A 3 days tour from Marrakech is the shortest way to spend a night in the Sahara without flying: over the High Atlas, past Aït Benhaddou and the gorges, a sunset camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp. You choose how it ends, back in Marrakech or one-way in Fes. This guide covers the 3 days desert tour from Marrakech, the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, drive times, prices and the honest downsides. It uses SaharaVia’s own tour pages plus Viaje en Marruecos, Simply Morocco, The Abroad Guide and Wikipedia.
3 Days Tour From Marrakech: The Short Answer
- Two routes: a round trip back to Marrakech, or a one-way trip that ends in Fes
- Same first two days: Marrakech, the Tizi n’Tichka pass, Aït Benhaddou, the Dadès Valley, Todra Gorge and a night in a Merzouga desert camp
- Day 3 differs: the round trip returns through the Draa Valley, while the Fes route climbs through the Middle Atlas
- Prices: SaharaVia lists the round trip from €340 and the Fes route from €390 per person, based on two travelers
- Distances: SaharaVia gives about 550 km from Marrakech to Merzouga and about 470 km from Merzouga to Fes
- Pick-up: usually 8:00 am from your Marrakech accommodation or the airport
3 Days Desert Tour From Marrakech: Day by Day
SaharaVia, a local team based in Errachidia, the gateway to the Sahara, runs the 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga as a private round trip. Driving times below exclude stops.
- Day 1, about 6 hours: cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, visit Aït Benhaddou, have lunch in Ouarzazate and drive through the Valley of Roses to a hotel in the Dadès Valley
- Day 2, about 5 hours: walk the Todgha Gorge, continue through Erfoud to Erg Chebbi and ride a camel into camp at sunset
- Day 3, about 9 hours: sunrise over the dunes, breakfast, a 4×4 back to your driver, then Alnif, the Draa Valley and the High Atlas again, reaching Marrakech at about 7:30 pm
3 Days Tour From Marrakech to Fes: Day by Day
The 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes shares days 1 and 2, then heads north instead of back:
- Day 3, about 8 hours: sunrise, a 4×4 back to your driver, Erfoud, Er-Rachidia and the Ziz Valley palm groves, lunch in Midelt, the cedar forest near Azrou (Barbary macaques) and Ifrane, arriving in Fes in the late afternoon
- Ending: the tour finishes in Fes at your accommodation or Fes-Saiss Airport, with no hotel night included
- A similar route: Simply Morocco’s 3-day Marrakech to Fes tour also has Merzouga on day 2 and Midelt, Azrou and Ifrane on day 3
The 3 day trip from Marrakech to Fes saves the long drive back to Marrakech if you are heading north anyway. Our guide to Fes covers what to do on arrival.
Marrakech Desert Tour 3 Days: Which Route Fits You?
| Tour | Ends in | Driving per day | From, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech to Merzouga and back | Marrakech | 6, 5 and 9 hours | €340 |
| Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga | Fes | 6, 5 and 8 hours | €390 |
| Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga | Marrakech | 8, 5 and 6 hours | €395 |
All prices are SaharaVia’s Comfort package. Choose the round trip if your flight leaves from Marrakech, and the Fes route if you are traveling north. The reverse tour, 3 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech, suits travelers starting in Fes.
Highlights Along the Route
- Tizi n’Tichka: Wikipedia gives the pass an altitude of 2,260 m, and notes snow can often fall from November to March. SaharaVia’s tour pages say about 2,200 m
- Aït Benhaddou: a mud-brick ksar that UNESCO inscribed in 1987
- Ouarzazate: Wikipedia calls it the “Door of the Desert” and says Atlas Studios is the largest movie studio in the world by land area
- Valley of Roses: the stretch between Ouarzazate and the Dadès Valley on SaharaVia’s route. Wikipedia says the southernmost Dadès Gorges are known for growing roses for rose water
- Todra Gorge: sources disagree on the walls. SaharaVia and Viaje en Marruecos say about 300 m, while Wikipedia says up to 400 m in places and up to 160 m on the sheer final stretch
- Erg Chebbi: about 28 km north to south, with dunes up to 150 m, according to Wikipedia
- Middle Atlas: on the Fes route, Wikipedia says Ifrane was founded by the French administration in 1929 and has chalet-style homes
For more in Marrakech before you leave, see our list of things to do in Marrakech.
