4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour

Highlights

• Ifrane and the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas
• Sunset camel trek and a night in a luxury camp
• A day exploring nomad life, Khamlia and the Merzouga lake
• Todra Gorge and the "Monkey Fingers" of the Dades Valley
• Valley of Roses, Skoura and the Ouarzazate film studios
• Ait Benhaddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass

Photo gallery

1. Day 1

   Fes – Ifrane – cedar forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga

   Early pick-up from the airport or your accommodation in Fes. We drive south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, then into the cedar forest where Barbary macaques live. Lunch is in Midelt before the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and the Ziz Valley. In the afternoon you reach Merzouga, switch to camels and ride to a high dune for sunset, then on to a luxury camp for Berber drums around the fire, dinner and the night.

   Overnight:

   Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi

2. Day 2

   Exploring the Merzouga region – nomads, Khamlia, lake and palm grove

   Sunrise from the dunes, breakfast and a camel ride back to your driver. We spend the day exploring the region by 4×4 — an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, tea with a nomad family in their woven tent, Gnawa music in Khamlia, lunch, a palm grove walk and Merzouga's seasonal lake, known for flamingos when there is water. Dinner and the night at a hotel.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in Merzouga

3. Day 3

   Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

   After breakfast we visit Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet, and a fossil-marble workshop in Erfoud. Through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad we reach the Todra Gorge, a canyon of high red cliffs, with time to walk and have lunch. We continue via Boumalne Dades to the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations and a viewpoint over the Dades Valley, followed by dinner and the night at a hotel.

   Overnight:

   Hotel in the Dades Valley

4. Day 4

   Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

   We drive to Kelaat M'Gouna and the Valley of Roses, where a rose festival is held each May, then through the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate, the "gate of the desert", to visit the film studios. At Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site seen in films including Gladiator and in Game of Thrones, we explore the ksar before crossing the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Stops for lunch and photographs, and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech.

Practical information

Tour type

Private, one-way tour: starts in Fes and ends in Marrakech

Pick-up

Your accommodation or the airport in Fes

Drop-off

Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech

Frequently asked questions