Overview of your Fes to Marrakech desert tour
This 3 days tour from Fes to Marrakech takes you from Morocco’s oldest imperial city to the Red City, with a night in the Sahara on the way. You travel from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga, crossing the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, riding a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes, then driving through the Todra Gorge and Ait Benhaddou on your way over the High Atlas. It is a private Fes to Marrakech desert tour with a local driver-guide, a night in a desert camp and a hotel night in the Dades Valley.
Why this tour is unique
Instead of a direct transfer between the two cities, you travel one way and see two different Moroccos. The north brings green cedar forests, the mountain town of Ifrane and the palm groves of the Ziz Valley. The south brings golden dunes, deep gorges and clay kasbahs, before you arrive in Marrakech.
Tour highlights
- Middle Atlas Cedar ForestLook for Barbary macaques near Azrou and pass through Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”.
- Ziz ValleyDrive past long green ribbons of date palms between the mountains and the desert.
- Sahara Camel Trek & Desert CampRide a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep under the stars.
- Todra Gorge & Dades ValleyStand beneath 300-meter-high vertical canyon walls.
- Ait BenhaddouWalk through the UNESCO-listed clay Kasbah famous for Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
- High Atlas MountainsCross the dramatic Tizi n’Tichka pass (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 reach the Sahara dunes of Merzouga for your first night. On day two, you continue west through the Todra Gorge to the Dades Valley. On the final day, you pass Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou, then cross the High Atlas Mountains to finish in Marrakech.
Day-by-day itinerary of the 3 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech
Day 1: Fes to Marrakech desert tour starts: Ifrane, Midelt and Merzouga
8 hours driving
Your driver will pick you up at 7:30 am from your accommodation in Fes, home to the Medina of Fez (opens in a new tab). We climb into the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and stop in the cedar forest near Azrou to look for Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt, we follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley through Er-Rachidia and Erfoud until the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi (opens in a new tab) appear, about 1.5 hours before sunset. Trade your vehicle for a camel and ride into the desert at sunset to reach your camp.
Day 2: Merzouga to Todra Gorge and Dades Valley
5 hours driving
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, you ride your camel back to the edge of the desert to meet your driver. We drive west through Erfoud to the awe-inspiring Todra Gorge, where you’ll have free time to walk between the massive 300-meter-high canyon walls. In the afternoon we continue to our hotel in the Dades Valley.
Day 3: Dades Valley to Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech
6 hours driving
After breakfast, we drive through the Valley of Roses to Ouarzazate. Our main highlight of the day is the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou Kasbah (also spelled Ait Ben Haddou). Learn more about the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (opens in a new tab). After lunch, we cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass and arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon, where your driver drops you at your accommodation.
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
- 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
- Tents with air conditioning
- Riad Dar Blues
- Hotel Xaluca Dades
- Palm Hotel Dades
- Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
- Desert Luxury Camp
- Eden Boutique Dades
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
- 2 nights accommodation (as per selected package)
- Private washroom with shower at the desert camp
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (2 breakfasts, 2 dinners)
- Sunset and sunrise camel treks in Erg Chebbi (or a 4×4 transfer to the camp, if you prefer)
- Pick-up at your Fes accommodation or Fes-Saiss Airport, and drop-off in Marrakech
Excluded
- Lunches and daytime drinks
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums (included in the Luxury Package)
- Accommodation in Marrakech after the tour
- Tips and gratuities
What travelers say about this trip
Reviews from our sister company, Morocco Top Trips
A couple on a 10-day trip who praise the hotels and breakfasts, their private guide Said and driver Hamid, and the owner, Mohamed, who joined them in the desert.
A couple for whom the desert tour was the highlight of the trip. They say the accommodation was better than they expected and their driver, Moha, made them feel safe the whole way.
An 11-day trip with friends that included a camel ride in the Sahara and a cooking class. They praise guide Said’s excellent English, driver Sala, good hotels and regular stops for water and snacks.
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.
Distance and driving
On the 3 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech, the roads over the Middle Atlas and the High Atlas are winding, so bring motion-sickness tablets if needed.
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.
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 about the 3 days tour from Fes to Marrakech
How much does the 3 days trip from Fes to Marrakech cost?
Prices start from €395 per person for the Comfort package. The Superior package is €553 and the Luxury package €711 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 is the drive from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga?
Fes to Merzouga is roughly 470 km, and Merzouga to Marrakech is about 550 km. On this tour the driving is split across three days, about 8 hours on Day 1, 5 hours on Day 2 and 6 hours on Day 3. Those are driving times, and you also stop for photos, meals and visits along the way. Staying on in Marrakech after the tour? See 10 Best Things to Do in Marrakech (opens in a new tab).
Is a Fes to Marrakech desert tour worth it?
Yes, if you are traveling from Fes to Marrakech anyway. Instead of a direct transfer, you leave Fes, cross the Middle Atlas, spend a night in the dunes, and see the Todra Gorge and Ait Benhaddou on the same journey. The trade-off is long driving days. If you prefer a slower pace, a 4-day tour gives you more time at each stop. Coming to Fes from the north? See 7 Best Things to Do in Chefchaouen (opens in a new tab).
Is it safe to travel to Merzouga and the Sahara?
The route from Fes to Merzouga and on to Marrakech 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 this tour?
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 to confirm your booking, and the remaining balance is paid on the first day of the tour. 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 1 too difficult?
It is a long day on the road, 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, in time for the sunset camel ride. If you prefer shorter days, ask us about a 4-day itinerary.
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.