Time in the Sahara on the way to Fes
This 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes takes you across Morocco from south to north, with two nights in Merzouga on the way. You cross the High Atlas Mountains, visit Ait Benhaddou and the Todra Gorge, and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night in a desert camp. As a 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, it also gives you a full day around the dunes and a night in a hotel at their edge, before you cross the Middle Atlas to Fes. It is a private tour with a local driver-guide.
Why this tour is unique
Shorter tours leave the desert the morning after you arrive. With four days, you have time to see Khamlia and Rissani, rest at your hotel and watch a second sunset over the dunes, so the long trip to Fes never feels rushed.
Tour highlights
- High Atlas MountainsCross the dramatic Tizi n’Tichka pass (about 2,200 m).
- Ait BenhaddouWalk through the UNESCO-listed clay Kasbah famous for Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- Dades Valley & Todra GorgeStand beneath 300-meter-high vertical canyon walls.
- Sahara Camel Trek & Desert CampRide a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep under the stars.
- Khamlia & RissaniHear Gnawa music in a desert village and see a traditional market town.
- Ziz ValleyDrive past long green ribbons of date palms between the desert and the mountains.
- Middle Atlas Cedar ForestLook for Barbary macaques near Azrou and pass through Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”.
- FesEnd your trip in Morocco’s oldest imperial city.
Route map
You will depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas Mountains to Ait Benhaddou and the Dades Valley. On day two, you continue east through the Todra Gorge to the Sahara dunes of Merzouga, where you spend two nights. On the final day, you turn north through Er-Rachidia, the Ziz Valley, Midelt and the Middle Atlas Mountains to finish in Fes.
Day-by-day itinerary
Here is the full plan for your 4 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour, from pick-up to drop-off.
Day 1: Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou and Dades Valley
6 hours driving
Your driver will pick you up at 8:00 am from your Marrakech accommodation or from the airport. We cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Ait Benhaddou (also spelled Ait Ben Haddou), the clay kasbah famous for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Learn more about the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (opens in a new tab). After lunch in Ouarzazate, we drive through the Valley of Roses to our hotel in the Dades Valley.
Day 2: Dades Valley to Todra Gorge and Merzouga
5 hours driving
After breakfast, we take a short drive to the awe-inspiring Todra Gorge. You’ll have free time to walk through the massive 300-meter-high canyon walls. We then continue through Erfoud until the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi (opens in a new tab) appear. Trade your vehicle for a camel and ride into the desert at sunset to reach your camp.
Day 3: A full day in the Sahara: Khamlia and Rissani
Short drives
Wake up for sunrise over the dunes and have breakfast at the camp, then a 4×4 takes you back to Merzouga. Your driver then takes you around Erg Chebbi by 4×4: the village of Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music, the desert lakes when they hold water, and the market town of Rissani. In the afternoon you check in to your hotel in Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes, with time to rest and watch the sunset.
Day 4: Merzouga to Midelt, Azrou and Fes
8 hours driving
After breakfast at your hotel, we head north through Erfoud and Er-Rachidia, then follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Midelt for lunch. In the afternoon we cross the Middle Atlas, stopping in the cedar forest near Azrou to look for Barbary macaques, and pass through Ifrane before arriving in Fes in the late afternoon. Fes is home to the Medina of Fez (opens in a new tab), one of the best preserved old cities in the Arab world.
Prices and packages
We offer three tier levels to suit your travel style. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy.
- Private transportation
- 4-star hotels or traditional riads
- Standard desert camp
- Excellent 4-star to luxurious 5-star hotels
- Upgraded luxury desert camp
- Comfortable private car
- Hand-picked 5-star and high-end boutique hotels
- Premium VIP desert camp
- Entrance fees included
Prices may vary depending on travel dates and final accommodation choice. Infants (0 to 5 years) travel free.
Hotels and camps where you’ll stay
Choose a package to see the hotels and camps we use on this tour.
- Riad Bahammou Hotel
- Grand Canyon Lodge
- Dar Ahlam Dades
- Ksar Sultan Dades
- Dihya Desert Camp
- Ideal Desert Camp
- Tawada Desert Camp
- Sahara Desert Luxury Camp
- Desert Villa Boutique Hotel
- Riad Azawad
- Dar Morocco
- Riad Dar Blues
- Hotel Xaluca Dades
- Palm Hotel Dades
- Dihya Desert Camp
- Ideal Desert Camp
- Tawada Desert Camp
- Sahara Desert Luxury Camp
- Tents with air conditioning
- Riad Serai
- Riad Madu
- Eden Boutique Dades
- Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
- Desert Luxury Camp
- Suite at Riad Serai
- Sunrise Palace Merzouga
Every desert camp tent has a private washroom with a shower. We confirm your exact hotels when you book, depending on availability.
