Overview of This Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
Our 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour crosses the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, spends a night at a camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, and finishes in Fes through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas, with your own driver.
If you are traveling from Marrakech to Fes anyway, the Sahara is on the way. Instead of a 6-hour drive north through the plains, this route takes three days through the most dramatic landscapes in the country and never doubles back. It is the most popular way to combine the desert with both imperial cities.
- Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- The Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
- A night at camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- The Ziz Valley palm canyon
- The cedar forests and Barbary macaques of the Middle Atlas
Marrakech to Fes in 3 Days
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Day 1: Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley
About 6 h 30 min driving · 320 kmLeave Marrakech in the morning with your luggage; you will not come back. Cross the High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka and visit Ait Ben Haddou, then continue past Ouarzazate and the rose valley of Kelaat M’Gouna to your hotel in the Dades Valley.
- Stops
- Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Kelaat M’Gouna
- Overnight
- Kasbah-style hotel in the Dades Valley
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2: Todra Gorge to the Merzouga Dunes
About 5 h driving · 290 kmWalk into Todra Gorge in the morning light, then drive east through the oasis towns of Tinejdad and Erfoud. At Merzouga a camel caravan takes you into Erg Chebbi for sunset, and the night is at a camp among the dunes.
- Stops
- Todra Gorge, Tinejdad, Erfoud
- Overnight
- Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Meals
- Breakfast · Dinner
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Day 3: Merzouga through the Middle Atlas to Fes
About 8 h driving · 470 kmAfter sunrise on the dunes, head north up the Ziz Valley, where a river of palms runs through a rock canyon, and over the Middle Atlas via Midelt. The cedar forest near Azrou and the alpine-style town of Ifrane are the last stops before your driver drops you at your riad in Fes in the early evening.
- Stops
- Ziz Valley, Midelt, Azrou cedar forest, Ifrane
- Overnight
- Arrival in Fes
- Meals
- Breakfast
Route Map: Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
About 1,080 km from Marrakech to Fes, one way. The last day is the longest, about 8 hours, broken into stages.
What’s Included in This Desert Tour
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for 3 days
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- 2 nights: kasbah hotel and desert camp
- Breakfast and dinner on both nights
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Pickup in Marrakech and drop-off at your Fes riad or hotel
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument entrance fees
- Tips for driver and guides
- Travel insurance
Where You’ll Stay
One night in a kasbah-style hotel and one at a desert camp. We send the camp options for your dates with the quote, from standard tents to luxury tents with a private bathroom.
- Dades Valley · 1 night Kasbah-style hotel Options sent with your quote
- Merzouga · 1 night Desert camp Options sent with your quote
Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour Prices
Every private tour is priced for your group, so we quote it rather than list one fixed price. Three things set it:
- Group sizeThe vehicle and driver cost the same whatever the size of your party, so the more of you travel, the less each person pays.
- Hotel levelComfortable riads and hotels, or a step up to superior riads and a luxury desert camp.
- SeasonSpring and fall are the busiest months for riads and desert camps.
Customize This Tour
Add a night to make it 4 days, with a second night in the desert or a stop in Midelt. We can also continue from Fes to Chefchaouen or Tangier.
Customize This 3-Day Tour
Your driver/guide
One professional, English-speaking driver/guide for all three days, in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan depending on your group size. Other languages are available on request.
Meet our drivers and guidesMarrakech to Fes Tour FAQ
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Fes via the desert?
About 1,080 km over three days: roughly 6 h 30, 5 h and 8 h of driving. The direct road north is about 6 hours, but it misses the desert.
Is the 3 day tour from Marrakech to Fes a one-way trip?
Yes. You start in Marrakech and end at your hotel in Fes, so bring all your luggage. It stays in the car during the desert night.
Can we do the Marrakech to Fes tour in 4 days?
Yes, and it is more relaxed. We add a second night in the desert or split the last day with a night in the Middle Atlas.
Is there a Fes to Marrakech version?
Yes, our 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour runs the same idea in reverse.
