5 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Your driver-guide meets you at your Fes hotel or riad, or an agreed nearby meeting point, for the journey south. The climb into the Middle Atlas brings cooler air and a stop in Ifrane. Continue to the cedar forest near Azrou for a short break among the trees. Barbary macaques may be seen; sightings are not guaranteed, and wildlife should not be fed.

Beyond the forest, the road crosses open plateaus toward Midelt, where you can stop for lunch. The afternoon follows the changing landscape toward the Ziz Valley. A viewpoint above the palm groves gives you time to take photographs and see how villages and cultivated plots follow the river through this dry region.

Reach Merzouga near the Erg Chebbi dunes and settle into your hotel or riad. Dinner is included, and your private room has an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, AC and heating. This first night is a comfortable pause after the longest transfer of the tour; your desert exploration and camp stay are planned for tomorrow.

Overnight: Merzouga hotel or riad.

After breakfast, set out by private 4x4 to explore the area around Erg Chebbi. In Khamlia, listen to Gnawa music and spend time with local hosts before continuing toward the former Mifis mining area and the dark, stony desert beyond the dunes. The morning takes you beyond the camp surroundings and gives you a closer look at the villages and landscapes around Merzouga.

A visit to a nomad family offers time for mint tea and conversation, subject to the hosts’ availability. The route also includes Dayet Srji when seasonal conditions allow; the lake can be dry, and bird sightings are not guaranteed. Your driver-guide adapts the order of stops to conditions, with time for photographs and a lunch break before returning to the dune edge.

In the afternoon, join your camel trek, planned around sunset subject to weather and conditions. An included 4x4 transfer is available instead if you prefer not to ride, while your luggage travels separately. At the desert camp, settle into your private tent with an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, AC and heating. Dinner and an evening at camp complete your second Sahara night.

Overnight: Merzouga desert camp.

Watch the sunrise over Erg Chebbi before breakfast at camp if you wish. Return from the dunes by camel or 4x4 as arranged, with your luggage transferred back to the vehicle. Continue through Rissani, a historic trading town in the Tafilalet region. A souk visit can fit when Day 3 falls on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday and the day’s timing allows.

The road west leads toward Tinghir and its palm groves, then into Todra Gorge. Step out for a walk beside the river between the limestone walls, with time to take photographs and enjoy a lunch stop. Tell your driver-guide how much walking feels comfortable so the stop suits your party.

Continue to the Dades Valley, where villages and cultivated terraces follow the river beneath the rock slopes. Ask about a viewpoint stop at the Monkey Fingers formations if your hotel approach and timing allow. Your private en-suite room and dinner await at the hotel or riad, with the next day reserved for the valleys and Skoura rather than the full crossing to Marrakech.

Overnight: Dades Valley hotel or riad.

Travel from Dades toward Boutaghrar, where the route follows tracks between ochre hills, riverbeds and small Amazigh settlements. This is the stage that sets the five-day journey apart: you have a day for the southern valleys before your final mountain crossing. The off-road route is included subject to road conditions, with suitable vehicle arrangements confirmed for your group before booking.

A local family visit may be arranged along the Boutaghrar route when hosts are available. Take time for tea and conversation, and ask before photographing people or their home. Continue through the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M’Gouna, passing villages and cultivated land. Roses flower seasonally, so the scenery changes throughout the year.

Arrive in Skoura Oasis for a visit to Kasbah Amridil, with entrance fees paid separately. Its earthen rooms and courtyards offer a different setting from the open desert you left behind. End the day at your Skoura hotel or riad, with dinner and a private en-suite room. The oasis overnight splits the journey from Dades to Marrakech across two days.

Overnight: Skoura Oasis hotel or riad.

After breakfast, leave Skoura for Ouarzazate. If film sets interest you, an optional Atlas Studios visit can be arranged at additional cost, time permitting. Continue toward the Ounila Valley for your visit to Ait Ben Haddou, with the remaining day’s schedule planned around the High Atlas crossing.

Explore Ait Ben Haddou on foot, following earthen lanes through the UNESCO-listed fortified ksar. Its buildings and surroundings have appeared in films including Gladiator, The Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia. Take time to see the village architecture and valley views; paths and steps can be uneven, and a local monument guide can be arranged separately.

Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka, with viewpoint and comfort stops along the road. Your five-day tour finishes in Marrakech in the late afternoon or evening, subject to traffic and stops. Drop-off is at your hotel or riad, or the nearest vehicle-accessible point to your accommodation. Keep your arrival evening free of a tightly timed flight or train connection.

Finish: Tour ends in Marrakech; accommodation tonight is not included.

This is a private tour: your vehicle and driver-guide are reserved for your booking. The group-size price bands refer to your own party, not seats on a shared departure. Rooms and tents are private to your booking arrangements; the hotels and desert camp may host other guests.

The indicative rate is €764 per person for two travelers, or €1,528 for your party. The solo rate is €1,352, and the lowest published rate is €524 per person for a private group of 10 or more. Your dates, accommodation tier, room arrangements and availability determine the final quote. The lowest rate is not a two-person price.

