Private 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes

Tour Details

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas Mountains – Aït Ben Haddou – Dades Valley

Your tour begins early with pickup in Marrakech. You’ll wind your way up through the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass, pausing along the way for photo stops of terraced fields and quiet Berber villages. Late morning brings you to the timeless earthen fortress of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll wander its narrow mud-brick lanes and feel the history in its walls. After lunch in Ouarzazate, you continue through the lush Skoura palm groves and onward to the striking Dades Valley with its dramatic red cliffs and the quirky “Monkey Fingers” rock formation. Dinner and a peaceful night in the valley complete your first day.

Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Sahara Camp

After breakfast overlooking the valley, you’ll journey to the narrow canyon of Todra Gorge, where massive limestone walls rise on either side of a cool, flowing river. A short walk lets you absorb the natural grandeur. Then the terrain gradually transitions into desert as you pass through Rissani toward Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga. In the late afternoon, you’ll swap wheels for camel’s pace and ride into the dunes just in time for a breathtaking sunset. Your destination: a luxury desert camp where you’re greeted with mint tea, enjoy dinner under the stars, listen to live Berber music around the campfire, and then retire to your private tent under the clear desert sky.

Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

Rise early for an awe-inspiring sunrise over the dunes, a truly magical experience. After breakfast at the camp, you begin your journey north. You’ll drive through the vast, stony desert and then be surprised by the lush Ziz Valley, a massive palmery with thousands of date palms creating a green ribbon through the arid landscape. You’ll stop for panoramic views of the valley.

The journey continues as you climb into the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing through the mining town of Midelt, known for its fossils and apples. The landscape changes dramatically from desert to cedar forests. You may even see Barbary macaque monkeys in the forests near Azrou. A final surprise is the city of Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland” for its unique alpine-style architecture and clean, cool climate. From here, it’s a smooth drive down to the imperial city of Fes, where your tour concludes with a drop-off at your accommodation in the evening, your heart full of memories.