✓ Private tour with your own driver✓ Free quote, no commitment
→ Overview: 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
This 3 days Marrakech to Fes desert tour crosses Morocco one way, from the High Atlas to the Sahara and on to Fes. First, you visit Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley. Then, you walk in the Todra Gorge and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Finally, you cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and arrive in Fes.
Private tour · Daily departures · Pick-up at your riad. Request your free quote or message us on WhatsApp.
Languages
English, Spanish
Tour type
Private Tour
Availability
All year round, with daily departures
→ 3 Days Marrakech to Fes at a Glance
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Start | Marrakech, with pick-up at your riad or hotel at 8:00 AM |
| End | Your accommodation in Fes |
| Route | Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes |
| Nights | 1 hotel in the Dades Valley, 1 desert camp in Erg Chebbi |
| Meals | 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts |
| Camel ride | About 1 hour to the camp at sunset (a 4×4 transfer is possible) |
| Longest day | Day 3, Merzouga to Fes, about 470 km |
→ Why Choose This 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Tour
If you fly into Marrakech and out of Fes, this is the most efficient way to see the Sahara. In other words, you never drive the same road twice.
- One way, no backtracking. You see the south, the desert and the Middle Atlas on a single route.
- The big dunes. You sleep in a private tent in Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes near Merzouga.
- Two mountain ranges. You cross the High Atlas on day 1 and the Middle Atlas on day 3.
- Private from start to finish. Only your group travels with your driver.
Prefer a slower pace? The 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour adds a full day in Merzouga.
→ 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m).
- Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar.
- Walk between the high limestone walls of the Todra Gorge.
- Ride a camel at sunset across the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Sleep under the stars in a Sahara desert camp.
- Follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley.
- Look for Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou.
- Arrive in Fes, home to one of the oldest medinas in the world.
→ 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Itinerary, Day by Day
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley
Your driver picks you up at your riad or hotel at 8:00 AM. First, we cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop at the viewpoints. Next, we visit Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village listed by UNESCO. Films such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia were shot here.
After lunch, we pass the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate. Then, we follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and Kelaat M’Gouna, in the Rose Valley. Finally, we reach Boumalne Dades in the early evening.
Overnight
Hotel in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast. Driving time: about 6–7 hours with stops.
Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga Desert
After breakfast, we drive to Tinghir and walk into the Todra Gorge. Here, limestone walls rise about 300 metres, and in places the gorge is only about 10 metres wide. Then, we cross Berber villages to Tinejdad and Erfoud, a town known for fossils and dates.
In the late afternoon, your camel trek in Merzouga begins. The ride takes about one hour, so you reach the camp at sunset. Finally, you share a Berber dinner with drums around the fire.
Overnight
Private tent in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, with dinner and breakfast. Driving time: about 5 hours.
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga.
After breakfast, we drive north through Erfoud and Errachidia. Then, the road follows the palm groves of the Ziz Valley and climbs to Midelt, below the Middle Atlas. Afterwards, we cross the cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road.
Next, we pass Ifrane, a tidy mountain town often called the “Switzerland of Morocco”. Finally, we reach Fes, home to a medina listed by UNESCO, and drop you at your riad or hotel.
Drop-off
At your accommodation in Fes in the evening. Merzouga to Fes is about 470 km, so this is the longest day: about 8–9 hours with stops.
→ What’s Included and Not Included
Everything is clear from the start, so there are no surprise fees.
What's Included
Covered from start to finish
- Private tour and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with seat belts.
- Pick-up at your accommodation in Marrakech and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes.
- 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Valley.
- 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi.
- Experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
- Fuel, tolls and all vehicle costs.
- Dinners and breakfasts (vegetarians welcome).
- Camel handler.
- Camel ride of about 1 hour (or a 4×4 transfer to the camp if you prefer).
- Sandboards, free to use at the camp.
What's not Included
Extra costs to plan for
- Flights.
