Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour

You leave Fes early in the morning and head south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stretch of the journey from Fes takes you through Ifrane — the Switzerland of Morocco — a mountain town at 1,650 metres that sits in the middle of cedar forests and looks nothing like the rest of the country. Barbary macaques live in the trees along the roadside near Azrou.

From the Middle Atlas the road descends into the pre-Saharan south. The landscape empties out completely. You enter the Ziz Valley — a long palm oasis that cuts through the desert toward Erfoud and Rissani. The contrast between the cedar forests above and the desert palms below is one of the most striking visual shifts in Morocco.

You reach the Merzouga desert in the late afternoon. The sunset camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes takes about 45 minutes. The luxury desert camp is inside the dunes, not next to the road — private tents with hot water, air conditioning, and en-suite bathroom. Dinner at the camp, a fire, live music, and a sky with no light pollution. Breakfast included.

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

You wake up at the desert camp and watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before heading west. This is what the night in the desert leads to — the morning light on the dunes is different from any other landscape on the route.

The camel or 4x4 takes you back to Merzouga before the drive west through Erfoud and into Todra Gorge. The gorge walls rise to 300 metres and narrow to about 10 metres at the tightest point. Walk the base before 11am for the best light and the fewest visitors.

After Todra the road continues west through the Dades canyon — the landscape here is dramatic and completely different from the sandy desert you left this morning. You arrive at your riad or hotel in the Dades Valley in the late afternoon. Canyon views, dinner and breakfast included.

approx. 220 km  ·  approx. 4 hours driving  ·  Overnight: Dades Valley

The final day of the 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour. You leave the Dades Valley in the morning and head west through the Valley of Roses — a river canyon that blooms with roses in April and May for the annual rose festival — and into Ouarzazate.

Ouarzazate sits at the edge of the Sahara and the Atlas and has been the base for some of the biggest film productions in history — it is not for nothing that it is called the Hollywood of Africa. You can stop for lunch or a coffee before continuing to Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of packed earth towers and kasbahs sitting above a dry riverbed. It has appeared in Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and dozens of other productions. Your driver-guide leads you through the full circuit — up past the old kasbah houses, through the narrow lanes, and up to the granary at the top. No entry fee required.

After Ait Ben Haddou the road climbs north through the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. The views across the Atlas from the top are panoramic. 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, book tickets online in advance.

approx. 320 km  ·  approx. 5 hours driving  ·  End: Marrakech

The journey from Fes to Merzouga is 490 km and approximately 9 hours. This is the longest driving day of the tour and the one that surprises most travellers. An early departure from Fes — 7am or earlier — gets you to the dunes in time for the sunset camel ride. The Middle Atlas section is the most interesting driving of the day and goes fast. The pre-Saharan plain south of Erfoud is long and flat but the dunes appear suddenly on the left and make the drive worth it.

The sunset camel ride on day one takes about 45 minutes into the dunes. If you prefer not to ride, a 4x4 transfer to the desert camp is available at no extra cost. Let your driver-guide know before arrival in Merzouga.

The luxury camps at Erg Chebbi are inside the dunes, not next to the road. Every tent has a private bathroom, hot water, and air conditioning. The evening has a fire, live Gnawa music, and a sky with no light pollution. Leave your main bag in the vehicle — bring a small daypack to the camp with sunscreen, sunglasses, a light scarf, and a power bank.

Your driver-guide leads the walk through Ait Ben Haddou. No entry fee is required. The walk takes about one hour including the climb to the granary at the top. Go early in the day before the tour groups arrive from Marrakech.

The pass sits at 2,260 metres. The switchbacks on both sides are long. If you are prone to motion sickness, take medication before day three. The views from the top are worth the climb.

The best route goes south from Fes through the Middle Atlas cedar forests to the Ziz Valley, then into the Merzouga desert for the sunset camel ride and a night at a luxury desert camp. Day two crosses Todra Gorge to the Dades Valley. Day three goes through Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, and over the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n'Tichka into Marrakech. This 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour covers the complete southern circuit in one direction without repeating a road.

Fes to Merzouga is approximately 490 km and 9 hours driving. This is the longest single drive on the tour and takes up most of day one. An early departure from Fes — 7am or earlier — ensures you reach the dunes in time for the sunset camel trek. The drive passes through the Middle Atlas Mountains, Ifrane, Azrou, and the Ziz Valley palm oasis before reaching the Merzouga desert.

Yes — the route is the same but the direction and experience are different. The Marrakech to Fes tour has the long drive on the last day, which can feel exhausting. This Fes to Marrakech tour puts the long drive on day one so the rest of the trip gets progressively shorter and easier. You also see Ait Ben Haddou as the final major stop before Marrakech rather than the first stop after leaving the city — which gives it a different weight as a closing experience.

You arrive at the Merzouga desert in the late afternoon on day one. The sunset camel ride takes about 45 minutes into the Erg Chebbi dunes. The luxury desert camps are inside the dunes with private tents, en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. Dinner at the camp, a fire in the evening, live music, and a completely dark sky. On day two you wake up at the camp for sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi before heading west. It is two nights in the Sahara condensed into one — the essential Moroccan desert experience.

Night one is at a luxury desert camp inside the Erg Chebbi dunes. Three tiers available — standard, mid-range, and premium. All include private en-suite tents with hot water and air conditioning, dinner and breakfast. Night two is at a riad or hotel in the Dades Valley canyon with dinner and breakfast included.

Yes. The most common addition is a full day in Merzouga on day two — a guided 4x4 desert excursion covering a nomad family visit, Khamlia village, and Dayet Srji lake — before continuing to the Dades Valley on day three. This makes it a 4-day version of the route. Tell us when you enquire and we will confirm the adjusted price and itinerary.

Contact us directly 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. Check our cancellation policy for full details.