Overview
This Fes to Marrakech desert tour takes 4 days instead of the usual 3, and the extra day goes where it counts: in the Sahara. You drive from Fes to Merzouga on day one, sleep in a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and then have a whole day around Merzouga before a second night by the sand. Most short tours give the desert a single evening. Here you see it at sunset, at midday, at night and at sunrise twice.
After the desert the route turns west: the Todra gorge, a night in the Dades valley, then the Rose valley, Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou and the High Atlas over the Tichka pass to Marrakech. Days on the road stay at about 8 hours or less with stops. If you only have 3 days, our 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour follows the same line with one night in the dunes. To read up on the area first, see our Merzouga and Erg Chebbi travel guide.
Highlights
- Cross the Middle Atlas cedar forest near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques
- Two nights at Merzouga, with a full day to explore around Erg Chebbi
- Gnawa music in Khamlia and the busy market town of Rissani
- A camel ride of about an hour into the dunes as the sand turns red
- Walk between the walls of the Todra gorge, up to about 300 m high
- Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar, and the Tichka pass at about 2,260 m
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz valley → Merzouga, camel ride to camp
Pickup around 8:00 at your riad or hotel in Fes. The road climbs to Ifrane, a tidy mountain town with sloping roofs, and on through the cedar forest near Azrou, where macaques often wait by the roadside. Lunch stop in Midelt, at the foot of the Ayachi range, then down through the Ziz gorges and the long palm valley past Errachidia and Erfoud. The total is about 470 km. In Merzouga you swap the car for a camel and ride about an hour into Erg Chebbi to reach camp for dinner.
About 8 hours including stops · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury)
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2
A full day around Merzouga: Khamlia, Rissani and the dunes
Sunrise from the top of a dune, breakfast at camp, then your driver meets you at the edge of the sand. In the village of Khamlia, families of Gnawa musicians play for visitors over a glass of tea. Rissani is the old market town of the Tafilalt oasis: spices, dates, sandals and, on market days, a yard full of parked donkeys. In the afternoon you circle the dunes by car and stop where you like, then have time to sit on the sand and watch the light go. The second night is in the camp again or in a guesthouse at the foot of the dunes, as you prefer.
Short drives only · Overnight: desert camp or a guesthouse in Merzouga
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3
Merzouga → Todra gorge → Dades valley
A last look at the dunes, then west through the stony plains past Alnif to Tinghir and its long palm grove. At the Todra gorge you walk the narrowest stretch on foot, where the river runs between walls up to about 300 m high and climbers are often working the rock. An easy afternoon drive brings you into the Dades valley, with time to walk out among the fields before dinner.
About 5 hours including stops · Overnight: a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades valley
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4
Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Tichka pass → Marrakech
The morning road follows the Rose valley past Kelaat M'Gouna and the earthen kasbahs of Skoura to Ouarzazate, the "door of the desert", known for its film studios. Next comes Aït Ben Haddou: cross the riverbed and climb the lanes of the fortified ksar to the granary at the top. After lunch the road rises into the High Atlas, over the Tizi n'Tichka at about 2,260 m, and winds down through Berber villages to Marrakech, where you arrive in the early evening.
About 8 hours including stops · Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
Hotels and desert camps on this tour
Standard accommodation is included in the price. You can upgrade to superior hotels and camp for €35 per person per night; choose it in the booking panel.
| Night | Place | Standard | Superior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nights 1–2 | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar | Mouhou Luxury Camp or similar |
| Night 3 | Dades valley | Hotel Maison d'Hôte Argana or similar | Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar |
Included
- Pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech at your accommodation
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- 3 nights: desert camp, camp or guesthouse in Merzouga, hotel in the Dades valley
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to camp
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Local guides in Todra and Aït Ben Haddou (optional)
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
A small overnight bag for the camp, a warm layer for the evenings, a scarf for sun and wind-blown sand, sunscreen and a head torch. Our guide to a night in the Sahara covers what to pack and what the camp is like.
Best season
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable. In winter the days are bright but desert nights can drop close to 0 °C, and the Tichka pass may see snow. In July and August afternoons often pass 40 °C.
The camp
Choose a standard camp, with electricity and shared bathrooms (no Wi-Fi), or a luxury camp with a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi.
Travelling with children
The slower pace suits families: day 2 has almost no driving and day 3 is short. Children pay 5% less than the adult price.
Route map
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz valley → Merzouga → Rissani → Todra → Dades → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Questions about the 4-day Fes to Marrakech tour
Is it worth taking 4 days instead of 3?
If the desert is the reason you are going, yes. The extra day is spent around Merzouga with almost no driving, so you get a second night by the dunes instead of leaving the morning after you arrive. Short on time? The 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour covers the same route.
How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?
About 470 km, which takes around 8 hours with stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest and Midelt. You reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, in time for the camel ride.
How much does the private tour cost?
A private tour is priced per group: €175 per day for your vehicle and driver plus €40 per person per night. For 2 travellers on this 4-day, 3-night tour that is €940 in total, or €470 per person. Children pay 5% less. A 20% deposit confirms the booking, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure.
Can I join a small group instead?
This 4-day route runs as a private tour. Small-group places are available on request: send us your dates and we will tell you what is possible.
Can I do the route the other way, from Marrakech to Fes?
Yes. See the Marrakech to Fes desert tour; we can add the extra night at Merzouga to it as well.
Do I have to spend both nights in the camp?
No. The first night is in the camp; for the second you can stay in the camp again or move to a guesthouse at the foot of the dunes, with a proper room and shower. Tell us when you book.
What travellers say about our tours
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor, across all the tours we run.
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