- Lunches (picnic or restaurant stops).
- Drinks with meals.
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and kasbahs.
- Travel insurance.
- Anything not listed under “Included”.
→ 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Route Map
→ Photo Gallery
→ Good to Know: 3 Days Marrakech to Fes
- Private & door to doorPrivate tour: only your group, with your own driver and vehicle. Pick-up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech; drop-off in Fes.
- AltitudeEvery day is a road day (5–8 hours); the last stage from Merzouga to Fes across the Middle Atlas takes about 7–8 hours.
- AltitudeThe road crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m: it is cold in winter and, after heavy snow, can close for a few hours.
- AltitudeIfrane and Azrou in the Middle Atlas sit at about 1,600 m – mornings and evenings are fresh even in spring.
- Desert night1 night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga; the camel ride to camp usually takes about an hour. From November to March desert nights can drop close to 0 °C – bring a warm layer.
- Best seasonBest months: March to May and September to November. In July and August the desert passes 40 °C, so activities are planned early in the morning and at sunset.
- What to bringBring cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and tips, plus sunglasses, sunscreen and a scarf for sun and sand.
Local Expert Tip
Ifrane and Azrou can be cold even in spring – keep a warm jacket within reach for the last day across the Middle Atlas.
→ 3 Days Marrakech to Fes: Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough to go from Marrakech to Fes via the desert?
Yes. It is the shortest way to include a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes. However, day 3 is long, so the 4-day version suits travellers who prefer an easier pace.
How long is the drive from Merzouga to Fes?
About 470 km, or 8–9 hours with stops in the Ziz Valley, Midelt, Azrou and Ifrane.
Will we see monkeys on the way to Fes?
Often, yes. Barbary macaques live in the cedar forests near Azrou, and they are usually close to the road.
Are the hotel and desert camp private?
Yes. You have a private room in the Dades Valley hotel and a private, fully equipped tent in the camp.
Can we do the tour in the other direction?
Yes. Our 3-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech follows the same route in reverse.
What should I pack?
Bring a warm layer: desert nights and the Middle Atlas can be cold, especially from November to March. See what to pack for the Sahara desert.
→ Customize Your 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Tour
Because this is a private tour, you can adapt it to your trip. For example, travellers often ask us to:
- Add a full day in the dunes with the Marrakech to Fes desert tour in 4 days.
- Add a guided visit of the Fes medina or a Chefchaouen day trip after the tour.
- Continue north to Chefchaouen and Tangier with the same private driver in Morocco.
- Return to Marrakech instead with the 3 days Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour.
Want a different route? Then let us plan a tailor-made Morocco tour around your dates.
→ Book Your 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Tour
Ask us for the price
This 3 days Marrakech to Fes trip is private, so the price depends on your group size, travel dates and the riad or camp category you choose. Send us your dates and number of travellers and we will reply with a clear quote, with no hidden costs.
- Private driver & vehicle
- Built around your dates
- Free, no-obligation quote
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→ What Our Travelers Say
“My mom and I had a great trip! Abdul Abderrahim guided our group of 22 for 10 days all around the country. He always a delight and informative. He was very attentive to any needs or wishes of the group and made the trip seamless. Thank you!”
Chip S
Traveled with family
“The entire adventure was marvelous. There was a lot of driving but our driver was very safe and he made frequent stops and showed us many landmarks and cultural treasures. Our visit to the desert was our highlight of the trip. I can highly recommend.”
Evita M
Traveled with friends
“Just returned from a fascinating 12 day Morocco group tour with guide Abdul. We had an amazing, immersive, super fun experience. Abdul was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, funny, patient, and pleasant. He shared personal memories of growing up Berber…”
Maria R
Traveled with friends
“We had a two week tour through Morocco and it was excellent. We visited many different locations, including the big city medina’s of Marrakech and Fez, the lovely coastal city of Essaouira, the fabulous desert area…”
Catherina2015