Overview
This Fez to Marrakech desert tour is built for travellers who start their Morocco trip in the north. You leave the medina of Fes in the morning, sleep in the Sahara that same night, and arrive in Marrakech three days later without ever driving the same road twice. Nothing is wasted on backtracking: every kilometre takes you somewhere new.
From Fes the dunes are closer than they are from Marrakech — about 470 km — so the desert comes first. Day one crosses the Middle Atlas, the cedar forests around Azrou and the long Ziz valley, reaching Merzouga in time for a camel ride into Erg Chebbi. The next two days unwind southwest through the gorges, the kasbahs and the High Atlas, so the heaviest driving is behind you by the time you reach the mountains.
Prefer your own vehicle, your own start date and stops whenever you want them? You can book the route with a private driver in Morocco and shape it around your plans.
Highlights
- Look for Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou
- Drive through the Tunnel du Légionnaire into the Ziz gorges
- See fossils cut and polished in an Erfoud workshop
- Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi, where dunes rise to about 150 m
- Walk between the walls of the Todra gorge, up to about 300 m high
- Finish with Aït Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, about 2,260 m
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz gorges → Erfoud → Merzouga
Pickup at your riad or hotel around 8:00. The road climbs out of Fes to Ifrane, a tidy mountain town with sloping roofs, then into the cedar forest near Azrou, where macaques often wait by the roadside. Past Midelt the land opens into high plateau, and the Tunnel du Légionnaire leads you into the Ziz gorges. Below, a ribbon of palms follows the river south through Errachidia. In Erfoud you stop at a fossil workshop, then drive on to Merzouga, swap the vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes for dinner and the night. Our Merzouga desert guide explains what is around the village.
About 470 km, roughly 9–10 hours including stops · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: standard desert camp in Erg Chebbi (luxury upgrade available)
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2
Sunrise in the dunes → Rissani → Todra gorge → Dades valley
Climb the dune behind camp before sunrise, then return to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. In Rissani, the old market town of the Tafilalet oasis, there is time to walk through the souk. The road then runs west along the edge of the desert to Tinghir, where you walk into the narrowest part of the Todra gorge. Late afternoon brings you into the Dades valley for dinner and a quiet night among the red cliffs.
About 6–7 hours including stops · Overnight: a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades valley
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3
Dades → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Tichka → Marrakech
Follow the "road of a thousand kasbahs" past the palm grove of Skoura to Ouarzazate, the door of the desert. Here you choose between the walls and courtyards of Kasbah Taourirt or a tour of the film studios. Just beyond, Aït Ben Haddou rises above its riverbed: a fortified ksar listed by UNESCO in 1987. After lunch the road climbs over the Tizi n'Tichka and winds down through the High Atlas villages to Marrakech, where you arrive in the evening.
About 8–9 hours including stops · Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
Included
- Pickup in Fes, drop-off in Marrakech
- Air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a desert camp, 1 night in the Dades valley
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to and from camp
- Fuel
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entry to Kasbah Taourirt or the film studios
- Local guides in Todra and Aït Ben Haddou (optional)
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Other entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
Your main luggage stays in the vehicle, so pack a small bag for the camp: a warm layer, a scarf for sun and sand, sunscreen and a head torch. Read our guide to a night in a Sahara desert camp for the full list.
Best season
Spring and autumn are the easiest. From December to February the Middle Atlas can be cold and the desert night may drop close to 0 °C; in July and August afternoon heat in the south often passes 40 °C.
The camp
The standard camp has tents with electricity and shared bathrooms (no Wi-Fi). Upgrade to the luxury camp for a tent with its own private bathroom and Wi-Fi.
The first day is the long one
Day one is the longest drive, so a good night's sleep in Fes helps. The stops break it up well, and from then on the days get shorter.
Route map
Questions about the Fes to Marrakech desert tour
How far is it from Fes to the Merzouga dunes?
About 470 km. With stops for the cedar forest, the Ziz gorges and Erfoud, it fills most of the first day, and you reach Merzouga in time for the camel ride.
Can I do this route the other way, from Marrakech to Fes?
Yes. The Marrakech to Fes desert tour covers the same places in reverse, with the High Atlas first and the Middle Atlas last.
I need to come back to Fes. Is there a shorter option?
The 2-day desert tour from Fes goes to Merzouga, spends the night in the dunes and returns to Fes the next day.
What happens to my suitcase during the night in the desert?
It stays locked in the vehicle in Merzouga. You only take a small bag on the camel, and you collect everything the next morning.
Can we add an extra night on the way?
On a private tour, yes — a second night in the dunes or in Ouarzazate is a common choice. Tell us when you book: each extra day adds €200 for the vehicle and driver plus €45 per person for the night.
What is the difference between the private and the group tour?
The route is the same. The small-group tour shares the vehicle with other travellers — maximum 17 people, departures every day — from €160 per person. A private tour is priced per group: €200 per day for your own vehicle and driver plus €45 per person per night for accommodation. For 2 travellers on this 3-day, 2-night tour that comes to €780 in total (€390 per person).
Is the Tichka pass open in winter?
Almost always. Snow can now and then slow the road or close it for a short time; your driver checks conditions on the day and adjusts the timing.
Reviews of this tour
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor.
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