4 days · 3 nights
Private tours from Marrakech
3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
A one-way journey across Morocco from Marrakech to Fes by way of the Sahara — the High Atlas, Ait Benhaddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
- Duration
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Departure
- Marrakech
- Destination
- Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes)
- Ends in
- Fes
Overview
This one-way route is one of the most popular ways to travel between Morocco’s two great imperial cities, because it turns a long transfer into a journey through the country’s most varied landscapes.
You leave Marrakech over the High Atlas, spend the first night in the Dades Valley and the second in the Sahara, then climb into the Middle Atlas cedar forests on the way to Fes. It suits travellers who are already planning to visit both cities and want to see the desert in between without retracing their steps.
Route
- Marrakech
- Ait Benhaddou
- Dades Valley
- Todra Gorge
- Merzouga
- Midelt
- Ifrane
- Fes
Highlights
- High Atlas crossing by the Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Skoura palm grove and the Valley of Roses
- Dades Gorge viewpoints and a walk in the Todra Gorge
- Sunset camel trek and a night in a luxury desert camp
- Rissani market town and a fossil workshop in Erfoud
- Cedar forest with Barbary macaques and the alpine-style town of Ifrane
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddou – Valley of Roses – Dades Valley
Early pick-up from your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech. We cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, stopping for panoramic views, and visit the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site seen in films including Gladiator and The Mummy and in Game of Thrones. We continue to Ouarzazate, the "gate of the desert", with free time for lunch, then pass the large palm grove of Skoura and the Valley of Roses before reaching the Dades Valley for the night.
- Overnight:
- Riad in the Dades Valley
Day 2
Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Camel trek
After breakfast we stop at a viewpoint over the Dades Gorge, then continue to the Todra Gorge, a canyon of high red cliffs carved by the Todra river, where you have time to walk. We drive on through the palm groves of Tinejdad, with free time for lunch. In the afternoon we reach Merzouga, where you switch to camels and cross the dunes, stopping on a high dune for sunset. At the luxury desert camp you can enjoy Berber drums around the campfire, dinner and a night beneath the stars.
- Overnight:
- Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Day 3
Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
Wake early for sunrise in the dunes, then ride back by camel to Merzouga after breakfast. We visit Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet, whose large market is busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and a fossil-marble workshop in Erfoud. Following the Ziz river, we stop for views over the Ziz Valley and for lunch in Midelt. In the cedar forest you may see Barbary macaques, and in Ifrane — often called the "Switzerland of Morocco" — you will notice the alpine-style houses. We drop you at your accommodation or the airport in Fes.
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4, including fuel
- English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a riad in the Dades Valley
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
- Sandboards available at the camp
- Breakfasts and dinners
- Stops at points of interest along the route
- Berber drumming evening at the camp
What's not included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
- Night 1: riad in the Dades Valley
- Night 2: luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private, one-way tour: starts in Marrakech and ends in Fes
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Drop-off
- Your accommodation or the airport in Fes
- Driver
- English-speaking
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Our tours are private: you travel only with your own group, with a dedicated driver and vehicle. You will not be joined by other travellers.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts in Marrakech, with pick-up from your accommodation or the airport, and finishes in Fes. If you would like to start or finish somewhere else, let us know — the starting and end points can be adapted.
How much does this tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, your travel dates and your choice of accommodation. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a personal quote.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every itinerary can be adapted to your pace, interests and budget — you can add nights, skip stops or combine routes. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
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Ready to plan your Morocco journey?
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally with ideas, availability and a quote.
WhatsApp +212 633 136 786 · greatmoroccoexperience@gmail.com