Overview
This Marrakech to Fes desert tour takes 4 days, and the extra day over the classic 3-day trip is spent where most people wish they had more time: in the Sahara. You cross the High Atlas, sleep in the Dades valley, ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night at camp, and then stay on around Merzouga for a whole day before a second night at the edge of the sand.
That free day changes the rhythm. You watch the sunrise from a dune, listen to Gnawa musicians in Khamlia, walk the market in Rissani and go out by 4x4 among the dunes, with no long drive behind you and none waiting until the next morning. The trip ends with the road north through the Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas to Fes.
Only have 3 days? Our 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour follows the same line with one night in the desert. To get to know the area before you go, read our Merzouga and Erg Chebbi travel guide.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at about 2,260 m
- Climb through Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified ksar
- Walk the Todra gorge between rock walls up to about 300 m high
- A sunset camel ride of about an hour to your camp in Erg Chebbi
- A full day at Merzouga: Gnawa music in Khamlia, Rissani market, dunes by 4x4
- The Ziz valley palms, then cedars and macaques near Azrou on the way to Fes
Itinerary, day by day
-
1
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Kelaat M'Gouna → Dades valley
Pickup around 8:00 at your riad or hotel in Marrakech. The road climbs into the High Atlas through walnut groves and Berber villages to the Tizi n'Tichka at about 2,260 m, then drops towards the south. At Aït Ben Haddou you cross the riverbed and walk up through the fortified ksar to the old granary at the top. After lunch you pass Ouarzazate, the "door of the desert" with its film studios, and follow the Rose valley past Kelaat M'Gouna into the Dades valley.
About 330 km, 8–9 hours including stops · Overnight: a hotel in the Dades valley
-
2
Dades → Todra gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga, sunset camel ride
A short drive brings you to Tinghir and its long palm grove, then into the Todra gorge, where you walk the narrowest section on foot beside the river. The afternoon road crosses open stony plains to Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops, and on to Merzouga. Leave your main luggage in the car, take a small bag, and ride a camel for about an hour into Erg Chebbi as the dunes turn orange. Dinner is at camp, under a sky with almost no light around it.
About 300 km, 6 hours including stops · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: the desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury)
-
3
A day around Merzouga: sunrise, Khamlia, Rissani and the dunes by 4x4
Climb a dune behind camp for sunrise, have breakfast, and ride back to the edge of the sand. In Khamlia, families of Gnawa musicians, descendants of people brought across the Sahara, play their trance rhythms for visitors over mint tea. Rissani, the old market town of the Tafilalt oasis, sells dates, spices, sandals and baskets. In the afternoon you go out by 4x4 around Erg Chebbi, stopping wherever the view pulls you, and finish the day on the sand watching the light change.
Short drives only · Overnight: a hotel at the edge of the dunes in Merzouga
-
4
Merzouga → Ziz valley → Midelt → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes
This is the long day, so we leave early. The road heads north past Erfoud and Errachidia and follows the Ziz valley, a ribbon of palms deep below the road, through the Ziz gorges. Lunch stop in Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas. Then comes the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often sit by the roadside, and Ifrane, a mountain town with sloping roofs. You reach Fes in the early evening and are dropped off at your riad or hotel.
About 470 km, 8–9 hours including stops · Drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Dades valley | Hotel Maison d'Hôte Argana or similar | Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar |
| Night 2 | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar | Mouhou Luxury Camp or similar |
| Night 3 | Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes | Hotel L'Homme du Désert or similar | Hotel Riad Chebbi or similar |
Included
- Pickup in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes at your accommodation
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- 3 nights: hotel in the Dades valley, desert camp in Erg Chebbi, hotel at the edge of the dunes in Merzouga
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to camp (about 1 hour)
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Local guides in Aït Ben Haddou and Todra (optional)
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
A small bag for the camp night (your suitcase stays in the vehicle), a warm layer, a scarf against sun and blowing sand, sunscreen and a head torch. Our guide to a night in the Sahara explains what to pack and what camp life is like.
Best season
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. In winter the days are clear but desert nights can fall close to 0 °C and the Tichka pass and Middle Atlas may have snow. In July and August afternoons often go above 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. The second night is in a hotel by the dunes, with a proper room and shower.
Travelling with children
Day 3 has almost no driving, which helps families. Days 1 and 4 are long, so bring snacks and something to do in the car. Children pay 5% less than the adult price.
Route map
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Kelaat M'Gouna → Dades → Todra → Erfoud → Merzouga → Rissani → Ziz valley → Midelt → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes
Questions about the 4-day Marrakech to Fes tour
What do I gain with 4 days instead of 3?
A whole day in the desert. On the 3-day trip you arrive at Merzouga in the evening and leave the next morning. Here you have sunrise, Khamlia, Rissani and an afternoon in the dunes, plus a second night by the sand. With less time, the 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour covers the same route.
How long is the last day from Merzouga to Fes?
About 470 km, which takes 8–9 hours with stops in the Ziz valley, Midelt, the cedar forest and Ifrane. It is the longest day of the trip, so we usually set off soon after breakfast and arrive in Fes in the early evening.
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 comes to €940 in total, or €470 per person. Children pay 5% less. Superior hotels and camp cost €35 per person per night extra. 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 we can offer.
Can I do the route the other way, from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. The 4-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour runs the same idea in reverse, with two nights at Merzouga.
What happens to my luggage during the camel ride?
Your suitcase stays locked in the vehicle with the driver, who meets you again the next morning. Take only a small bag with what you need for the night at camp.
What travellers say about our tours
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor, across all the tours we run.
Read all reviews on Tripadvisor