5-Day Tour from Marrakech to Fes

Tour Details

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley

Your journey launches with a morning departure from your Marrakech lodging. Climb the Tizi N’Tichka pass, ascending to 2,260 meters while mountain panoramas unfold around each curve. En route, encounter traditional Berber hamlets clinging to hillsides.

Your path leads to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-protected fortress village whose earthen architecture has graced countless film screens worldwide. Following a regional lunch, continue to Ouarzazate, the desert’s cinematic hub, renowned for its production facilities and historic kasbahs. Your first evening settles in the Dades Valley, where you’re embraced by magnificent canyon scenery.

Day 2: Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga Desert

After your morning meal, head eastward to the remarkable Todra Gorge, a natural wonder where immense cliffs frame lush palm groves below. Your route carries you through Berber settlements and verdant oases, including stops near Tinjdad and Erfoud.

Reach Merzouga by afternoon, your portal to the Sahara’s heart. Here, the towering Erg Chebbi dunes stretch endlessly in waves of gold. Settle into your accommodation as anticipation builds for tomorrow’s desert immersion.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert Exploration & Camel Trek

Begin with a substantial breakfast before discovering Erg Chebbi’s magnificent dunes, which soar beyond 250 meters, among Morocco’s tallest. Your excursion traces the legendary Paris-Dakar rally route near the Algerian frontier, including visits to the Tissardmin Oasis and an authentic nomadic camp where you’ll learn ancient desert survival traditions.

Journey to Khamlia village, established by families of Malian heritage, where hypnotic Gnawa rhythms accompany glasses of sweet mint tea. Return to Merzouga for midday refreshment before your camel caravan departs into the dunes. Arrive at your desert sanctuary as the sun paints the sands in amber and rose, then surrender to the profound desert stillness. Evening brings traditional cuisine and Berber hospitality under a canopy of countless stars.

Day 4: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

Greet the sunrise over the dunes before breakfast, then begin your journey toward Fes. Your route follows the stunning Ziz Valley, where date palms create ribbons of emerald through arid terrain. Continue through Midelt, perched at 1,500 meters elevation and cradled between the High and Middle Atlas ranges, a perfect spot for photo opportunities if desired.

The drive continues through mountain villages, including Zaida and Timahdit, before reaching Azrou’s ancient cedar forests, home to playful Barbary macaque troops in their natural domain. Your final stop is Ifrane, nicknamed Morocco’s “Little Switzerland” for its European-style chalets and immaculate boulevards. As evening descends, you’ll complete your journey in Fes, the cultural capital, where your four-day odyssey through mountains, deserts, and diverse cultures reaches its memorable conclusion.

Day 5: Fes Exploration (Optional)

Spend the day discovering Fes at your leisure, or this marks the end of your desert adventure.