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: 5 Days
5 days from Fez to Marrakech via the desert
Five days from north to south in short stages, sleeping beside the Todra and arriving in Marrakech without feeling tired.
From €180 per person Book now
Highlights
- Ziz Valley
- A day in Merzouga
- Camel trekking
- Night in a desert camp
- Rissani souk
- Night beside the Todra
- Dades Valley
- Ait Benhaddou
- Private tour
Trip overview
This is the Fez–Marrakech crossing for savouring every stretch. After the first day’s drive to Merzouga, no stage is longer than four or five hours in the car. You sleep two nights in the desert, one beside the Todra Gorges and one in Ouarzazate.
That leaves time for the things that are often sacrificed: strolling through the Rissani souk, walking the Todra canyon once the coaches have gone, driving the Dades in the morning and visiting Ait Benhaddou in good light before crossing the Atlas.
Ideal for: unhurried travellers, families with children and anyone who wants to photograph the south in the best light of the day.
- Duration
- 5 days / 4 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
The longest day of the trip, and one of the most varied: from the forests of the Middle Atlas to the plateaus of Midelt and on to the Ziz palm grove. We reach Merzouga at sunset to dine and rest in front of the dunes.
- Ifrane
- Azrou cedars
- Midelt
- Ziz Valley
-
Day2
Around Merzouga and night in the camp
We spend the morning circling Erg Chebbi: Khamlia, the nomads, the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji and the views from the black desert. In the afternoon the long-awaited camel trek takes us to the camp. Sunset, dinner and music around the fire.
- Khamlia and Gnawa music
- Tea with nomads
- Dayet Srji lake (seasonal)
- Camel trekking
- Night under the stars
-
Day3
Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorges
After sunrise and breakfast we visit Rissani: its monumental gate, the souk and, if you are interested, the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif. We continue via Erfoud and Tinejdad to Tinghir and stay beside the Todra Gorges, so we can walk the canyon late in the day when it falls silent.
- Sunrise in the dunes
- Rissani souk
- Tinghir palm grove
- Sunset in the Todra
-
Day4
Todra Gorges → Dades Valley → Ouarzazate
A morning in the Dades Valley, among its hairpin bends and eroded rock walls. We continue through the Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate, with the afternoon free to rest or visit the Taourirt Kasbah.
- Dades Valley
- Kelaat M’Gouna
- Skoura
- Ouarzazate
-
Day5
Ouarzazate → Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou → Marrakech
Just half an hour from Ouarzazate lies Ait Benhaddou, which we visit first thing, before most groups arrive. Then the High Atlas: we climb to the Tizi n’Tichka and descend towards Marrakech, where we finish in the early afternoon.
- Ait Benhaddou without the crowds
- Ounila Valley
- Tizi n’Tichka
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
Bring comfortable shoes for the Todra: from the hotel you can walk upriver for an hour through vegetable gardens and come back through the canyon.
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 “5 days 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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