Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour.
Three days through the Sahara.

Your 3 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour begins with morning pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, before leaving the city and climbing into the High Atlas Mountains. Follow the winding road across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, pausing at selected viewpoints to admire deep valleys, terraced hillsides, and Amazigh villages built into the mountain landscape. As you cross the pass, the scenery gradually changes from the greener surroundings of Marrakech to the rocky, arid terrain of southern Morocco.

Descend from the mountains to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified ksar famous for its traditional earthen architecture and long connection with the film industry. You will have time to explore the old village on foot, walking through its narrow passages and climbing higher for views across the surrounding valley. Continue afterward to Ouarzazate, where an optional visit to Atlas Film Studios can be added if you would like to see sets and locations used in international productions.

From Ouarzazate, continue through the palm-filled oasis of Skoura and farther into the landscapes of the Valley of Roses before reaching the Dades Valley. The final part of the day takes you past traditional villages, old kasbahs, cultivated fields, and unusual rock formations shaped by centuries of erosion. Arrive at your hotel or riad in the late afternoon or early evening, giving you time to settle in and relax after your first day on the road.

After breakfast, leave the Dades Valley and travel east toward Tinghir, where a broad oasis of date palms and farmland stretches beneath the mountains. Continue into Todra Gorge, one of southern Morocco’s most impressive natural landscapes, where immense limestone walls narrow around the riverbed. You will have time to walk through the canyon, take photographs, and enjoy the dramatic setting before returning to the road toward the Sahara.

The journey continues across the open landscapes of southeastern Morocco toward Rissani, a historic trading town that once played an important role on the caravan routes crossing the Sahara. If you pass through on a Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, your visit can include Rissani’s traditional market, when families and traders from nearby desert communities come into town to buy and sell produce, spices, household goods, livestock, and other everyday necessities. Afterward, continue toward Merzouga as the flat desert gradually gives way to the towering golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Once in Merzouga, meet your camel caravan and begin your ride into the dunes with timing planned around sunset, subject to arrival and local conditions. If you prefer not to ride a camel, a 4×4 transfer to the camp can be arranged, and your main luggage can also be transported separately. Arrive at your desert camp, settle into your private en-suite tent, and enjoy dinner before an evening of traditional music and drumming around the campfire beneath the desert sky.

Wake early if you would like to step outside and watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before breakfast. Leaving Merzouga behind, begin the long but varied journey north toward Fes, travelling through the landscapes of the Ziz region. Stop at a panoramic viewpoint above the Ziz Valley, where thousands of date palms form a green ribbon through the rocky terrain and traditional villages sit along the oasis below.

Continue north toward Midelt, where the desert scenery gradually gives way to the higher elevations of the Middle Atlas Mountains. After lunch along the route, travel through forests and mountain landscapes toward the cedar region near Azrou, where Barbary macaques are often seen among the trees. Continue to Ifrane, a peaceful mountain town known for its cooler climate, landscaped streets, and distinctive alpine-inspired architecture.

From Ifrane, complete the final stretch toward Fes, with the landscape becoming increasingly green as you approach the city. Arrival is generally in the early evening, depending on traffic and the number of stops made during the journey. Your driver will drop you at your hotel or riad, or at the nearest vehicle-accessible point if your accommodation is located inside the pedestrian streets of the medina, bringing your three-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour to an end.

The tour includes private transport, an English-speaking driver-guide, pickup in Marrakech, drop-off in Fes, one night in the Dades Valley, one night at a Merzouga desert camp, dinner and breakfast at both overnight stops, a sunset camel trek across Erg Chebbi, luggage transfer to camp and sandboards. Lunches, additional beverages, entrance fees, optional activities, tips and travel insurance are not included.

The indicative private tour rate is €389 per person for two travelers. The full table ranges from €150 per person for 14–17 travelers to €790 for one traveler; the lowest rate is not a two-person price. Travel dates, accommodation category and availability can affect the final confirmed price.

This 3-day tour includes one night in the Dades Valley and one night at a Merzouga desert camp. The 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour adds a night at a Merzouga hotel or riad and a full day exploring the desert area by 4×4 before the sunset camel trek and desert-camp stay. The main transfer days between Marrakech, Dades Valley, Merzouga and Fes remain long; the extra day gives you more time in the Sahara rather than shortening those drives.

A private tour is operated only for your booking, with a vehicle and driver-guide assigned to your group. This gives you more flexibility with stops and comfort breaks. A group tour normally combines travelers from separate bookings and follows a more fixed schedule.

A practical Marrakech to Fes 3 days itinerary travels from Marrakech across the High Atlas Mountains to Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Dades Valley on day one. Day two continues through Todra Gorge and Rissani to the Merzouga desert for the sunset camel trek and desert camp. Day three travels north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the cedar forest and Ifrane before reaching Fes.

Spring and autumn generally provide comfortable conditions for this route. Winter can bring cold nights in Merzouga and cooler weather in the mountains, while summer temperatures in the Sahara can be very high during the afternoon. The tour can operate throughout the year, subject to road and weather conditions.

The route includes the High Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura, the Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, Rissani, Merzouga, the dunes of Erg Chebbi, the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the cedar forest near Azrou and Ifrane. The Sahara desert experience also includes a camel trek and an overnight stay at a Merzouga desert camp.

Vehicle type depends on your group size and availability. For 2–3 travelers, we generally use a 4×4 such as a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX. Groups of 4–8 generally travel by minivan, such as a Mercedes-Benz Vito or Ford Tourneo Custom. Larger groups travel by minibus. Day one covers approximately 350 km, day two around 275 km, and day three approximately 470 km. Approximate driving times are 6–7 hours on day one, 4–5 hours on day two and 7–8 hours on day three, excluding sightseeing, meals and breaks.

Yes. Solo travelers can book the trip as a private tour. Because the vehicle and driver-guide are reserved for one booking, the per-person cost is higher for a solo traveler than for couples or larger groups. The current solo rate is shown in the price table above.

Standard Comfort, Mid-Range and Premium categories are available. The Merzouga desert night is in a private en-suite tent. Ideal Desert Camp, Tawada Luxury Desert Camp and Antares Desert Camp are examples of the three accommodation categories. The exact camp, room features and climate-control facilities are confirmed according to the selected category and availability for your dates.

Send your travel dates, number of travelers and preferred accommodation category through the booking form. We will check the Dades Valley accommodation, desert camp and transport availability before confirming the final price. Once you approve the details, a deposit secures the booking.

Yes. A 4×4 transfer to camp can be arranged instead of the camel trek and is included when used as the alternative. Let us know before departure so we can organize your arrival. Luggage transfer to camp is included.

Pickup is from your Marrakech hotel or riad on the first morning, with the meeting point and time confirmed before departure. Where a medina street is not accessible by vehicle, we will agree a nearby meeting point. The tour finishes at your Fes accommodation or the nearest vehicle-accessible point.

The itinerary normally reaches Fes in the evening, and road conditions, weather and sightseeing stops can affect arrival. We recommend spending that night in Fes and avoiding a tightly timed flight or train connection. Share any onward travel plans before booking.

The route involves long hours in a vehicle, uneven paths at sightseeing stops and walking on sand around camp. Tell us the ages of children and any mobility, room or transport requirements before booking so we can check suitable arrangements. A 4×4 transfer is available instead of camel riding.

Your quote will set out the deposit, balance-payment arrangements and applicable booking terms. Please review our cancellation policy and ask about any unclear terms before confirming.