Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour 2 Days

You leave your riad in Fes early — 7am at the latest — and head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. The road passes through Ifrane at 1,650 metres — a clean mountain town that looks more like Switzerland than Morocco — and through the cedar forest around Azrou where Barbary macaque troops sit in the trees along the road. This is one of the most distinctive landscapes in Morocco and it changes fast as you descend south.

The cedar forest gives way to the pre-Saharan plain. The Ziz Valley appears — a long date palm oasis lined with old kasbahs that cuts through the desert toward Rissani. From Rissani the road continues south and the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the left in the late afternoon.

You reach the Merzouga desert in time for the sunset camel trek. The ride into the dunes takes about 45 minutes. Your guide leads you away from the road toward the luxury camp inside the dunes. Private tent, en-suite bathroom, hot water, air conditioning. Dinner at the camp, Berber music and drums around the campfire, and a starlit sky with no light pollution. Breakfast included.

approx. 490 km  ·  approx. 9 hours driving  ·  Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi

You wake up early and watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before the camel or 4×4 takes you back to Merzouga. Breakfast at the camp, then the drive west begins.

The road heads west through the desert toward Ouarzazate — Morocco’s film capital and the gateway to the south. Stop here for lunch before continuing. From Ouarzazate the road goes north and the pre-Saharan kasbah valleys appear on either side.

The next stop is a panoramic viewpoint above Ait Ben Haddou — a UNESCO World Heritage site of Berber kasbahs above a dry riverbed, used as a filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Due to the long drive ahead this is a photo stop with an explanation from your guide rather than a full walk inside the ksar.

After Ait Ben Haddou the road climbs through the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. The views from the top are the last great scenery of the route. The road descends into the Haouz plain and you arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon. If you plan to visit Majorelle Garden or the YSL Museum during your stay in Marrakech, book tickets online in advance.

approx. 560 km  ·  approx. 9 hours driving  ·  End: Marrakech

Day one from Fes to Merzouga is approximately 490 km and 9 hours. Day two from Merzouga to Marrakech is approximately 560 km and 9 hours. Leave Fes by 7am on day one to reach the dunes in time for the sunset camel trek. Leave the desert camp early on day two.

The Middle Atlas section on day one is the most interesting driving of the first half of the day. The cedar forest around Azrou is worth a short photo stop — the Barbary macaques are usually visible from the road. Allow 15 minutes before continuing south.

The Ziz Valley oasis is one of the best photo stops on the day one route — a wide date palm oasis cutting through the desert with old kasbahs on both banks. A 10-minute stop before Rissani adds nothing to the journey time but gives you one of the best landscape shots of the trip.

Day two does not allow time for a full walk through Ait Ben Haddou. This is a photo stop above the ksar with an explanation from your guide. If you want to walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site properly, the 3-day Fes to Marrakech tour gives you the time.

The sunset camel ride on day one takes about 45 minutes into the dunes. If you prefer not to ride, a 4×4 transfer to the camp is available at no extra cost. Let your guide know before arriving in Merzouga.

Leave your main bag in the vehicle. Bring a small daypack — sunscreen SPF 50, sunglasses, a light scarf for the dunes, power bank, one change of clothes.

Yes — if two days is genuinely all you have. You get the Sahara, the camel trek, the night in a luxury desert camp, the Ziz Valley, Ifrane, and Ait Ben Haddou on the way to Marrakech. Both days are long drives and neither stop gets much time. If your trip allows three days, the 3-day Fes to Marrakech tour is a much more comfortable experience with proper overnight stops.

Private transport for both days, English-speaking driver-guide, one night at a luxury desert camp at Erg Chebbi with dinner and breakfast, sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes, sandboarding, and a panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou. Lunches on both days are not included.

Ifrane and the cedar forest on day one, the Ziz Valley date palm oasis, the sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes, one night in a luxury desert camp under the stars, the sunrise over the dunes, and the panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou on the way to Marrakech.

Day one: leave Fes at 7am, drive south through Ifrane, Azrou, and the cedar forest, cross the Ziz Valley, reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes, night at the luxury camp. Day two: sunrise at the dunes, breakfast, drive west through Ouarzazate, panoramic stop at Ait Ben Haddou, cross Tizi n’Tichka at 2,260 metres, arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.

Contact us on WhatsApp or fill in the enquiry form on this page. We confirm availability and send full pricing for your group size within a few hours. A small deposit secures your dates.

March to May and October to November are the best months. Desert temperatures at Erg Chebbi sit between 18 and 28°C. July and August are possible but both driving days are very long in the heat. December and January are cold at the desert camp at night but the dunes are quiet.

One night only — at a luxury desert camp inside the Erg Chebbi dunes. Three tiers: standard, mid-range, and premium. All have private en-suite tents with hot water and air conditioning, and dinner and breakfast included. The tour ends with a drop-off in Marrakech — no hotel night in Marrakech is included.

The route is safe and well-travelled. Your driver is experienced on this road year-round and knows the conditions in all seasons. The desert camp around Merzouga is completely safe. Bring cash in dirhams for both days of lunches and tips — ATMs are limited between Rissani and Ouarzazate.

The 2-day tour covers the core of the route in the shortest possible time. The 3-day tour adds the Dades Valley as an overnight and a full walk through Ait Ben Haddou. The 4-day tour adds a full guided day in the Merzouga desert. For travellers with more time, the longer tours are always a better experience.