Per Person
Are you ready to discover Morocco's spirit? The 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is an unforgettable trip. You will see the wonders of the Merzouga Sahara Desert, ride a camel through the stunning Erg Chebbi Dunes, and spend a night in a luxury Berber camp under the starry sky.
You will pass charming Atlas Mountain Berber villages, such as Telouet, see wild monkeys at Azrou's Cedar Forest, and gawk at iconic sights, such as Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Kasbah Amridil, and Ouarzazate. The journey culminates in Fes, and the memories last a lifetime.
Explore the High Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, Todra Gorge, and the Merzouga Desert on this epic 5-day journey that ends in the imperial city of Fes.
We will leave the red city of Marrakech at 8 am for the Dades Valley. We drive across the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2260 meters, which offers fantastic panoramic views. We will have time to enjoy impressive landscapes, Berber villages, and a break for coffee or mint tea in a picturesque location.
We will continue our journey along the Ounila Valley to the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous as a film set location. This Berber Kasbah has played a significant role for international filmmakers, serving as the backdrop for over 50 movies. Historically, it was one of the most important fortress strongholds along the old Salt Road, where caravans transported goods such as enslaved people, gold, ivory, and salt. You can still see the salt pans in the valley today.
Next, we will pass through the strategic city of Ouarzazate, often called the "Hollywood of Africa." We will enjoy dinner and spend the night in a traditional riad here.
After breakfast, we will drive through the Skoura Oasis to visit the Kasbah Amridil. Following our visit, we will continue to the Valley of the Roses. After lunch, we will head to the Dades Valley to see the amazing rock formation known as "the monkey fingers" because of the shapes in the eroded landscape. You will also see the still-standing 19th-century Kasbah of Ait Youl. We will enjoy dinner and spend the night in a riad.
After a delicious breakfast, we will leave the Dades Valley and continue towards Tinghir and the spectacular Todra Valley. Here, you'll see panoramic views of the old adobe Berber villages overlooking this valley. In the Gorge, we will walk to stretch our legs between the 300 m high red cliff walls, where many rock climbers come to enjoy the challenges it presents.
We'll continue to Erfoud and Rissani, where we'll have lunch before leaving for the Sahara Desert village of Merzouga—a welcome with a glass of mint tea before entering your accommodation. You can spend the night in the desert instead of at the hotel.
After a traditional local breakfast, we will explore the area, meet some locals, and discover different ways of living. Descendants of enslaved Sudanese people inhabit the village of Khamlia, and through their Gnaoua music and songs, they tell stories of their past. Not far from this village, you can see the seasonal Lake Merzouga, which has a flock of flamingos. There will be time to visit local Berber handicrafts for sale, which is a good opportunity to buy from locals.
After enjoying lunch and resting, you will prepare for a camel ride to explore the sea of sand, guided by an experienced camel guide. Erg Chebbi dunes, the largest in this region of Morocco, offer a unique silence as you traverse the stunning red and golden sands. The experience of riding a camel to your desert camp and spending the night under the stars alongside residents is unforgettable. After dinner, you can enjoy music and songs before settling in in a traditional Berber camp.
One of the best times of the day is just before sunrise. Our staff will wake you up early in the morning, and you will have the opportunity to witness perhaps the best sunrise of your life. The light changes as the sun rises, which can be incredible. Followed by breakfast; then you will ride your camel back to Merzouga.
We will travel to Fes via Erfoud and the magnificent Ziz Valley. We'll stop to enjoy the panoramic view over the Ziz Gorge before reaching Midelt. We will stop in to enjoy lunch and refresh with a mint tea. From there, we drive through the Middle Atlas Mountains, home to the great cedar forests and the indigenous Barbary monkeys. They are fun to watch and often steal food from parked cars.
Then we drive to Ifrane, known as the little Switzerland of Africa because of its alpine-style architecture; we will stop for photos and coffee before we drive the last part to Fes, where the 5-day desert tour ends.
Find answers to the most common questions about our 5-day Morocco tour from Marrakech to Fes.
Yes. Five days is an ideal length for a Marrakech to Fes desert tour. It gives you enough time to cross the High Atlas Mountains, visit Ait Ben Haddou, explore Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, enjoy the Erg Chebbi dunes, and then travel onward to Fes through the Middle Atlas without feeling rushed.
The total distance is about 750 km (466 miles). On this 5-day tour, the journey is split over comfortable driving days with plenty of stops at scenic viewpoints, Berber villages, and historical sites, making it an enjoyable road trip rather than a marathon drive.
This is a private Morocco tour, so you'll travel only with your own family, friends, or group. Your driver/guide, schedule, and sightseeing stops can be adjusted to your interests, offering a more flexible and personalized experience than a shared group tour.
Yes. A sunset camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes is included. The ride usually lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours and takes you directly to the desert camp. If you prefer not to ride a camel, we can arrange a 4x4 transfer instead.
Merzouga is part of the Sahara Desert and is famous for the tall golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, the classic Sahara landscape many travelers picture. Zagora is closer to Marrakech, but its dunes are smaller and the desert experience is shorter. If you want the iconic Sahara feel, Merzouga is the better choice – and this tour includes it.
Our desert camps include comfortable beds, private tents, electricity, dinner, breakfast, and clean bathroom facilities. Luxury camps also offer en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, and more spacious, well-decorated tents for added comfort.
The tour includes private transportation, an experienced English-speaking driver/guide, accommodation (with dinner and breakfast), a sunset camel trek, one night in a Sahara desert camp, and sandboarding. Lunches, drinks, and entrance fees to monuments are generally not included.
Yes. Luxury camps have private bathrooms and hot showers inside each tent. Standard camps provide clean shared facilities nearby, often with warm water in the evenings powered by a generator. We'll confirm your exact camp setup before you book.
Bring comfortable clothes, layers for changing temperatures, a warm jacket for the evening, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat or scarf, and comfortable walking shoes. Desert nights can be surprisingly cold, especially from October to February, so a warm layer is essential.
Yes. The tour is private and can be adapted to different ages and fitness levels. Camel rides are slow and fully guided, and 4x4 transfers are available for anyone who prefers not to ride, making the experience comfortable for families, children, and older travelers.
Absolutely. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary requirements can be arranged with advance notice. Just let us know your preferences when booking, and we'll coordinate with restaurants and camps accordingly.
Mobile signal is limited in some desert areas. Most luxury camps offer Wi-Fi in the common area, but the connection is often slower and less reliable than in the cities. We recommend treating this as a chance to disconnect and enjoy the starry skies.
Real reviews from our happy travelers who experienced the 5-day Morocco tour from Marrakech to Fes.
London, UK
Our 5-Day Marrakech to Fes desert tour was an absolutely amazing experience! Riding camels at sunset over the Sahara dunes was definitely the highlight of our trip. Our driver was extremely friendly and made the journey comfortable.
Paris, France
Highly recommend this 5-Day Marrakech to Fes desert tour! The organization was perfect and sleeping under a sky full of stars in the desert camp was beautiful. We loved every second of it.
Munich, Germany
We had a fantastic time. The guide was so knowledgeable and taught us so much about the culture. Sleeping under a sky full of stars in the desert camp is something we will never forget.