Tour details
$350
Tour Overview
Embark on a unique 4-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech and immerse yourself in the magic of the Sahara Desert. Marvel at the star-filled sky stretching over the dunes, enjoy an unforgettable camel trek across the golden sands, and watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in Morocco. Spend the night in a traditional desert camp and discover the authentic Berber lifestyle up close.
This desert tour is perfect for travelers starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech, or vice versa. While the journey can be done in 3 days and 2 nights, we highly recommend the 4-day, 3-night itinerary to truly take in the landscapes, cultural highlights, and enchanting atmosphere of the Moroccan Sahara.
4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour Itinerary
01
DAY 01 - Fes ⇢ Middle Atlas Mountains ⇢ Ifrane ⇢ Erfoud ⇢ Merzouga
The journey from Fes to Merzouga is an amazing immersion in the diversity of the Moroccan landscape. The road south takes you into the Middle Atlas Mountains, with their huge cedar forests where the indigenous Barbary macaques live, and through the alpine towns of Azrou and Ifrane.
Then we continue to Midelt, through the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and along the magnificent Ziz Gorge. You will notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia.
After a satisfying lunch, we continue our journey along the Ziz Valley to Rissani and Merzouga. Rest assured, we offer comfortable overnight stays in a hotel or riad in Merzouga, ensuring your safety and relaxation.
- Drive: Fez to Merzouga - approx. 480 km (around 7-8 hours)
02
DAY 02 - Merzouga and Erg Chebbi (Nomads, Khamlia, Lake)
After breakfast, we explore the area, visiting Khamlia village. These people are descendants of enslaved Sudanese people who were brought here. Their music, the spiritual Gnawa music, tells stories of times past. Here we experience their music and lifestyle.
Just nearby, there is a seasonal lake that hosts migratory birds, including flamingos, which are the most colourful. Then we drive to Rissani; this is also called Sijilmassa and was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali.
Here you'll walk through the local souk, with its fantastic array of vegetables and fruits, and the colourful aromatic spices. After a tasty pizza lunch in Rissani, we'll travel back to our accommodation, where our camels will be waiting for us.
After a glass of mint tea, you will depart guided by an experienced camel guide, to begin your camel ride exploring the sand-sea of Erg Chebbi dunes.
Here you will spend the night under the stars in a traditional Berber nomad tent. The tents are equipped with comfortable bedding and modern amenities to ensure a pleasant stay. Dinner will be served in the tent, accompanied by traditional Berber music, creating a unique and memorable experience.
- Drive: Merzouga area - approx. 50 km (around 3-4 hours)
03
DAY 03 - Merzouga Desert → Rissani → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley
We recommend an early morning start to experience the wonder of the sunrise, and then we will return by camel to the hotel, where you can have breakfast and refresh.
Our trip continues as we depart the desert for Rissani and Erfoud, where we visit the workshops where marble and fossils are cleaned and crafted into outstanding projects.
We continue to Touroug and Tinjdad to see the palm groves and arrive in the Todra Gorge, where we will have lunch and explore this canyon with its 300-metre-high vertical walls and crystalline clear water.
Later in the afternoon, we will drive to Dades Gorge via Boumalne Dades for our overnight stop, where you can enjoy dinner, and we will sleep in a traditional local hotel in the heart of the Gorges.
- Drive: Merzouga to Dades Valley - approx. 308 km (around 5 hours)
04
DAY 04 - Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou Kasbah → High Atlas Mountains → Marrakech
After breakfast at our hotel, we drive back down the gorge so you can see the remarkable rock formations known as the monkey fingers and the rose-colored adobe kasbahs in the valley.
From Boumalne, we drive through the Dades Valley to Kelaat M'gouna. The road through the Dades Valley is known as the road of a thousand kasbahs, and you will see why.
We'll stop at Kelaat M'gouna, "the rose city," where you can purchase the rosewater, which will make your clothes and laundry smell lovely long after your trip is finished.
Then we continue to Ouarzazate, "the Hollywood of Africa," where we will stop for lunch at the famous Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Then our journey continues through the Tizi n'Tichka Pass at 2260 meters altitude and over the High Atlas Mountains. Then we arrive in Marrakech, where this tour ends.
