5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fez
Overview
The 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that blends Morocco’s rich cultural heritage with breathtaking landscapes. Over the course of five days and four nights, you will cross the majestic High Atlas Mountains, explore ancient kasbahs, stroll through dramatic gorges, and venture deep into the Sahara to ride camels across golden dunes. This carefully designed itinerary allows you to savor the diversity of Morocco’s scenery, from fertile valleys and palm oases to desert plateaus and historic caravan towns, while enjoying the comfort of private transport and handpicked accommodations.
Your adventure begins with a scenic drive across the winding passes of the High Atlas, where terraced villages cling to the mountainsides and snowy peaks rise above the horizon. Stops are made in places like Telouet, home to the once-powerful Glaoui family’s kasbah, where intricate architecture recalls Morocco’s regal past. The road continues along the Ounila Valley, lined with Berber villages and gardens, before reaching the UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Ben Haddou. Here, you can wander through labyrinthine alleyways that have appeared in films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia.
As the journey progresses, you reach Ouarzazate, often called the Gateway to the Desert, and nearby Skoura, a palm oasis where the Kasbah Amridil stands as one of Morocco’s best-preserved examples of adobe architecture. Beyond lie the Valley of Roses and the rugged Dadès Valley, where mountain tracks lead to cave-dwelling nomads who still live according to ancient traditions. Nights are spent in charming hotels and riads that combine modern comfort with authentic Berber hospitality, ensuring rest and relaxation after days filled with exploration.
The heart of the tour lies in the Sahara itself. After crossing Tinghir and the towering Todra Gorge, you arrive in Merzouga, where the vast Erg Chebbi dunes rise like golden waves. A camel trek at sunset carries you deep into the desert, where you spend the night in a luxury Sahara camp. Around the fire, under a canopy of stars unspoiled by city lights, you will share in Berber music and traditions. Waking at dawn to witness the sunrise over the dunes is an unforgettable highlight, marking the Sahara as one of Morocco’s most magical destinations.
The final stretch of the journey carries you north toward Fes, crossing the Ziz Valley with its endless palms and fortified ksars. You pass Midelt, known for its orchards, and traverse the Middle Atlas Mountains, where cedar forests shelter Barbary macaques. Stops in Azrou and Ifrane — often called “the Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine architecture — show another side of the country’s diversity. By evening, you arrive in the spiritual and cultural capital of Fes, concluding a five-day odyssey that captures the essence of Morocco: landscapes of stunning contrast, a rich historical tapestry, and the timeless beauty of the desert.
Included/Exclude
- Private SUV or 4×4 with driver
- Pick-up & drop-off at hotels
- 4 nights in selected riads/camps
- Dinner & breakfast daily
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Local guides at key sites
- Entrance fees (Telouet, Skoura)
- Luggage service to camps/rooms
- Lunches & drinks
- Monument tickets not listed
- Tips & personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Optional extras (quad, sandboard, etc.)
Tour Plan
Your journey begins with a morning departure from Marrakech, leaving the bustling city behind as you ascend into the High Atlas Mountains. The road winds through scenic landscapes and Berber villages before reaching the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to pause for photos, coffee, and panoramic views. From the summit, the route turns toward the historic Kasbah of Telouet, once the palatial residence of the powerful Glaoui family. After exploring this fascinating site, the drive continues along the Ounila Valley, where the scenery shifts constantly with red rocks, terraced gardens, and small kasbahs nestled in the hills. By late afternoon, you arrive at Aït Ben Haddou, the legendary fortified ksar perched on a hill beside the Ounila River. Known for its cinematic appearances in films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, it was also a major stop on the old Salt Road caravans. Dinner and overnight are spent nearby in a charming riad.
After breakfast, the road leads to Ouarzazate, often called the “Gateway to the Desert.” Here you may visit the famous Film Studios or the Taourirt Kasbah before continuing along the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs. The next stop is Skoura, a palm-filled oasis home to the Kasbah Amridil, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved kasbahs in Morocco. The journey then passes through Kelaat M’Gouna, also known as the Valley of Roses, where rose water and oils are produced and celebrated each spring. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed in the midst of this scenic valley before heading off-road into the rugged landscapes north of the Mgoun River. Here, you may encounter semi-nomadic Berber families living in mountain caves and share a cup of mint tea with them. The day concludes with a drive through the dramatic Dades Gorge, with stops at its unique rock formations such as the “Monkey Fingers.” Dinner and overnight are in a hotel overlooking the valley.
The morning begins with a drive back through the Dades Valley, dotted with Berber villages, before reaching the palm groves of Tinghir. From here you continue into the Todra Gorge, a spectacular canyon with sheer cliffs rising up to 300 meters, where you can enjoy a walk along the riverbed. Afterward, the route heads east toward the Sahara, with a lunch stop in either Tinjdad or Touroug depending on timing. As you approach Erfoud, known for its fossils and dates, you will see the ingenious khettaras — underground channels once used to transport water across the desert. A visit to a fossil workshop reveals how these stones are transformed into art and household items. By late afternoon you reach the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. Here, a caravan of camels awaits to carry you across the sands at sunset, before you arrive at your desert camp. After mint tea and a traditional dinner, you enjoy Berber music around the fire and sleep in a private tent under the starry sky.
This day is dedicated to discovering the landscapes and culture of the Sahara around Merzouga. After breakfast, you set out on a circuit of the dunes, visiting nomadic families who still live in traditional tents and learning about their way of life. The contrasts of the desert are striking, with black volcanic rocks, golden dunes, and seasonal lakes that sometimes appear after rains. A visit to the nearby town of Rissani offers the chance to explore its bustling souk, famous for its mix of Berber, Arab, and desert traditions, visible in the clothes and colors of its people. Once a major caravan center, Rissani remains an important market town. By evening you return to Merzouga for dinner and overnight at a comfortable hotel or riad at the foot of the dunes, where you can relax and enjoy the silence of the desert.
An early wake-up allows you to climb the dunes and watch the sunrise over Erg Chebbi, one of the most memorable moments of the entire tour. After breakfast in camp, you either ride camels back across the dunes or transfer by 4×4 to rejoin your driver. The journey to Fes begins with a drive through the fertile Ziz Valley, famous for its palm groves and ancient ksars, before reaching the apple orchards of Midelt. Along the way, you stop for panoramic views, photos, and lunch. In the afternoon, the road crosses the Middle Atlas, passing through cedar forests near Azrou where you may spot Barbary macaques. A final stop in Ifrane, known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine-style houses and clean streets, offers a striking contrast to the desert scenery you left behind. By evening you arrive in Fes, the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco, where the tour ends with a drop-off at your accommodation.
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