What’s included and excluded
Included
- Private, air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
- English-speaking driver/guide
- 3 nights accommodation (as per selected package)
- Private washroom with shower at the desert camp
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (3 breakfasts, 3 dinners)
- Sunset camel trek to the camp in Erg Chebbi (or a 4×4 transfer, if you prefer), and a 4×4 transfer back in the morning
- 4×4 tour around Erg Chebbi on Day 3
- Pick-up at your Marrakech accommodation or the airport, and drop-off in Fes
Excluded
- Lunches and daytime drinks
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums (included in the Luxury Package)
- Accommodation in Fes after the tour
- Tips and gratuities
Good to know before you go
Pick-up and start
Pick-up is usually at 8:00 am from your Marrakech accommodation or the airport. If the time changes, your driver will message you on WhatsApp with the time and meeting point.
Drop-off
We arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and drop you at your accommodation or at Fes-Saiss Airport. If you have a flight or train to catch, tell us when you book and we will plan the last day around it.
Distance and driving
On the 4 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour, the roads over the High Atlas and the Middle Atlas are winding, so bring motion-sickness tablets if needed. The full day in the desert gives you a break between the long drives.
Best time to go
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months, with warm days and cooler evenings. In summer, daytime temperatures in Merzouga often pass 40°C. In winter, nights near the dunes can get close to freezing, and snow can fall in the Middle Atlas around Ifrane, so the route may change with the weather.
The camel trek and the camp
The sunset camel ride into camp lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours. If you prefer not to ride a camel, you can be transferred to the camp by 4×4 instead. Your bags travel to the camp by SUV, and anything you leave in the vehicle is safe.
Sandboarding
Sandboards are available at the camp, and you’re free to use them whenever you like. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times, when the sand is cooler.
What to pack
Layers are crucial. The desert is hot during the day, and both the desert nights and the Middle Atlas can be cold. Bring a warm jacket, comfortable walking shoes, a scarf (for sand and sun protection), sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Currency & payments
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). While hotels and larger restaurants take cards, you should carry cash for small purchases, lunches, and tips in rural areas.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Morocco. Expect to tip guides, drivers, and camp staff if you are happy with the service. A general rule is 10% in restaurants and a lump sum for your driver at the end of the trip.
Connectivity
Most hotels along the route have free WiFi. The desert camps have limited to no connectivity, so enjoy the chance to unplug and look at the stars.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most about the Marrakech to Fes 4 day trip.
How much does the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes cost?
Prices start from €450 per person for the Comfort package. The Superior package is €630 and the Luxury package €810 per person, based on two travelers. The difference is the level of accommodation, and prices may vary with your travel dates. The pricing section above shows what each package includes.
Do infants and children pay?
Infants (0 to 5 years) travel free. For older children, tell us their ages when you send your request, and we will confirm the price for your group.
How long are the drives on the Marrakech to Fes 4 day trip?
Marrakech to Merzouga is roughly 550 km, and Merzouga to Fes is about 470 km. The driving is about 6 hours on Day 1, 5 hours on Day 2, short drives on Day 3 and 8 hours on Day 4. Those are driving times, and you also stop for photos, meals and visits along the way. Arriving in Marrakech a day early? See 10 Best Things to Do in Marrakech (opens in a new tab).
Should I choose the 3-day or the 4-day tour to Fes?
Both follow the same road from Marrakech through the desert to Fes. The 3-day tour spends one night in the Sahara and leaves the next morning. The 4-day tour adds a full day around Erg Chebbi, with Khamlia, Rissani and a night in a hotel in Merzouga, so the trip feels less rushed. Continuing north after Fes? See 7 Best Things to Do in Chefchaouen (opens in a new tab).
What do we do on the full day in the desert?
After sunrise and breakfast at the camp, a 4×4 brings you back to Merzouga, then your driver takes you around Erg Chebbi by 4×4 to Khamlia, a village known for its Gnawa music, and the market town of Rissani. In the afternoon you check in to your hotel in Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes, to rest and watch the sunset.
Is it safe to travel to Merzouga and the Sahara?
The route from Marrakech to Merzouga and on to Fes is one of the most traveled tourist routes in Morocco. You travel in a private vehicle with a local driver-guide who knows the roads, the stops and the camps. As anywhere, keep your valuables with you in busy places, and check your own government’s travel advice before you go. You can also read Is Morocco Safe? What Travelers Should Know (opens in a new tab).
What is the best time of year for a 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes?
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. See the “Good to know” section above for what to expect in summer and winter.
How does payment work?
We ask for a 30% deposit by PayPal to confirm your booking. The balance is paid on the first day of the tour, in cash or by card (a 5% fee applies to card payments). Send us your dates and group size through the form on this page or on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the details for your dates.
Is the 8-hour drive on Day 4 too difficult?
It is a long day on the road, but the scenery changes all day, from desert to palm valleys to cedar forest, and we stop for coffee, photos and lunch in Midelt. After a relaxed day in the desert, most travelers find it easy to enjoy.
What happens to my luggage during the camel ride?
We take your bags to the camp by SUV, so you can ride the camel with nothing to carry. If you would rather leave something behind, it is safe in the vehicle.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Yes. The camel ride is optional. If you prefer not to ride, we transfer you to the desert camp by 4×4 instead, and you still enjoy the sunset and sunrise over the dunes. Just let us know when you book or tell your driver on the day.
Are there toilets and showers in the desert camp?
Yes. All our packages include a private washroom with a shower at the desert camp.
Ready to book this route?
We usually reply within 24 hours.