We then proceed across the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at an altitude of 2260 m. And then we are in Marrakech, and this is where this 4-day tour ends.
- Drive: Boumalne Dades to Marrakech – approx. 355 km (around 6 hours)
Tour Highlights
- ● Journey through the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing fragrant cedar forests and the alpine-style town of Ifrane.
- ● Marvel at the lush palm groves of the Ziz Valley and the dramatic rock formations of the Ziz Gorge..
- ● Experience a magical camel trek at sunset across the towering Erg Chebbi dunes, followed by an evening of traditional Berber music under the stars.
- ● Visit Khamlia village for an authentic Gnawa spiritual music performance and cultural encounter.
- ● Explore the bustling Rissani souk, an ancient caravan market famed for its spices, dates, and fossils.
- ● Walk between the soaring 300 m cliffs of the Todra Gorges, where crystal-clear waters carve through the canyon.
- ● Drive along the legendary Dades Valley, known as the “Road of 1,000 Kasbahs,” and see the surreal “monkey fingers” rock formations.
- ● Discover Ait Benhaddou, a spectacular UNESCO-listed ksar and filming location for movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- ● Stop in Ouarzazate, the famed “Hollywood of Morocco,” home to major film studios and desert backdrops.
- ● Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m) on your way to vibrant Marrakech.
Included And Excluded
- Private, modern transportation with air conditioning Yes
- Car fuel Yes
- Pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation Yes
- Experienced English-speaking driver/guide Yes
- 1 Night in a private room in Dades Valley Yes
- 1 Night in a private tent in the desert camp Yes
- 1 Night in a hotel in Merzouga Yes
- Dinner and breakfast included for 3 nights Yes
- Camel ride in the Sahara Desert Yes
- Sandboarding experience in the desert Yes
- Beverages No
- Lunches No
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums (optional) No
Accommodation options
Carefully selected lodgings ensure comfort and authenticity throughout the tour. Accommodations may be adjusted based on availability, and upgrades are available upon request.
- Night 1 – Merzouga:
- Standard: Auberge Les Roches Merzouga / Kasbah Le Berger / Riad Mamouche – Comfortable rooms offering traditional ambiance and scenic views of the valley.
- Superior: Riad Azawad / Riad Desert Villa / Riad Madu – Luxurious stays featuring panoramic terraces, spa facilities, and high-end Moroccan décor.
- Night 2 – Merzouga Desert Camp:
- Standard: Comfortable Berber tents with private beds, shared bathrooms, and traditional Moroccan dinner and breakfast included.
- Superior: Luxury desert camp with en-suite tents, hot showers, air conditioning (on request), and candlelit dinners under the stars.
- Night 3 – Dades Valley:
- Standard: Hotel Babylon / Hotel Panorama / Riad Villa Dades – Comfortable rooms offering traditional ambiance and scenic views of the valley.
- Superior: Kasbah Xaluca Dades / Ksar Sultan / La Perle Du Dades – Luxurious stays featuring panoramic terraces, spa facilities, and high-end Moroccan décor.
Pricing & Options
- 2 People €480 per person
- 4 People €450 per person
- 6+ People €400 per person
- Custom Pricing Available for solo travelers, families, or larger groups
Tour Map
Customer Reviews & Testimonials
What Travelers Say About This 4-Day Fes Desert Tour
Amazingly Unforgettable 6-Day Moroccan Desert Experience
"My wife and I did the 4 days private tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga. Our guide was Ibrahim (not the same Ibrahim as the owner). He made every effort to make the trip truly memorable. After learning we were newlyweds, he left us to have some tea. When he returned a little while later, he decorated the car with streams, flowers, and our names written on the windows! So cool! We even got to visit his family’s home in the desert village of Merzouga and have mint tea with his mother and sister. By the end of the tour, Ibrahim had become a real friend. The tour was terrific, and we saw many parts of the country, including Atlas mountains, forests, deserts, massive Erg Chebbi sand dunes, snow monkeys, and more. It was a lot of driving, but it didn’t feel like it because there was so much to see and do"
Smooth, Engaging Private Morocco Tour
"My sister and I did a private 4-day/3-night tour itinerary, starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech. We had a great time! Our 4-day Sahara desert tour was an efficient way to explore everything Morocco offers and allowed us to experience so much more than we would have on our own. We appreciated getting out of the cities and exploring the different regions throughout the country—from the mountains to the Sahara desert to the coast—we got to see it all! Idir was both our driver and guide, and he was amazing. We felt very comfortable with him from day one, and he went above and beyond to provide us with a positive experience. He was always on time and did a great job explaining sites/culture/happenings during the drive and at the scheduled stops. He gave us ample time to explore on our own, but at the same time, he was never too far away and was always easily accessible when we needed him."
