5 Days Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Your 5-day adventure begins with departure from your accommodation in Fes at 8:00 AM. Travel through the breathtaking Middle Atlas Mountains, enjoying your first stop in Ifrane, often called “the Switzerland of Morocco” for its unique European-style architecture, clean streets, and mountain setting.

Continue to Azrou, where you’ll visit the famous cedar forest, home to wild Barbary macaque monkeys — a favorite stop for photography and nature lovers. Next, pass through Midelt, a town surrounded by mountains and known for its apples, and stop for lunch here (not included).

In the afternoon, enjoy stunning views while driving along the Ziz Valley, lined with thousands of palm trees and fortified Berber villages. Reach the Sahara gateway town of Merzouga just before sunset. Check in to your comfortable desert hotel or riad located at the edge of the dunes. Relax with mint tea and enjoy your first desert night with dinner included.

🛏️ Accommodation: Traditional hotel near the dunes
🍽️ Meals Included: Dinner

After breakfast, discover the true culture of the desert on a 4×4 off-road tour around Erg Chebbi dunes. You’ll visit Khamlia village, where you’ll enjoy traditional live Gnawa music performed by local musicians descended from West African tribes.

Then, head into the black desert to meet nomadic Berber families who live in tents, still practicing traditional lifestyles. Visit fossil-rich plains, old mines, and enjoy panoramic desert views. Lunch in Merzouga or with a nomadic family (optional).

In the late afternoon, your guide will prepare the camels. Begin a camel ride into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi — one of Morocco’s most iconic desert landscapes. Stop at the top of a high dune to watch the sun set over the horizon.

Arrive at your desert camp where you’ll be welcomed with mint tea. Enjoy a delicious traditional dinner followed by Berber drumming and storytelling under the stars. You’ll sleep in a private tent — standard or luxury depending on your preference — surrounded by silence and sand.

🛏️ Accommodation: Desert camp (standard or luxury tent)
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
🐪 Experience: Camel ride,

Wake up early to admire the unforgettable sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast in the camp, ride camels or return by 4×4 to the edge of the dunes. Your journey continues to Rissani, an ancient trading center and the birthplace of Morocco’s ruling dynasty. Explore its bustling market if time allows.

Then head to Erfoud, famous for its fossil workshops where ancient sea creatures are carved into marble. Continue through small Berber villages and arrive at the spectacular Todra Gorges, where tall canyon walls (up to 300 meters) create a dramatic natural corridor.

You’ll have time to walk through the gorge, take photos, and enjoy lunch (not included). In the afternoon, drive along the Dades Valley, known for its winding roads, dramatic rock formations (including the “Monkey Fingers”), and scattered kasbahs. Arrive at your hotel overlooking the valley for a peaceful evening and traditional dinner.

🛏️ Accommodation: Hotel or riad in Dades Valley
🍽️ Meals Included: Dinner, Breakfast

After breakfast, continue your scenic journey along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. Your first stop is Kalaat M’Gouna, located in the Valley of Roses, where fragrant rosewater products and cosmetics are made from the blooming flowers every spring.

Continue to Skoura Oasis, known for its vast palm groves and the iconic Kasbah Amridil, one of the best-preserved kasbahs in the region. Then head to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s famous film city, where you may visit the Atlas Film Studios or Kasbah Taourirt (optional).

Finally, arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most impressive and photographed ksars in Morocco. This ancient fortified village was featured in films like Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. Enjoy a guided visit before settling into a traditional guesthouse nearby.

🛏️ Accommodation: Guesthouse near Ait Ben Haddou
🍽️ Meals Included: Dinner, Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for Marrakech, driving across the majestic High Atlas Mountains. The road climbs through the dramatic Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters — offering stunning panoramic views of valleys, Berber villages, and rocky peaks.

Along the way, stop for photos and breaks in scenic spots or local cafés. By the afternoon, you’ll descend into the plains and reach the bustling city of Marrakech, where your driver will drop you off at your accommodation or airport. End of the tour.

🛬 Drop-off: Hotel/Riad in Marrakech or airport
🍽️ Meals Included: Breakfast