A private 4 days tour from marrakech to fes via desert journey includes stays in Dades Valley and Merzouga (Desert). On the first day, you’ll journey through the High Atlas Mountains, stopping at Ait Ben Haddou before continuing on to Dade through Skoura and Rose Valley. The second day will start with a visit to Todra Gorges before you continue south to Merzouga and start an overnight camel trek in the desert. We will spend the entire third day in the desert, visiting nomad families, deserted settlements, and fossil mining.
On the final day, we will leave for Fes early in the morning, traveling through Ifrane, Ziz Valley, Midelt, and Cedar Forest. For individuals who would like to upgrade their accommodation. We offer three options for upgrading your hotels and desert camp from standard to mid-range or luxury.
On the first day of our 4 days Marrakech to Fes desert, we will pick you up from Marrakech at 8:00 am and then head south through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n’Tichka (the highest road pass). We’ll pause to take in the breathtaking landscape of the Atlas Mountains, see several Berber settlements, and enjoy a coffee or tea break in a quaint restaurant with a view of the mountains.
We will continue to Ait Benhaddou, a spectacular Kasbah and well-preserved fortification in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There were several Hollywood movies shot there, including Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Game of Thrones, to name a few. We go along to Ouarzazate, also referred to as the “Holywood of Africa.” Before arriving in Dades Valley, where we will spend the night in a hotel, we will first visit its film studios and Taourirt Kasbah, a historic fortified home, before traveling to Skoura, Mgouna Valley (Roses Valley), and other Berber communities.
The next morning, we will depart from Dades Valley and make our way to Todra Gorges, one of Morocco’s most beautiful and breathtaking gorges. Before traveling south to Erfoud, a small town famous for its fossil manufacturers, there will be breaks along the road for a walk through the Todra Oasis and then into the canyons.
We’ll continue traveling further south while traversing the Saharian Oasis. You will have some time to recuperate depending on when we get to Merzouga before mounting the camel that will lead you on a desert adventure into the dunes where you will spend the night in a tent. The camel expedition starts in the summer at about 17:00–18:00, while in the winter, it starts around 15:00–16:00.
You will reach the camp after an hour of riding camels, where you will be welcomed with a cup of tea as you take in the Sahara and the setting sun. Dinner will be served later at the camp’s restaurant tent, and locals will play Berber drums around the campfire for entertainment. Don’t forget to take a walk in the neighboring dunes where you may enjoy the starry sky. Keep in mind that there won’t be any sand storms, and the bonfire will be held at night during the cooler months.
On the third day, we’ll wake you up early so you can take in the stunning sunrise. After that, you’ll have breakfast, take a shower, and start the day. We have the entire day today to go on a 4WD excursion through the desert. Merzouga is a stunning desert settlement surrounded by beautiful scenery, Oasis, and abandoned villages. The first place we’ll stop is at Dayet Srij, a seasonal lake in Merzouga where we can see some flamingos and other birds with dunes in the background.
The next stop is the village of Khamlia, where the locals are originally from Mali and Sudan. We will pause to take in the rhythms of the African music known as Gnawa music and possibly dance to them. After our tour, we’ll stop in one of their tents for lunch (optional), where we may indulge in a wonderful Berber pizza or sip mint tea. Then, we’ll continue driving off-road on the Dakar Rally road. Before we return back at the hotel in Merzouga, we will make a stop at a desert oasis. After a little break, you can stroll to the village or nearby dunes to take in the serene setting sun.
The following morning, after your breakfast and shower, we will depart for Fes. After passing through Errachidia, the main administrative center in the desert, we’ll stop to take in the expansive vista of the stunning Ziz Valley and its many palm trees. We continue on to Midelt, the city of apples, where we can stop for lunch.
The Azrou Cedar Forest, which is home to wild monkeys, will be the next visit. It would be an opportunity to photograph the wild surroundings and feed the monkeys. They are wild creatures, so please keep in mind that they are not always present. As we continue on our way to Fes, we will pass Ifrane, also referred to as Moroccan Switzerland. We will arrive around 18:00 and 19:00 depending on the length of the stops along. The end of our 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.
The itinerary you see above is only a sample of what your Morocco Holiday could look like. Each traveler has different preferences, and we believe your tour should reflect that. If this plan doesn’t match what you’re envisioning, just let us know, we’ll adjust the route, pace, and activities to suit your interests and the time you have available.
The final price of the tour is depending:
Transportation costs are fixed, so the more people sharing the vehicle, the lower the price per person becomes. For an exact, detailed quote, simply contact us; we’ll be happy to provide one.
We can tailor this itinerary into a shorter version without losing its essence. Here are common alternatives:
If you have extra time, we can enrich your tour with additional destinations and cultural experiences. Travelers often choose:
Check out our most popular Morocco tour routes:
Marrakech Tours, Fes Tours, Casablanca Tours, Tangier Tours, Errachidia Tours and Ouarzazate Tours, each offering a unique way to discover Morocco.
We recommend booking at least 3 to 4 months in advance if your travel falls during peak season (Spring/Autumn), especially if you want to secure the best desert camps and specific Riad accommodations.
Yes, absolutely! Every tour is private, allowing you to fully customize your itinerary. Whether you prefer more time in the desert or wish to visit the Atlantic coast before returning, we can tailor the route to your interests.
The most popular desert tours are 3 to 4 days. The 3-day tour is the minimum needed to reach the major Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga and return comfortably to Marrakech. Shorter tours often go to Zagora, which has smaller dunes.
Our drivers will drop you off at the nearest accessible point to your Riad/hotel (as cars are restricted inside the medina). We recommend using an official guide or your Riad staff for initial navigation assistance within the city walls.
While rare, snow can occasionally affect the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m) in winter. Our drivers are experienced in mountain driving and will always prioritize your safety, adjusting the route or timing if needed.
Absolutely. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) at the time of booking, and we will ensure the hotels and desert camps are prepared for your needs.
Most standard tours focus on the Desert and Imperial Cities (like Fez). However, you can easily customize your tour to include coastal towns like Essaouira or Agadir.
