Travel from Fes to Marrakech in 4 Days through Merzouga and the Atlas Mountains
Tours From Fes
Duration: 4 Days
2 Person Minimum
Overview
This 4-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech offers a deeper and more relaxed journey into the heart of the Sahara Desert compared to shorter itineraries.
Travel through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping in Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou before continuing along the stunning Ziz Valley. Reach Merzouga, where you’ll spend your first night in a comfortable riad.
The next day is dedicated to exploring the desert region, including visits to nomadic families and the Gnawa village, before enjoying a magical camel trekking experience across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Spend an unforgettable night in a luxury desert camp under the stars.
Continue your journey through the breathtaking Todra Gorge and the scenic Dades Valley, then cross the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Visit the iconic Ait Benhaddou before arriving in Marrakech.
This tour is ideal for travelers who want a more immersive Sahara experience with extra time to explore the desert culture and landscapes.
Tour Plan
Today we will meet you at around 9am at your hotel in Fes and start travelling southeast to Merzouga via Midelt and Errachidia. Your first stop will be at Ifran, referred to as "the Switzerland of Morocco", and then to Merzouga via Midlet and the Ziz Valley. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at the famous cedar forest - the largest in Morocco – where you may well sight Barbarian apes. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city Er Rachidia. After lunch in Midelt, your journey continues along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way. We will drive through welcoming Berber villages to Erfoud, and then Rissani, the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty - the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Arriving in Merzouga at the end of the day, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check in to your riad. Overnight at a nice riad with dinner and breakfast.
After breakfast in the riad you will start an explorative journey of the area. You can visit the Gnawa people, originally from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. After that, we will drive in desert area where you will have the opportunity to meet the nomad families still living in Berber tents and explore their way of life. Today our lunch will be local meal ( Berber pezza ) with a local family. You may also visit the souk in Rissani, a traditional town which was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of the Caravans trading as far as Timbuctou in Mali. Here you will see a lot of men hooded and women veiled. In the afternoon you will start your guided camel ride, led by an experienced camel man to explore within the sand sea of Merzouga. Overnight at our desert camp where you will have your dinner camp fire and dums party. The camp is equipped with flush toilets and hot shower inside your private tent.
Your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise in your life ,appreciating the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast at the camp you’ll leave for Tinghir and Todgha gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. Here you’ll have the opportunity to walk a little bit along it’s valley. We’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a riad or a guesthouse in the heart of the Valley (dinner and breakfast).
After breakfast, we’ll drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaat M'Gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is named the way of thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. We’ll stop at Kalaat M'Gouna, “the rose city”, to purchase the rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over. Continue to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa”. Lunch will be at the famous Ait Benhaddou kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco. It is recognized by UNESCO as a world patrimony. It is famous as a backdrop for many films, including 'Lawrence of ArabLawrence of Arabia', 'Gladiator'. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n'Tichka pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains where you can stop also to explore the process of making the Argan oil at the women's cooperatives before arriving to Marrakech where the tour ends at your hotel or wherever you want.
Included
- Travel in private tour with a comfortable AC 4x4 or Van
- Experienced English speaking driver.
- Fuel
- 1 night at a nice riad with dinner and breakfast in Merzouga Village
- One night at a nice luxury desert camp with dinner and breakfast.
- 1 night at a nice riad with dinner and breakfast in Dades Valley.
- The camel ride to spend the night in the desert ( 1 camel per person ).
Exclude
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Tips
Extra Info
🔹 Extra Information
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Departure City: Fes
Ending City: Marrakech
Tour Type: Private One-Way Desert Tour
Transportation: Air-conditioned 4x4 or Minivan
Accommodation: Riad + Luxury Desert Camp
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Best Time to Travel: March to May, September to November
Languages Available: English
🔹 Good to Know
Departure from Fes around 9:00 AM
More relaxed pace compared to 3-day tours
Camel trekking takes about 1–1.5 hours each way
Luxury desert camp included in this itinerary
Visit to nomad families and Gnawa village included
Sandboarding often available at the camp
Temperatures vary greatly between desert day and night
Comfortable walking shoes recommended
Luggage is transported separately during camel trek
🔹 Highlights
Scenic drive through Middle Atlas Mountains
Visit Ifrane and cedar forest of Azrou
Explore Ziz Valley landscapes
Discover Merzouga desert region
Visit nomad families and Gnawa village
Camel trekking in Erg Chebbi
Overnight in luxury Sahara desert camp with music & dinner
Watch unforgettable desert sunset and sunrise
Walk through Todra Gorge
Explore Dades Valley
Visit Ait Benhaddou
Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka Pass
🔹 Optional Add-ons
Quad biking in Merzouga
Sandboarding experience
Private photography stops
Cultural visit extension in Rissani
Upgrade to premium desert camp experience
Currency:
The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). On average, 1 Euro (EUR) equals approximately 10 to 11 dirhams, 1 US Dollar (USD) equals around 9 to 10 dirhams, and 1 British Pound (GBP) equals approximately 12 to 13 dirhams, depending on current exchange rates. In all major cities, you can withdraw cash using international Visa, MasterCard, and other widely accepted bank cards. There are also numerous exchange offices available at airports, city centers, and tourist areas. Please note that exporting Moroccan dirhams outside the country is prohibited, so it is recommended to exchange or withdraw only the amount you need.
Local Time:
Morocco generally operates on GMT+1, with slight adjustments during certain times of the year, particularly during Ramadan. Compared to countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, or Spain, there may be a one to two-hour time difference depending on the season. For travelers from the United Kingdom, Morocco often shares the same time zone or differs by one hour. Visitors from the United States or Canada should expect a larger time difference depending on their departure city.
Passport and Visa:
Citizens of many countries including France, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and several other European nations are required to hold a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the date of entry into Morocco. For short-term tourist stays, a visa is generally not required for these nationalities. However, entry requirements may vary depending on your country of origin, so it is strongly recommended to check with your local Moroccan embassy or consulate before traveling.
Health:
No specific vaccinations are required for most international travelers visiting Morocco. However, it is recommended to be up to date on routine vaccinations. The best precaution remains prevention: drink bottled water, avoid poorly preserved food, and consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses. Morocco’s major cities offer good healthcare facilities, and pharmacies are widely available throughout the country.
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