Riads, kasbahs and hotels
Traditional houses with private room and bathroom, in the medinas or overlooking the valley.
- Private room
- Dinner and breakfast
Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour: 3 Days via Merzouga
3-day trip from Fez to Marrakech via the desert
The great classic from north to south: leave Fez, sleep in the Sahara and arrive in Marrakech across the Atlas.
From €180 per person Book now
Highlights
- Middle Atlas
- Ziz Valley
- Camel trekking
- Night in Erg Chebbi
- Todra Gorges
- Dades Valley
- Ait Benhaddou
- Finish in Marrakech
Trip overview
This tour links Morocco’s two most visited cities by the most beautiful road. It starts strongly: on the very first day you sleep in the desert, after crossing the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley. The second day runs through the Todra Gorges and ends in Boumalne Dades; the third follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate and crosses the Tizi n’Tichka.
Travelling in this direction, the desert comes early and the architecture builds as you go: from the mud-brick villages of the Tafilalet to the great kasbahs of the south and, finally, the buzz of Marrakech.
Ideal for: travellers who enter Morocco through Fez and leave from Marrakech, and want to see the desert along the way.
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Home
- Fez
- End
- Marrakech
- Type
- Private
- Departures
- Every day
- Language
- English / Spanish
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day1
Fez → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Early start from Fez. We pass through Ifrane and the cedar forest, have lunch in Midelt and follow the Ziz down to the Tafilalet. In Merzouga the camels are waiting: at the caravan’s slow pace we reach the camp as the sun sets over the dunes.
- Ifrane and Azrou
- Midelt
- Ziz viewpoint
- Camel trekking
- Dinner in the camp
-
Day2
Merzouga → Tinghir → Boumalne Dades
Sunrise in the dunes and back to Merzouga for breakfast. We continue to Rissani and Tinghir, where the palm grove stretches for miles below the town. We walk through the Todra Gorges and in the afternoon reach Boumalne, then drive up the Dades Valley to our hotel.
- Sunrise and camel ride back
- Rissani
- Todra Gorges
- Dades viewpoints
-
Day3
Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Tizi n’Tichka → Marrakech
We follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs past rose bushes and mud-brick fortresses to Ouarzazate. From there we make for Ait Benhaddou for a visit and then tackle the Tizi n’Tichka. On the far side of the Atlas, Marrakech greets us with its red walls.
- Valley of Roses
- Ouarzazate
- Ait Benhaddou
- High Atlas
Timings and the order of visits may be adjusted according to the season, road conditions and your preferences.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English- or Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Accommodation every night
- Dinners and breakfasts
- One camel per person in the desert
- Night in a camp with private tent
- Turban and sandboarding in the dunes
- Photo stops whenever you like
What’s not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
We choose small places with character, where a home-cooked dinner is part of the experience. In the desert you can choose between two types of camp.
Standard camp
Private tent with beds, blankets and shared bathrooms. The simplest and most authentic option.
- Private tent
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
Luxury camp
Spacious tents with a large bed, private bathroom and shower, electricity and dinner served at the table.
- Private bathroom
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
A tip from our team
The first day is the longest. Have a good breakfast in Fez and bring a warm layer: you go from 1,600 m in the Middle Atlas to desert heat in a few hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
It is completely private: the vehicle, the driver and the itinerary are just for you and your companions. You will not share the trip with strangers, so we can stop wherever you like and adapt the timings.
Can I change the itinerary of “3-day trip from Fez to Marrakech via the desert”?
Yes. What you see is our standard proposal. We can add a night, change the start or end point, include a guided visit or adjust the stages to your flights. Tell us what you need and we will send you a tailor-made version.
What is the difference between the standard and the luxury camp?
In both you have a private tent, dinner, breakfast and an evening of drums by the campfire. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with shower inside the tent and more refined décor; in the standard camp bathrooms are shared and you shower in the morning at the hotel in the village.
How long is the camel trek?
About an hour and a half each way, at a gentle pace and accompanied by a camel handler. We set off a couple of hours before sunset to arrive in good light. If anyone cannot or would rather not ride, let us know and we will find an alternative.
How do I book and how do I pay?
Send us the form or write to us and we will confirm availability and the final price within 24 hours. We accept online payment (Visa, MasterCard and PayPal), as well as cash or card in person.
When is the best time of year for this tour?
You can travel all year round. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) have the mildest temperatures. In winter the days are sunny but desert nights are cold, and in summer it is best to start early and make the most of the vehicle’s air conditioning.
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