Unforgettable Fes to Marrakech 4 days desert tour
"We booked a four-day trip from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara desert. Our driver (Ider) drove a friendly Toyota Jeep, which was very comfy. Ider was very patient and helpful and told us a lot about famous places in Morocco. We stayed at the hotel for one of the two nights; on the second night, we stayed in the desert in a Sahara desert camp: delicious fresh-cooked food, a lovely atmosphere, Berber songs, and a fantastic campfire. I highly recommend it. Just take longer trips for a better experience. Thank You"
Immersive & extraordinary 4-day Fes desert tour
"We loved our 4 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech. From the moment our driver, Mustapha, picked us up, we felt comfortable and taken care of. The itinerary was well organized, and all the stops were interesting. The hotels were comfortable and clean. And be sure to bring your appetite—they keep you well-fed with delicious Moroccan food! Our trip’s highlight was the fantastic desert overnight experience. All the staff were friendly and kind, and we felt safe. I recommend booking with this company. They make touring Morocco a breeze!"
FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions – 4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our Fes desert tour. Whether you're curious about the itinerary, accommodations, driving times, or included activities, we’ve got you covered.
Day 1: Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Erfoud → Merzouga
Camel trek (or 4×4 transfer) to a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Day 2: Explore the Merzouga area (Khamlia village, nomad families, Rissani) → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley (overnight).
Day 3: Dades Valley → Roses Valley (Kalaat M’Gouna) → Skoura Oasis → Ouarzazate (overnight).
Day 4: Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO World Heritage Site) → High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass → Marrakech.
Day 2: Explore the Merzouga area (Khamlia village, nomad families, Rissani) → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley (overnight).
Day 3: Dades Valley → Roses Valley (Kalaat M’Gouna) → Skoura Oasis → Ouarzazate (overnight).
Day 4: Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou (UNESCO World Heritage Site) → High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass → Marrakech.
Yes.
✔ Included: A sunset camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes (one camel per person).
✔ Alternative: A 4×4 vehicle transfer to and from the desert camp is available if you prefer not to ride a camel.
✔ Included: A sunset camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes (one camel per person).
✔ Alternative: A 4×4 vehicle transfer to and from the desert camp is available if you prefer not to ride a camel.
Night 1: Berber desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury tent).
Night 2: Hotel or riad in the Dades Valley.
Night 3: Hotel or riad in the Ouarzazate area.
All accommodations are chosen for their comfort, cleanliness, and excellent location.
Night 2: Hotel or riad in the Dades Valley.
Night 3: Hotel or riad in the Ouarzazate area.
All accommodations are chosen for their comfort, cleanliness, and excellent location.
Private, air-conditioned transportation with fuel.
Experienced English-speaking driver/guide.
Camel trek and one night in a desert camp.
2 nights in hotels or riads.
Dinner and breakfast during the tour.
Sandboarding and Berber music in the desert.
Pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech.
Experienced English-speaking driver/guide.
Camel trek and one night in a desert camp.
2 nights in hotels or riads.
Dinner and breakfast during the tour.
Sandboarding and Berber music in the desert.
Pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech.
Lunches and drinks.
Entrance fees (if applicable).
Tips and personal expenses.
Flights and travel insurance.
Entrance fees (if applicable).
Tips and personal expenses.
Flights and travel insurance.
Day 1: Approximately 7–8 hours (Fes → Merzouga).
Day 2: Approximately 4–5 hours (including stops).
Day 3: Approximately 4 hours.
Day 4: Approximately 6 hours.
Driving times are approximate and can vary depending on photo stops, traffic, and road conditions.
Day 2: Approximately 4–5 hours (including stops).
Day 3: Approximately 4 hours.
Day 4: Approximately 6 hours.
Driving times are approximate and can vary depending on photo stops, traffic, and road conditions.
