Slow days between the dunes and the kasbahs
This 5 days tour from Fes to Marrakech travels via Merzouga at an easy pace, with two nights in the desert: one in a camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes and one in a hotel at their edge. As a 5 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech, it gives you a full day in the Sahara, then splits the road west into short stages through the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses and Ouarzazate. On the last morning you visit Ait Benhaddou before crossing the High Atlas to Marrakech. It is a private tour with your own local driver-guide from start to finish.
Why this tour is unique
Shorter tours from Fes rush from the desert to Marrakech in one or two long days. With a night in Ouarzazate, the drives after the Sahara stay short, so you have time for the palm groves of Skoura, the Kasbah of Taourirt and a quiet morning at Ait Benhaddou before the crowds arrive.
Tour highlights
- Ifrane and the Cedar ForestDrive through the alpine town of Ifrane and look for Barbary macaques among the cedars near Azrou.
- Ziz ValleyFollow a long green ribbon of date palms from the mountains down to the desert.
- Sunset Camel Trek in Erg ChebbiRide into the dunes at sunset and spend the night at a desert camp under the stars.
- A Full Day in the SaharaExplore around the dunes by 4×4, with Gnawa music in Khamlia and the market town of Rissani.
- Todra GorgeWalk between canyon walls up to 300 meters high.
- Dades ValleySpend a night among red rock formations, kasbahs and terraced fields.
- Valley of Roses and SkouraPass the rose gardens of Kelaat M’Gouna and the shady palm grove of Skoura.
- OuarzazateVisit the Kasbah of Taourirt and the film studios that made the town famous.
- Ait BenhaddouExplore the UNESCO-listed clay village early in the day, when it is calm.
- Tizi n’Tichka PassCross the High Atlas at about 2,200 m on the way down to Marrakech.
Route map
You will depart Fes and head south through the Middle Atlas, Midelt and the Ziz Valley to the Sahara dunes of Merzouga, where you spend two nights. On day three, you drive west through the Todra Gorge to the Dades Valley, and on day four you continue through the Valley of Roses and Skoura to Ouarzazate. On the final day, you visit Ait Benhaddou and cross the High Atlas Mountains to finish in Marrakech.
Day-by-day itinerary
Here is the full plan for your 5 days Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga trip, from pick-up to drop-off.
Day 1: Fes to Merzouga
8 hours driving
Your driver picks you up at 7:30 am from your accommodation in Fes, the city of the Medina of Fez (opens in a new tab). The road climbs into the Middle Atlas through Ifrane, with its tiled roofs and tidy parks, then into the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road. After lunch in Midelt, you drive down through the Ziz Valley and Er-Rachidia to Erfoud, and the dunes of Erg Chebbi (opens in a new tab) come into view about 1.5 hours before sunset. From here you ride a camel into the desert at sunset to reach your camp, where dinner is served under the stars.
Day 2: A full day around Erg Chebbi
Short drives
Climb a dune for sunrise, have breakfast at the camp, then a 4×4 brings you back to Merzouga to meet your driver. The rest of the day is spent around the dunes by 4×4: Khamlia, a village where Gnawa musicians play for visitors, the seasonal lakes when they hold water, and the busy market town of Rissani. In the afternoon you check in to your hotel at the edge of the dunes, with time to rest or watch a second sunset over the Sahara.
Day 3: Merzouga to Todra Gorge and Dades Valley
5 hours driving
After breakfast, you leave the desert and drive west through Erfoud and Tinejdad, past lines of old wells and palm oases, to Tinghir. Just beyond the town is the Todgha Gorge (opens in a new tab), where you have free time to walk between its towering rock walls. In the afternoon you reach the Dades Valley and check in to your hotel among the red cliffs.
Day 4: Dades Valley to Skoura and Ouarzazate
3 hours driving
Today is a short, relaxed drive. You follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Kelaat M’Gouna, the town of the Valley of Roses, then stop in the palm grove of Skoura, where old earthen kasbahs stand among the trees. In the afternoon you arrive in Ouarzazate, with time to visit the Kasbah of Taourirt or the film studios on the edge of town, before dinner at your hotel.
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech
4.5 hours driving
After breakfast, a short drive takes you to the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (opens in a new tab) while the morning is still quiet. Walk up through its clay lanes to the granary at the top for a view over the valley. You then cross the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n’Tichka pass and arrive in the Medina of Marrakesh (opens in a new tab) in the afternoon, where your driver drops you at your accommodation or at the airport.
