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Travelers on camels heading into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset on a Fes to Marrakech tour Private

Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour in 3 Days: Merzouga, Gorges and Kasbahs

Cross Morocco from north to south: cedar forests, a night in the Sahara, two gorges and the kasbahs of the south on the way to Marrakech.

  • 3 days
  • Fes → Marrakech
  • Private
  • From TT$ 2,789 (€365) per person
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Overview

Starting your trip in Fes and flying home from Marrakech? This private Fes to Marrakech desert tour turns the transfer into the best part of your trip. In three days you cross the Middle Atlas, ride a camel into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, sleep in a Sahara camp, walk through the Todra Gorge and finish over the High Atlas via Aït Benhaddou.

The first day is long, but the scenery is non-stop: Ifrane’s Alpine-style roofs, the cedar forests of Azrou with their Barbary macaques, Midelt and the palm-filled Ziz Valley. By late afternoon you are swaying on a camel watching the sunset over the Sahara. The next two days follow the gorges and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.

You travel with your own English-speaking driver and choose standard or superior hotels and camps. For a deeper dive into the desert regions, read our Sahara desert guide.

Highlights

  • Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest with Barbary macaques
  • Ziz Valley palm groves and canyon
  • Camel ride at sunset and night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi
  • Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
  • Rose Valley and Ouarzazate
  • Aït Benhaddou ksar and the Tizi n'Tichka pass

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga

    Pickup at your riad in Fes at 7:30. Climb into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, a clean, leafy town nicknamed the Switzerland of Morocco. Continue to the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often wait by the road.

    Cross the high plateaus to Midelt for lunch, then follow the Ziz Valley, a canyon lined with palm groves. Pass Errachidia and Erfoud and reach Merzouga in the late afternoon. Swap the car for a camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Arrive at the desert camp for dinner, drums and a night under the stars.

    Overnight: Desert camp at Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Merzouga – Rissani – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

    Wake up early to watch the sunrise from the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. Drive through Rissani, the old caravan town, and on across the desert plains to Tinghir and its huge palm grove.

    Walk into the Todra Gorge between limestone walls about 300 meters high. After lunch nearby, continue to the Dades Valley and drive into the gorge to see its hairpin road and the rock formations known as the "monkey fingers." Check into your hotel for dinner and a quiet night among the cliffs.

    Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  3. Day 3 Dades – Rose Valley – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech

    After breakfast, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley, where rosewater is distilled from Damask roses, and past the Skoura palm grove. Stop in Ouarzazate to see the Taourirt kasbah and the film studios from outside.

    Visit Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar that starred in Gladiator, and climb to the top for the view. Then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) and descend to Marrakech, arriving in the evening at your riad or hotel. End of tour.

    Overnight: — (end of tour) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

Price per person by group size
TravelersStandard Superior
1 traveler TT$ 4,966 (€650) TT$ 5,653 (€740)
2 travelers TT$ 2,789 (€365) TT$ 3,476 (€455)
3 travelers TT$ 2,063 (€270) TT$ 2,751 (€360)
4 travelers TT$ 1,704 (€223) TT$ 2,391 (€313)
5 travelers TT$ 1,482 (€194) TT$ 2,170 (€284)
6 travelers TT$ 1,337 (€175) TT$ 2,025 (€265)
7 travelers TT$ 1,238 (€162) TT$ 1,926 (€252)
8 travelers TT$ 1,704 (€223) TT$ 2,391 (€313)

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup at your riad or hotel in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
  • Fuel, parking and tolls
  • 1 night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi with dinner and breakfast
  • 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast
  • Camel ride at sunset and sunrise
  • Optional upgrade to superior accommodation

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides in Todra and Aït Benhaddou (optional)
  • Entrance fees
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Is the Fes to Marrakech desert tour a good fit?

It is ideal for travelers who arrive in the north and leave from Marrakech, and for anyone who wants the desert without backtracking. Days one and three are long, about nine to ten hours with stops, so it suits travelers who enjoy road trips.

Pack a small overnight bag for the camp, warm layers for the Atlas and the desert nights, sunglasses and a scarf. Mosquito spray is rarely needed, but sunscreen always is. If you want a slower version, add a night in Merzouga or ask for a tailor-made plan through our contact page.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?

About 470 km, or eight to nine hours with stops for photos and lunch. We leave early so you reach the dunes before sunset.

What is the desert camp like?

Tents with beds and blankets, dinner and breakfast included. Superior camps offer private en-suite bathrooms. Electricity is limited, so charge your devices when you can.

Can we add a day in the desert?

Yes. A second night in Merzouga lets you add a 4x4 tour, visit Khamlia and simply relax. The price is recalculated for four days.

Can we finish at Marrakech airport?

Yes, but we recommend flying the next day, as arrival times on day three depend on stops and traffic over the Tizi n'Tichka.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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