Both routes include a Merzouga hotel or riad night, a camp night and a full desert exploration day. The five-day tour adds the Boutaghrar and Rose Valley stage, a Kasbah Amridil visit and a Skoura Oasis overnight. You travel from Dades to Skoura, then continue to Marrakech the next day. Compare the four-day Fes to Marrakech tour if your schedule is shorter; the long first drive from Fes is the same.

Night 1 is in a Merzouga hotel or riad, Night 2 at a Merzouga desert camp, Night 3 in the Dades Valley and Night 4 in Skoura Oasis. All accommodation, including the camp tent, has a private en-suite bathroom, a hot shower, air conditioning and heating. Dinner and breakfast are included at all four stops. Your chosen properties and room arrangements are confirmed before booking.

The route totals approximately 1,155–1,205 km. Day 1 is 470 km / 7–8 hours of driving; Day 2 is a 50–80 km Merzouga excursion lasting 4–6 hours including visits; Day 3 is 275 km / 4–5 hours; Day 4 is 110–130 km / 3–4 hours; and Day 5 is 250 km / 5–6 hours. Driving times exclude sightseeing, lunch and breaks. The Day 2 excursion time includes stops and is not continuous driving.

Vehicle type depends on group size and availability. For 2–3 travelers, we generally use a 4x4 such as a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX; for 4–8, a Mercedes Vito or Ford Tourneo minivan; larger parties use a minibus. The Merzouga and Boutaghrar off-road sections use suitable vehicles even when the main transfer vehicle is a minivan or minibus. We confirm the arrangements for your group in the quote.

Day 2 explores the Erg Chebbi area by private 4x4, including Khamlia and its Gnawa music, the former Mifis mining area, a nomad family visit when hosts are available, and Dayet Srji when seasonal conditions allow. The lake may be dry, and bird sightings are not guaranteed. The camel trek and camp stay follow later that day, so you do not transfer directly to camp after the long drive from Fes.

The ride takes approximately one hour each way, depending on camp location and dune conditions. The outward trek is planned around sunset on Day 2, subject to weather and conditions. An included 4x4 transfer to and from camp is available instead of camel riding. Tell us before departure; luggage transfer to and from the desert camp is included whichever option you choose.

The Boutaghrar off-road route is included subject to road conditions, with a family visit when hosts are available. Your quote confirms suitable vehicle arrangements. If weather or the track condition prevents this route, our team agrees a practical alternative for the journey toward the Valley of Roses and Skoura. A specific family visit is not guaranteed.

The package includes private transport and a driver-guide, four accommodation nights, four dinners, four breakfasts, the Merzouga 4x4 excursion, the condition-dependent Boutaghrar route, a planned camel trek or camp-transfer alternative, luggage transfers and sandboards at camp. Lunches, additional drinks, entrance fees such as Kasbah Amridil, local monument guides, optional Atlas Studios visits, quad biking, dune buggies, tips and travel insurance are extra.

Pickup is from your Fes hotel or riad on the first morning, or an agreed nearby vehicle-accessible point. The tour ends at your Marrakech hotel or riad, or the nearest vehicle-accessible point to your accommodation, on Day 5. Our team confirms the pickup time before departure. Send flight details if you would like to discuss an airport meeting or drop-off.

Yes. The indicative solo price is €1,352 for the complete five-day private tour. Your driver-guide and vehicle are reserved for your booking, with three private hotel or riad rooms and one private desert tent. Dates and accommodation category can affect the final quote.

Tell us children’s ages, seating requirements and any mobility needs before booking. The first day is a long drive, and dunes, uneven kasbah paths and off-road tracks need to be considered. A 4x4 can replace camel riding, but it does not remove every access barrier. Our team checks the proposed vehicle, rooms and camp arrangements with you.

Spring and autumn generally offer comfortable conditions for the mountains and Sahara. Summer can be very hot around Merzouga, while winter brings cold evenings and possible weather disruption on mountain roads. The Rose Valley flowers seasonally and Dayet Srji depends on rainfall. We plan your journey around the conditions expected for your dates.

Wear comfortable trousers for the camel trek, breathable clothing during warm days and closed shoes for kasbah lanes and gorge walks. Bring a warm layer, sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf and personal essentials. A small overnight bag is convenient at camp, while your main luggage is transferred separately to and from it. Keep valuables and items needed during the day with you, and tell us about oversized bags.

Yes, subject to availability and a revised quote where needed. You can choose Standard Comfort, Mid-Range or Premium, request double, twin or family arrangements, or ask to replace the first Merzouga hotel night with a second camp night. Share dietary requirements and other preferences when you enquire. Route changes must allow realistic driving times and are agreed before booking.

We recommend staying in Marrakech that night. The final day includes Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas, and the arrival time can change with traffic, weather and stops. Avoid a tightly timed flight or train connection on Day 5. Share any existing onward booking before confirming the tour.

Send your dates, group size, preferred accommodation tier and pickup details through the enquiry form, email or WhatsApp. The Complete Morocco team checks availability and sends a written quote with the itinerary, named properties, total and payment arrangements. Review those details and review our cancellation policy before paying the agreed deposit. Payment can be arranged by PayPal, bank transfer or Wise.