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.
- Dihya Desert Camp
- Ideal Desert Camp
- Tawada Desert Camp
- Sahara Desert Luxury Camp
- Desert Villa Boutique Hotel
- Riad Azawad
- Dar Morocco
- Riad Bahammou Hotel
- Grand Canyon Lodge
- Dar Ahlam Dades
- Ksar Sultan Dades
- Riad Amlal
- Dihya Desert Camp
- Ideal Desert Camp
- Tawada Desert Camp
- Sahara Desert Luxury Camp
- Tents with air conditioning
- Riad Serai
- Riad Madu
- Riad Dar Blues
- Hotel Xaluca Dades
- Palm Hotel Dades
- Riad Dar Chama
- Les Tourmalines Guest House
- Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
- Desert Luxury Camp
- Suite at Riad Serai
- Sunrise Palace Merzouga
- Eden Boutique Dades
- Berbere Palace
- Oz Palace
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
- 4 nights accommodation (as per selected package)
- Private washroom with shower at the desert camp
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (4 breakfasts, 4 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 2
- Pick-up at your Fes accommodation or Fes-Saiss Airport, and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation or Marrakech airport
Excluded
- Lunches and daytime drinks
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to kasbahs, film studios and museums (included in the Luxury Package)
- Accommodation in Marrakech after the tour
- Tips and gratuities
Good to know before you go
Pick-up and start
Pick-up is usually at 7:30 am from your Fes accommodation or Fes-Saiss Airport, so you reach Merzouga about 1.5 hours before sunset. If the time changes, your driver will message you on WhatsApp with the time and meeting point.
Drop-off
We arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon and drop you at your accommodation or at Marrakech 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
The 5 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech covers about 1,020 km. The first day is the longest, at around 8 hours, and after the desert the drives get shorter, from 5 hours to the Dades Valley to about 3 hours to Ouarzazate. The mountain roads are winding, so bring motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
Best time to go
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. Summer days in Merzouga often pass 40°C, and in winter the desert nights get close to freezing, with snow possible around Ifrane and on the Tizi n’Tichka pass.
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
Pack layers. Days in the desert are hot, while desert nights and the Middle and High Atlas can be cold. Bring a warm jacket, comfortable walking shoes, a scarf for sand and sun, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Currency & payments
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Hotels and larger restaurants take cards, but carry cash for lunches, small purchases and tips in villages along the route.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Morocco. Guides, drivers and camp staff appreciate a tip if you are happy with the service. A common guide 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 camp has little or no signal, so it is a good night to unplug and look at the stars.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most about the 5 day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech.
How much does the 5 days tour from Fes to Marrakech cost?
Prices start from €565 per person for the Comfort package. The Superior package is €791 and the Luxury package €1017 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 5 days Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga route?
Fes to Merzouga is about 470 km, and the road from Merzouga back to Marrakech is about 550 km, split over three days. Expect about 8 hours on Day 1, short drives on Day 2, 5 hours on Day 3, 3 hours on Day 4 and 4.5 hours on Day 5, plus stops for photos, meals and visits. Staying on in Marrakech after the tour? See 10 Best Things to Do in Marrakech (opens in a new tab).
Is a 5 days Morocco tour from Fes to Marrakech better than the 4-day tour?
Both follow the same road through the desert, with two nights in Merzouga. The 4-day tour drives from the Dades Valley to Marrakech in one day. The 5-day tour adds a night in Ouarzazate, so the last two days are shorter and you have time for Skoura, the Kasbah of Taourirt and a calm morning at Ait Benhaddou. Arriving in Fes from the north? 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 at the edge of the dunes to rest and watch the sunset.
Is it safe to take a 5 day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. The road from Fes to Merzouga and on to Marrakech is one of the most traveled tourist routes in Morocco, and 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 government’s travel advice before you go. You can also read Is Morocco Safe? What Travelers Should Know (opens in a new tab).
Is the 8-hour drive on Day 1 too difficult?
It is the longest day of the trip, but the scenery changes all day, from cedar forest to palm valleys to desert, and we stop for coffee, photos and lunch in Midelt. We leave Fes at 7:30 am so you reach Merzouga about 1.5 hours before sunset, and every drive after that is shorter.
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.
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.