Our Destinations
Marrakech to Fes in three days, with a night in the Sahara in between. The route crosses the High Atlas to the Dades Gorge on day 1, goes on past the Todra Gorge to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga for a night in a Berber tent on day 2, and ends in Fes on day 3 after the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests around Azrou. It can also be run in reverse, from Fes to Marrakech.
Tour highlights
- Crossing the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen ksar
- The Rose Valley, the Dades Gorge and the rock formations of the Tamnalt Hills
- The Todra Gorge on the way to the dunes
- A two-hour camel trek at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Mint tea, tagine and a night in a Berber tent
- A camel ride back across the dunes after breakfast
- The Ziz Valley gorge and the cedar forests around Azrou on the way to Fes
Good to know
- The tour starts at your Marrakech hotel on day 1 and finishes in Fes on day 3.
- It is a private tour: your own driver, plus a guide and camels for the dune trek.
- Day 3 is a single long transfer from Merzouga to Fes.
- Night 1 is in a hotel at the Dades Gorge, night 2 in a Berber tent at the desert camp.
- Nights in the desert can be cold in winter and days hot in summer, so pack layers, a scarf and sun protection.
- Send us your dates and group size and we will get back to you with availability and a quote.
Want more time on the road? Compare the 4 day Marrakech to Fes tour and the 5 day Marrakech to Fes tour, or ask us to tailor a route. You can also read what past travellers say or get in touch.
Included and Excluded
- Private tour with your own driver
- Hotel pick-up in Marrakech on day 1
- Night 1 in a hotel at the Dades Gorge, with dinner
- Sunset camel trek of about two hours to the desert camp
- Night 2 in a Berber tent, with mint tea, tagine and dinner
- Camel ride back to Merzouga after breakfast on day 3
- Transfer from Merzouga to Fes on day 3
- Anything not listed here – please confirm meals, drinks and entrance fees with us when you book
Tour route
- Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Rose Valley – Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi – Ziz Valley – Azrou – Fes
Itinerary
Your private tour starts at your Marrakech hotel and climbs the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass. The first stop is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar and one of the most striking earthen villages on the caravan route through the Atlas. The road continues through Ouarzazate and Kelaa M'Gouna in the Rose Valley, then leaves the main route at Boumalne Dades to follow the oasis valley of the Dades River past ruined hilltop kasbahs, gardens on the valley floor and the odd rock formations of the Tamnalt Hills. Dinner and the night are at your hotel in the Dades Gorge.
From the Dades you drive on to Merzouga by way of the Todra Gorge and Tinjdad. At the edge of the dunes your guide and camels take over for a two-hour trek at sunset to the desert camp, where you sleep in a traditional nomad tent. Mint tea and a simple tagine prepared by your guide are served, followed by dinner.
After mint tea and breakfast, the camels carry you back across the dunes to Merzouga, where you can shower before setting off. The transfer to Fes follows the Ziz Valley gorge and passes through Azrou and its cedar forests before finishing in Fes. The route can also be run in the opposite direction, from Fes to Marrakech.
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