The 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour is an excellent way for travelers to see Morocco's best sights in a short amount of time. The Sahara Desert is the main attraction on this tour, which takes you through the lively imperial cities of Marrakech and Fes. Cross the beautiful Atlas Mountains and then take a once-in-a-lifetime camel ride across the golden Erg Chebbi dunes, where the sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking.
This highly rated 4-day, 3-night desert trip from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga takes you deep into the real beauty of southern Morocco. Visit famous kasbahs like Aït Benhaddou, walk through lush oases, cross dramatic gorges, and take in the view of broad valleys filled with traditional Berber villages. Along the way, the beautiful desert scenery and peaceful times under the vast Saharan skies will surely win your heart.
We will depart at 8:00 a.m. from Marrakech to the Dades Valley. Our journey takes us through the stunning High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Along the way, you'll enjoy breathtaking landscapes dotted with traditional Berber hamlets. We'll stop for a refreshing break with coffee or mint tea in a charming location to soak in the views.
Later in the day, we’ll explore the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site and iconic filming location. This historic Berber fortress, once a key stronghold along the ancient Salt Road, offers a glimpse into Morocco’s rich cultural past. You’ll have time to walk through its maze-like alleys, climb to the top for panoramic views, and visit homes still occupied by local families.
After visiting Ait Benhaddou, we pass through Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Africa" due to its famous film studios and desert landscapes. We then continue toward the Dades Valley, passing through the dramatic Todra Gorge and the lush Skoura Oasis, surrounded by authentic Berber villages. The day ends with an overnight stay in the beautiful Dades Valley.
After breakfast, we will drive through the valley to see the amazing rock formation, "the monkey toes", and also the still-standing 19th-century Kasbah of Ait Yul. We leave the Dades Valley towards Tinrghir and the Todra Valley, and you'll see panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking this valley. In the Gorge, we will walk under the 300m-high red cliff, where many rock climbers come to enjoy this sport.
After a satisfying lunch in Tinjdad Erfoud, we'll head to the village of Merzouga. Here, you will have a glass of mint tea and check into our comfortable Hotel/Riad. This peaceful oasis offers modern amenities, comfortable rooms, and a serene atmosphere, ensuring a restful night's sleep after a day of adventure, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and well-rested for the next day's activities.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will embark on an exploratory journey of the area.
We will begin the day with Gnawa music at the village of Khamliya, 7 kilometers south of Merzouga—a small desert village with a rich history whose inhabitants are direct descendants of enslaved people brought from Sudan. You will get to enjoy their music and lifestyle.
Not far from there is Dayet Srij, a seasonal salt lake that is often dry in the summer. When full, it attracts a wide range of migratory and desert birds, including desert warblers and flamingos. This area draws photographers from all over the world when the birds are present.
You may also visit the souk of Rissani if you are there on the right day. The souk takes place three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—where locals come to trade everything from fruits, vegetables, meat, dates, nuts, and crafts to donkeys, sheep, and goats.
This souk is also a social hub where local communities gather to meet one another and hear news from the area and distant relatives. Without a doubt, this market is the most fascinating in the town.
After the market visit, we’ll enjoy one of the tastiest lunches at a local restaurant in the area.
In the afternoon, you will begin a guided camel ride, led by an experienced camel man, to explore and enjoy the sand sea of Erg Chebbi. The camel man will ensure you have the chance to witness what might be the most beautiful sunset of your lifetime.
Overnight accommodations will be at a desert luxury camp equipped with flush toilets and hot showers, where you will enjoy dinner and breakfast.
Today, your camel guide will wake you to watch a beautiful sunrise, where you will see the sun's rays covering the small golden dunes of Merzouga and the rocky, barren Sahara Desert.
After breakfast at the camp, you will trek back by camel. Alternatively, if you feel you've had enough of riding camels, you have the option of a 4-wheel drive back to the camp.
You will then head on the road to Fes via Midelt and the Ziz Valley with several stops for photographs along the way. Lunch can be whenever you feel like it. The drive will continue through the beautiful landscape of the Middle Atlas Mountains, including a stop at the cedar forest in Azrou to observe Barbary apes.
As you pass many traditional Berber villages, you will have the opportunity to interact with the local inhabitants. Throughout this journey, you will be amazed by the stunning contrasts you encounter during the drive.
One of the stops will be at the town of Ifrane, referred to as the "Switzerland of Morocco," with its alpine-style architecture and nearby slopes and forests. With several stops along the way, we continue to Fes, where the tour ends at your reserved riad or hotel accommodation.
Carefully selected lodgings ensure comfort and authenticity throughout the tour. Accommodations may be adjusted based on availability, and upgrades are available upon request.
What our travelers say about their experiences
"We booked a 4-day trip from Marrakech to Fes and we had no idea we would embark on such an amazing experience. Our guide and driver, Idir, was fun and helpful, ready with all types of information, making us feel welcome and comfortable. We visited beautiful kasbahs and gorges, we rode camels into the desert and spent a night singing around the fire in the berber camp. There are a lot of beautiful crafts along the way, from argan oil to fossils, so plenty opportunities to shop for original things. We would recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure."
"My friends and I just got back from a 12-day trip to Morocco—it was an all-around amazing trip, but the highlight of our trip was certainly our 4-day tour from Marrakesh to Fes via the Sahara Desert with our amazing driver, Moha. He was very knowledgeable about the various places we visited and drove like a champion—he got us to where we had to be safely and efficiently. Moha stopped at many sites so that we could take lots of pictures. We had beautiful accommodations in Dades Gorge and in Merzouga, as well as a private tent in the Sahara. I highly recommend that you book this tour with Morocco Camel Trekking."
"We did the 4-day/3-night tour from Marrakech to Fez, and we enjoyed every moment of it. Our tour was well organized, the accommodations and food were beyond our expectations, Ibrahim answered my e-mails really quickly and was very helpful, and also our driver was delightful. It was a great choice to take the 4-day tour instead of the 3-day one, because this way we didn't have to rush on the first day and could enjoy the stunning scenery of the Atlas Mountains, and also could spend more time in the desert the next day. The best part of our trip was the night in the desert."
"We took a 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga with our family of 5, and it was perfect. Our guide, Hamid, was wonderful, very helpful, and fascinating. He was the perfect guide. The trip was a highlight of our time in Morocco, without question. The countryside in Morocco is gorgeous and so varied, and the Sahara was incredible, truly. This tour was excellent, efficient, and helpful; the desert camp was so lovely and very comfortable; it was really all so perfect."
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our Marrakech Desert Tour. Whether you're wondering about logistics, comfort, or what's included, we've got you covered.