Tours

3-Day Itinerary: Marrakesh to Fes via the Sahara Desert

Day 1: Marrakesh – High Atlas Mountains – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

Your journey begins early in the morning as you depart Marrakesh and head southeast toward the majestic High Atlas Mountains. You will wind through the stunning Tizi n’Tichka pass, reaching an altitude of 2,260 meters, where you can stop for photos of the panoramic vistas and traditional mud-brick Berber villages. The highlight of the afternoon is a stop at the ancient, fortified village of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site that has served as the backdrop for blockbuster movies like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. After exploring the Kasbah and having lunch, you will drive through Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa,” and continue through the Valley of Roses before arriving at your hotel or riad nestled within the scenic Dades Valley for dinner and a restful night.

Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (Sahara Desert Camp)

After breakfast, you will take a short drive to enjoy a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the lush palm groves of the Tinghir oasis before entering the spectacular Todra Gorges. Here, you will have free time to walk along the narrow canyon floor, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs that reach up to 300 meters high. In the afternoon, the landscape changes drastically as you approach Erfoud and finally reach Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert. You will trade your vehicle for a camel caravan and trek into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi just in time to witness a magical desert sunset. Your day ends at a traditional Berber desert camp where you will enjoy a delicious Moroccan dinner, listen to live drumming around a bonfire, and sleep under a vast, star-filled night sky.

Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes

An early wake-up is highly recommended today so you can watch the sunrise cast brilliant orange and gold hues across the Saharan dunes. Following breakfast at the camp, you will return to Merzouga (by camel or 4×4) to meet your driver and begin the long but incredibly scenic journey north to Fes. You will first pass through the vast Ziz Valley, stopping to admire the dramatic cliffs and endless carpets of date palm oases. After a lunch break in the mountain town of Midelt, you will wind through the Middle Atlas Mountains and enter the ancient Cedar Forest near Azrou, where you can pause to see and feed the native wild Barbary apes. Your final brief stop is in Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” due to its alpine architecture and clean streets, before arriving in the imperial city of Fes by early evening.

What is Included and Excluded

Included:

• Private Transportation: A modern, air-conditioned vehicle (typically a 4×4 SUV or minivan) with an experienced, English-speaking driver-guide.

• Fuel & Tolls: All fuel costs, road tolls, and parking fees.

• Pick-up & Drop-off: Direct pickup from your accommodation or the nearest accessible point in Marrakesh, and drop-off at your riad/hotel in Fes.

• Accommodations:

  • 1 Night in a private room at a hotel/guesthouse in the Dades Valley.

  • 1 Night in a private tent (standard or luxury, depending on your booking) at a desert camp in Merzouga.

• Meals: 2 Breakfasts (Day 2 & 3) and 2 Dinners (Day 1 & 2 at the accommodations).

• Desert Activities: A sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and traditional Berber drum music entertainment around the campfire.

Excluded:

• Lunches & Drinks: All midday meals during the road trips and beverages (including bottled water and alcohol).

• Local Guides & Entrance Fees: Optional local site guides (such as inside Ait Benhaddou, which usually cost around €5–€10) and admission fees to movie studios or historic kasbahs.

• Optional Upgrades: 4×4 dune transfers to/from the desert camp if you prefer to skip the camel ride, or quad biking/buggy rentals in the desert.

• Tips & Gratuities: Tips for your driver, desert camp staff, camel guides, and restaurant servers.

• Travel Insurance: Personal medical and travel disruption insurance.