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3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes

3-day tour from Marrakech to Fes through the Atlas and the Sahara. Desert camp in Merzouga and the Ziz Valley. From €160.

3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes

This tour links Marrakech and Fes in 3 days, with a night in the Sahara in between. You cross the High Atlas, see Ait Ben Haddou and Todra Gorges, sleep in a desert camp, and reach Fes through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forest.

It suits travellers who fly into Marrakech and out of Fes, or the other way round, and do not want to drive the same road twice. The price starts at €160 per person.

Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Start
Marrakech
End
Fes
Group type
Private or shared
Vehicle
4x4 or minibus
Price from
€160 per person

Photos from this tour

Day-by-day programme

Day 1

Marrakech to Dades Valley

Driving: About 353 km, 6-7 hours on the road

We pick you up in Marrakech between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning. The road climbs the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, 2,260 metres high. We stop for photos at the top. Then we drive down to Ait Ben Haddou, a clay village and UNESCO site. You can walk through it with a local guide, about €3 as a tip. After lunch in Ouarzazate we follow the Valley of Roses to Dades Valley. Dinner and the night are in a hotel in the valley.

Day 2

Dades Valley to Merzouga

Driving: About 275 km, 4-5 hours on the road

After breakfast we drive to Todra Gorges. The rock walls rise about 300 metres. You walk into the narrow part of the gorge for about 30 minutes. Then the road crosses flat desert land to Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the late afternoon you ride a camel into the dunes for about 1 hour. The sun sets over the sand. Dinner is at the camp, with music around the fire. You sleep in a tent.

Day 3

Merzouga to Fes

Driving: About 460 km, 7-8 hours on the road

After sunrise and breakfast at the camp, you ride a camel or take the 4x4 back to the village. We drive north through the Ziz Valley, with its long line of palm trees. We stop in Midelt for lunch. In the afternoon we pass the cedar forest near Azrou, where wild monkeys live by the road. We stop in Ifrane, a town that looks like a small Alpine village. We reach Fes in the evening.

Where you sleep

Night 1 in a hotel in Dades Valley. Night 2 in a desert camp in Merzouga. Standard camp shares bathrooms. Luxury camp has a private bathroom in the tent.

What is included

  • Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
  • Transport in a modern air-conditioned minibus or 4x4
  • English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip
  • 1 night in a hotel in Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast
  • 1 night in a desert camp in Merzouga with dinner and breakfast
  • Camel ride at sunset and at sunrise in Erg Chebbi
  • Fuel, road tolls and driver costs

What is not included

  • Lunches (plan €8-20 per person per meal)
  • Drinks
  • Entrance fees (Atlas Studios about €7; local guides are optional and paid on the spot)
  • Tips for your driver and guides (about €5-10 per person per day is common)
  • Travel insurance
  • Anything not listed under what is included

Good to know

  • Bring: sun cream, a hat, sunglasses, a light jacket for the evening, and a small bag for the camp night. The main luggage stays in the vehicle.
  • Best season: March to May and September to November. Summer days are hot. Winter nights in the desert are cold.
  • Physical level: easy. The camel ride is about 1 hour. You can take the 4x4 to the camp instead of a camel.
  • Children: welcome from age 4. We fit child seats on request. Tell us the ages when you book.
  • Desert camp: tents have real beds and blankets. Standard camps share bathrooms. Luxury camps have a private bathroom in the tent.
  • Pick-up: between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning from your stay in the start city, unless we agree another time.

Questions travellers ask

How much does this tour cost?

The price starts at €160 per person. The shared tour is the lowest price. A private tour for 2 people costs more per person than a private tour for 4 or 6 people, because the vehicle cost is shared. Tell us your group size and we give you the exact price.

Is this a private tour or a shared tour?

You can book it both ways. The shared tour has 6 to 8 travellers in one minibus. The private tour is only your group, with your own driver and your own pace. The price on this page is the shared price unless the tour says private.

What is the desert camp like?

The camp sits in the Erg Chebbi dunes, near Merzouga. Tents have real beds, mattresses and blankets. Dinner and breakfast are served in the camp restaurant tent. In the evening there is music around the fire. Standard camps share bathrooms. Luxury camps have a private bathroom in the tent.

Do I have to ride a camel?

No. The camel ride takes about 1 hour at sunset and a shorter ride at sunrise. If you prefer, the 4x4 takes you to the camp and back. Tell us when you book and we plan it that way.

What do I do with my big bag?

Bring a small bag for the camp night: a change of clothes, a toothbrush, sun cream and a warm layer. Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle in Merzouga. It is there when you return in the morning.

When should I book?

Book as early as you can, above all for March to May and September to November. Camps fill up on weekends. If your date is close, write to us on WhatsApp and we check what is still free the same day.

Is the tour good for children?

Yes, from age 4. The drive is long, so we plan stops every 2 hours. We fit child seats on request. Children under 5 often ride the camel with a parent.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Rain in the desert is rare and short. If the road over the pass is closed by snow in winter, we take a safe detour or change the plan with you. We never drive a closed road.

Send an enquiry

We reply within a few hours, usually the same day. No payment is needed to ask.

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