5 Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour

Overview

About this tour

This is the relaxed version of our Marrakech to Fes crossing. Shorter driving days let you stop wherever you like, walk in the palm groves of Skoura and enjoy two full nights in the Sahara.

You will explore Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, sleep among the red rocks of the Dades Valley, walk in Todra Gorge and spend a whole day with nomads, musicians and 4x4 tracks around Merzouga before heading north to Fes.

5 Days Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour — private tour from Marrakech

Camel caravan crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga

View over the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site

Tour highlights

Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate's kasbahs
The Skoura palm grove and Amridil Kasbah
Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
Two nights in Erg Chebbi with camel trek
Nomads, Khamlia music and the Mifis mines
Cedar forests of Ifrane on the way to Fes

Your route

Marrakech
Ouarzazate
Dades
Merzouga
Fes

Day by day

Itinerary

Day1 Marrakech → High Atlas → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate

An easy first day: cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visit the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou at a gentle pace and arrive in Ouarzazate in the afternoon, with time to see Taourirt Kasbah.

Hotel, Ouarzazate
Dinner

Day2 Ouarzazate → Skoura → Valley of Roses → Dades Valley

After breakfast, walk in the Skoura palm grove and visit the Amridil Kasbah. Continue through Kalaat M'Gouna, famous for its rose festival, to the Dades Valley and its twisting road through red rock.

Kasbah hotel, Dades Valley
Breakfast, Dinner

Day3 Boumalne Dades → Todra Gorge → Merzouga

Walk into Todra Gorge, then continue across the desert plains to Merzouga. At sunset, a camel caravan takes you into the dunes to our camp for dinner and Berber music.

Desert camp, Merzouga
Breakfast, Dinner

Day4 Merzouga: Khamlia, nomad families and Mifis mines

A day around Erg Chebbi by 4x4: tea with a nomad family, Gnawa music in Khamlia and the old Mifis mines. Free afternoon for sandboarding or a nap in the shade, then sunset on the dunes.

Desert camp, Merzouga
Breakfast, Dinner

Day5 Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Ifrane → Fes

Sunrise, breakfast and a long, scenic drive north: the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the Middle Atlas cedar forest and Ifrane. Arrival and drop-off in Fes in the evening.

End of tour — drop-off
Breakfast

What's included

Price includes & excludes

Included

Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minivan) with fuel
English-speaking driver-guide for the whole journey
Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes (hotel, riad or airport)
4 nights of accommodation in hotels, riads and kasbahs
2 nights in our desert camp in Merzouga
Camel trek into the dunes at sunset
4x4 excursion around Erg Chebbi (nomads, Khamlia, Mifis)
Breakfasts and dinners as shown in the itinerary

Not included

Lunches and drinks
Entrance fees to monuments and museums
Local city guides (optional — we can arrange them)
Optional activities such as quad bikes or sandboarding
Tips for your driver and camp staff
Flights and travel insurance

Where you sleep

Night 1Hotel, Ouarzazate
Night 2Kasbah hotel, Dades Valley
Night 3Desert camp, Merzouga
Night 4Desert camp, Merzouga

Practical information

Good to know

Private & flexible

Only your group travels in the vehicle. Ask your driver to stop for photos whenever you like, and tell us if you want to change the route or add days.

Your desert camp

Our camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes has comfortable tents with real beds and blankets. Your big luggage stays in the 4x4 — take a small bag for the night.

What to pack

Sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf for the wind, comfortable shoes and a warm layer: desert nights are cold from November to March.

Best time to travel

October to May is ideal. In summer we start early and rest at midday to avoid the heat. Every season has its own beauty.

Food & diets

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals are possible. Just tell us when you book or let your driver know on day one.

How to book

Send us your dates and number of travellers. We reply with a price for your group. A small deposit confirms the tour; the balance is paid in cash on the first day (euros, dollars or dirhams).

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Which vehicles do you use?

Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles adapted to your group: 4x4 Land Cruisers or minivans for small groups, and Mercedes Sprinter minibuses for groups of 8 or more.

How far in advance should we book?

As early as possible, especially for spring, autumn and holiday periods. Last-minute requests are welcome too — contact us and we will do our best.

How do I pay for the tour?

We ask for a small deposit when you book. The balance is paid in cash to your driver on the first day of the tour, in euros, dollars or Moroccan dirhams.

What happens to my luggage in the desert?

Your suitcases stay safely in the vehicle or are brought to the camp by 4x4. You only need a small backpack for the camel ride.

I don't want to ride a camel. Can I still sleep at the camp?

Of course. We can take you to the camp by 4x4 instead of camel.

Can we change the itinerary?

Yes. All our tours are private, so we can add nights, change hotels, include activities or adjust the route to your wishes.

Is the tour suitable for children and older travellers?

Yes. We adapt the pace, the stops and the accommodation for families and for travellers who prefer an easier rhythm.