8 days · 7 nights
Private tours from Rabat
5-Day Rabat to Marrakech Desert Tour
From Rabat to Marrakech via the Sahara — Meknes and Volubilis, a guided day in Fes, a camel trek and a night in a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Benhaddou.
- Duration
- 5 days · 4 nights
- Departure
- Rabat
- Destination
- Fes, the Sahara at Merzouga and the southern gorges
- Ends in
- Marrakech
Overview
This one-way tour links Morocco’s capital with Marrakech by way of the Sahara. It begins with the imperial city of Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis on the way to Fes, where you spend two nights and a guided day in the medina.
From Fes the road crosses the Middle Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi for a sunset camel ride and a night at a luxury camp, then heads west through the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and Ait Benhaddou before crossing the High Atlas to Marrakech.
Route
- Rabat
- Meknes
- Volubilis
- Fes
- Ifrane
- Midelt
- Merzouga
- Todra Gorge
- Dades Valley
- Ouarzazate
- Ait Benhaddou
- Marrakech
Highlights
- Start in Rabat and finish in Marrakech
- Meknes and the UNESCO-listed Roman site of Volubilis
- A guided tour of the Fes medina
- Camel ride at sunset and a night in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- The Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
- Ait Benhaddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Rabat – Meknes – Volubilis – Fes
We pick you up at your accommodation or Rabat–Salé airport and drive to Meknes, one of Morocco's imperial cities, to see the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the Heri es-Souani royal granaries and stables, and El Hedim Square. We continue to Volubilis, a UNESCO-listed Roman site with fine mosaics, a basilica and a triumphal arch, and arrive in Fes in the evening (about 210 km in total).
- Overnight:
- Riad in Fes
Day 2
Guided tour of Fes
Explore Fes with a local guide (a short drive and a 2–3 hour walking tour). See the Royal Palace gate, the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and a viewpoint over the medina, then enter the UNESCO-listed old city through Bab Boujloud to visit the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain, the tanneries and Al Quaraouiyine. Free afternoon.
- Overnight:
- Riad in Fes
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Day 3
Fes – Ifrane – cedar forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
Drive south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, the cedar forest of the Barbary macaques and Midelt for lunch, then over the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and along the Ziz Valley. In the afternoon, switch to camels at Merzouga and cross the dunes to watch the sunset, then continue to your camp for Berber drums around the fire, dinner and the night.
- Overnight:
- Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi
- Meals:
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 4
Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, have breakfast and ride back by camel to meet your driver. Visit Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet, and a fossil workshop in Erfoud. Through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad, reach the Todra Gorge for a walk and lunch, then continue via Boumalne Dades to the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations and a viewpoint over the valley.
- Overnight:
- Hotel in the Dades Valley
- Meals:
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 5
Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech
Visit the Valley of Roses at Kelaat M'Gouna, drive through the palm groves of Skoura and stop at the film studios in Ouarzazate. At Ait Benhaddou, a short walk leads up through the ksar. Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech. We drop you at your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech.
- Meals:
- Breakfast
What's included
- Pick-up at your accommodation or Rabat–Salé airport; drop-off at your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4, including fuel
- English-speaking driver
- Local guides in Volubilis and Fes
- 3 nights in hotels or riads
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
- Sandboards available at the camp
- Daily breakfasts
- 2 dinners (at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley)
- Stops at points of interest along the route
- Berber drumming evening at the camp
What's not included
- Flights
- Other dinners
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
- Nights 1–2: riad in Fes
- Night 3: luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Night 4: hotel in the Dades Valley
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private one-way tour from Rabat to Marrakech, with your own driver and vehicle
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation or Rabat–Salé Airport (RBA)
- Drop-off
- Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Longest drive
- Day 3, from Fes over the Middle Atlas to Merzouga
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 Rabat, with pick-up from your accommodation or the airport, and finishes in Marrakech. 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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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