What a 3 Day Trip From Marrakech to Fes Includes
From SaharaVia’s tour pages:
- Transport: a private air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan with an English-speaking driver and guide
- Meals: 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Lunches and daytime drinks are extra
- Camps: a standard desert camp (Comfort), an upgraded luxury camp (Superior) or a premium VIP camp (Luxury). Every tent has a private washroom with a shower
- Camp evening: a sunset camel ride (or a 4×4 transfer) of about 1 to 1.5 hours, Berber drums and dinner, with sandboarding available at camp
- Luggage: taken to camp by SUV
- Packages: for the Fes route, Superior is from €546 and Luxury from €702. For the round trip, Superior is from €476 and Luxury from €612
- Not included: travel insurance, entrance fees (included in Luxury only) and tips
Prices may vary with travel dates and final accommodation choice.
Is a 3-Day Desert Tour Enough?
A 3 days desert tour from Marrakech is enough to see the highlights, but the days are long. Viaje en Marruecos calls three days the minimum and suggests four or five to avoid rushing. The Abroad Guide notes that lunches are not included and that driver quality varies between operators, so choose a company with consistent service.
- Driving: 5 to 9 hours a day, with winding mountain roads. Bring motion sickness tablets if needed
- Signal: limited to none at the desert camps
- A slower pace: SaharaVia also runs 4-day versions, 4 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga from €450 and 4 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes from €450
Tips for a Marrakech Desert Tour 3 Days Long
- Snacks: lunch is extra, and The Abroad Guide advises coming prepared with snacks on the first day
- Cash: SaharaVia says to carry dirhams for small purchases in rural areas. Tipping is customary, at about 10% in restaurants and a lump sum for the driver at the end
- Shoes: The Abroad Guide recommends comfortable footwear for the long second day
- Fitness: it suggests moderate fitness for the camel ride and the walks at the sites and gorges
- Charging: connectivity is limited to none at camp, so charge your phone and power bank the night before
- Sunrise: set an alarm, because Viaje en Marruecos calls the sunrise over the dunes the most magical moment of the trip
Best Time and What to Pack
- Best months: March to May and September to November, per SaharaVia. Viaje en Marruecos suggests October to April
- Summer: Merzouga days often pass 40°C
- Winter: days are mild, but nights near the dunes can approach freezing
- Pack: layers, a warm jacket, walking shoes, a scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen
Our guide on the best time to visit Morocco has month-by-month detail, and what to wear in Morocco has a full packing list.
How to Book a 3 Days Tour From Marrakech
- Deposit: 30% confirms the booking, and the balance is paid on the first day
- Children: infants aged 0 to 5 travel free, and older children are priced on request
- Pick-up: usually 8:00 am, and your driver messages you on WhatsApp if the time or meeting point changes
- Meeting point: cars cannot drive into the Marrakech medina, so confirm the exact spot if you stay inside it
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 3 days tour from Marrakech? SaharaVia lists the Merzouga round trip from €340 and the Fes route from €390 per person (Comfort, two travelers).
Is a 3 days desert tour from Marrakech worth it? SaharaVia’s page says it suits travelers with limited time, but expect 5 to 9 hours of driving a day. A 4-day tour is slower.
What is the best Marrakech desert tour 3 days itinerary? Tizi n’Tichka, Aït Benhaddou, Dadès Valley, Todra Gorge, then a night in Merzouga. Day 3 goes back to Marrakech or on to Fes.
What is included in a 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes? A private 4×4 or minivan with a driver and guide, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 2 nights and a sunset camel ride or 4×4 transfer.
Can I do a 3 day trip from Marrakech to Fes? Yes. SaharaVia’s route reaches Fes in the late afternoon of day 3 after about 8 hours of driving.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech? About 550 km, per SaharaVia, which splits the drive over two days.
What is the best time for a 3-day desert tour? March to May and September to November. Summer can pass 40°C and winter nights can approach freezing.
Conclusion
A 3 days tour from Marrakech gives you the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou, a gorge and a Sahara night in three long days. Pick the round trip if you fly out of Marrakech, or the Fes route if you are heading north. To plan your dates, contact SaharaVia and it will send an itinerary and a quote.