its waterfall
€193 / person
Marrakech to Merzouga — 3-Day Desert Tour
- Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Overnight in a traditional Berber desert camp
- Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO World Heritage Ksar
€225 / person