5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fez

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.