Adventure in the Sahara desert
Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 4 Days in Morocco
✓ Private tour with your own driver✓ Free quote, no commitment
→ Overview: Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 4 Days in Morocco
This Marrakech to Fes desert tour takes 4 days and gives you two nights around Merzouga. First, you cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley. Then, you walk in the Todra Gorge and sleep in the Erg Chebbi dunes. After a full day in the desert, you cross the Middle Atlas via Ifrane to 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
→ Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 4 days / 3 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 – Khamlia – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes |
| Nights | 1 hotel in the Dades Valley, 1 desert camp in Erg Chebbi, 1 hotel in Merzouga |
| Meals | 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts |
| Camel ride | About 1 hour to the camp at sunset (a 4×4 transfer is possible) |
| Best season | March to May and September to November |
→ Why Choose This Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
Compared with the 3-day trip, the extra day changes everything. You rest after the camp, explore the desert and leave for Fes refreshed.
- A full day in the Sahara. You visit Khamlia and the dunes instead of leaving at dawn.
- One way, no backtracking. You start in Marrakech and finish in Fes.
- Two mountain ranges. The High Atlas on day 1 and the Middle Atlas on day 4.
- Private from start to finish. Only your group travels with your driver.
Short on time? The faster 3 days version follows the same route.
→ Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 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.
- Listen to Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia.
- Follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley.
- Look for Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Azrou.
→ Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 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: A Full Day around Merzouga
Start early with the sunrise over the dunes. Then, ride back to Merzouga for a shower and breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, we drive around the edge of Erg Chebbi, where the colours of the dunes change with the light.
Next, we visit Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa musicians. For lunch, you can try medfouna, the stuffed bread often called “Berber pizza”. Later, the afternoon is free to rest or climb the dunes.
Overnight
Hotel in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast.
Day 4: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes
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.
- 1 night in a hotel in Merzouga.
- 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”.
→ Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour Route Map
→ Photo Gallery
→ Good to Know: Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
- 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.
- Driving timeThe first and last days are the longest (about 7–8 hours each); the full day in Merzouga is relaxed.
- 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 and 1 night in a hotel in 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
Use your full day in Merzouga for a 4×4 loop around Erg Chebbi: the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji, old mining villages and nomad tents where families offer tea.
→ Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour: Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose 4 days instead of 3?
The extra day gives you a full day around Merzouga and a night in a hotel after the camp. As a result, the long drive to Fes feels much easier.
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.
Are the hotels and desert camp private?
Yes. You have private rooms in the hotels and a private, fully equipped tent in the camp.
Do we carry our luggage on the camels?
No. Our team takes your main bags to your tent by 4×4, so you only need a small backpack.
Can we start in Fes and finish in Marrakech?
Yes. Our 4-day tour from Fes to Marrakech follows a similar route in reverse.
When is the best time for this tour?
March to May and September to November. In winter, the Middle Atlas can have snow. Read more about the best time to visit Morocco.
→ Customize Your Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
Because this is a private tour, you can adapt it. For example, travellers often ask us to:
- Add a guided visit of the Fes medina or a Chefchaouen day trip.
- Continue to Chefchaouen and Tangier with the same private driver in Morocco.
- Choose a higher camp category for a honeymoon in Morocco.
- Travel at a slower pace with children on Morocco family tours.
Want a different route? Then let us plan a tailor-made Morocco tour around your dates.
→ Book Your Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
Ask us for the price
This Marrakech to Fes desert tour 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