4 Days
Private Tour
48 H
English, Multilingual
The private 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is a great choice for anyone who wants to explore the Sahara Desert and southern Morocco. The tour includes one night in Dades Valley and two nights in the Merzouga desert area.
On the first day, you will drive through the Atlas Mountains. You will visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the city of Ouarzazate, the palm groves of Skoura, and continue to Dades Valley.
On the second day, you will visit the Todra Gorges and nearby villages. Later, you will head south to Merzouga, where you’ll enjoy a camel trek and spend the night in a desert camp under the stars.
The third day is for discovering the desert region. You will meet nomad families, see abandoned villages, and explore fossil mines.
On the fourth day, you will travel to Fes, passing through the beautiful Ziz Valley, the town of Midelt, the Cedar Forest (where you may see monkeys), and the town of Ifrane.
If you want to enjoy more comfort, we offer different options to upgrade your hotels and desert camp—from standard to mid-range or luxury.
| Day | Departure | Arrival | Distance |
| #1 | Marrakech | Dades | 260 km |
| #2 | Dades | Merzouga | 300 km |
| #3 | Merzouga | Merzouga Desert | 45 km |
| #4 | Merzouga | Fes | 471 km |
We will pick you up from your hotel in Marrakech around 08:00 a.m. on the first day. Then, we’ll drive south through the High Atlas Mountains and cross the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest road pass in Morocco. Along the way, we’ll stop to enjoy the beautiful mountain views, see traditional Berber villages, and take a break for coffee or tea at a small café with stunning scenery.
Next, we’ll visit Ait Ben Haddou, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient Kasbah is one of the best-preserved fortresses in Morocco and has been used as a filming location for movies like Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and the series Game of Thrones.
After that, we’ll head to Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Africa." There, we’ll visit the film studios and explore the Taourirt Kasbah, a beautiful historic site. Then, we’ll continue to Skoura and pass through the Valley of Roses (Mgouna Valley), known for its rose products and beautiful landscapes. We'll also pass by several Berber villages before arriving at Dades Valley, where you’ll spend the night in a hotel.
Accommodation:
Standard: Hotel Kasbah Didis or similar
Superior: Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar
On the second day, we will leave the Dades Valley early in the morning and drive to the Todra Gorges, one of the most beautiful and dramatic canyons in Morocco. Along the way, we’ll stop for a short walk through the Todra Oasis before exploring the tall canyon walls of the gorge.
After that, we’ll head south to Erfoud, a small town famous for its fossil workshops. From there, we continue our journey deeper into the desert, passing through Saharan oases. When we reach Merzouga, you’ll have some time to relax before starting your camel ride into the dunes.
In summer, the camel trek starts around 5:00–6:00 PM, and in winter around 3:00–4:00 PM. After about one hour of riding, we’ll reach the desert camp. There, you’ll be welcomed with a cup of tea as you enjoy the peaceful view and sunset over the Sahara.
Dinner will be served in the camp's restaurant tent, followed by traditional Berber music played around the fire (bonfire is usually only in the colder months). Don’t forget to climb the nearby dunes for a stunning view of the night sky filled with stars. There are usually no sandstorms.
Accommodation:
Standard: Mouhou Standard Desert Camp
Superior: Mouhou Luxury Desert Camp
On the third day, we will wake you up early to watch the beautiful sunrise over the dunes. After that, you will have breakfast, take a shower, and get ready for the day. Today is all about exploring the desert in a 4WD vehicle.
Merzouga is a small desert village surrounded by abandoned settlements, green oases, and amazing landscapes. Our first stop will be the seasonal lake called Dayet Srij, where you may see flamingos and other birds, with sand dunes in the background.
Next, we’ll visit Khamlia village, home to people originally from Sudan and Mali. If you like, we can stop to enjoy and dance to traditional Gnawa music (optional). After that, we continue to M'fis, an old French village where we’ll visit fossil and mineral mines.
Then, we’ll drive to a small hill that offers stunning views of the dunes on one side and the Moroccan-Algerian border on the other. You’ll also have time to look for fossils.
Afterward, we’ll visit nomad families who live in Berber tents at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. You’ll learn about their daily life and traditions. We’ll sit with them in a tent to enjoy a cup of mint tea or try Berber pizza for lunch (optional).
Later, we’ll follow the off-road Dakar Rally path, stopping at a desert oasis before heading back to the hotel in Merzouga. After a short rest, you can walk to the nearby village or climb the dunes to enjoy a peaceful sunset.
ACCOMMODATION:
Standard: Hotel L'homme du Désert or similar
Superior: Hotel Riad Madu or similar
On the third day, after breakfast and a shower, we will start our journey to Fes in the morning. We will pass through Errachidia, the largest city in the desert region. Then, we will stop to enjoy the beautiful view of the Ziz Valley, famous for its thousands of palm trees.
Next, we will go to Medilt, known as the city of apples, where we can have lunch. After that, we will visit Azrou’s Cedar forest, home to wild monkeys. You can take photos and try to feed the monkeys, but remember they are wild and may not always be there.
Our trip will continue towards Fes, passing through Ifrane, which is called the Moroccan Switzerland. We expect to arrive in Fes between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, depending on how long we stop along the way.
Yes, the tour is customizable to fit your interests and pace.
Travel times on the tour vary, but you can expect between 4 to 7 hours of driving per day, with stops for sightseeing, meals, and rest.
No, the camel trek is not difficult and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It usually lasts about 1 to 2 hours.
The tour begins at 8:00 AM with a pick-up from your accommodation in Marrakech. If you prefer to be picked up from another location, such as the airport or bus/train station, please let us know.
This is a private 4-day trip, therefore the only people on the tour will be you (your party) and the driver/guide.
Here are two alternative tours similar to the 4-day tour from Marrakech to Fes:
5-Day Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech
5-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
