6-Day Fes to Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

Tour Details

Day 1: Fes Discovery

Your adventure launches in Fes with an expert-guided immersion into the city’s profound historical legacy. Navigate the medina’s animated thoroughfares, admire the elaborate mosaic work of the Andalusian Mosque, and witness the chromatic leather tanneries in action. Explore the distinguished El-Attarine Madrasa, the venerable Quaraouiyine Mosque, and the Nejjarine Museum showcasing wooden artisanry. Experience the Royal Palace and the renowned Bab Boujloud gateway, absorbing the cultural richness, architectural mastery, and vitality of Morocco’s most ancient imperial cities. Your day concludes with a peaceful evening in Fes.

Day 2: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt

Departing Fes at dawn, your journey ascends toward the Middle Atlas highlands. Pause in Ifrane, a mountain settlement lauded for its immaculate boulevards and continental architectural character, providing a tranquil respite from urban intensity. Advance to the cedar woodland surrounding Azrou, where colonies of Barbary macaques wander freely, creating an enchanting wildlife encounter. The route threads through scenic Berber hamlets and fertile terrain before reaching Midelt, a community distinguished by its apple cultivation and alpine vistas. Rest here, embracing the serene mountain atmosphere.

Day 3: Midelt – Erfoud – Merzouga Desert

From Midelt, your southbound expedition continues toward the Saharan wilderness. Navigate the Ziz Valley corridor with its magnificent palm plantations and commanding landscapes. Capture photographs along the route as the terrain transforms from mountain summits to barren expanses. Arrive at Merzouga, the threshold to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Here, the desert’s immensity reveals itself as you anticipate your initial encounter with its golden sands. Evening unfolds in relaxation, savoring the desert’s tranquil ambiance.

Day 4: Merzouga Desert Exploration and Camel Expedition

Awaken at dawn to witness the enchanting sunrise illuminating the Sahara’s undulating dunes. The day encompasses a visit to Khamlia village, homeland of the Gnawa community, where ancestral music resonates through the air. Investigate abandoned mining sites, encounter local nomadic peoples, and appreciate the oasis environments encircling Merzouga. During afternoon hours, mount your camel for a trek across the dune fields, capturing the desert’s hypnotic hues at sunset. Your night unfolds at a desert encampment, gathering around the campfire for traditional rhythms beneath an infinite stellar dome.

Day 5: Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Ouarzazate

Rise early to stroll among the dunes and observe the sunrise spectacle, then return for refreshment and morning meal. Depart Merzouga heading westward, traversing Rissani, a historic desert settlement once pivotal to ancient trade networks. Continue alongside the Ziz Valley before arriving at the imposing Todra Gorge, where monumental cliffs flank a river coursing through the canyon. Dedicate time to exploring the gorge and appreciating its geological grandeur. The expedition then advances to Ouarzazate, celebrated for its film production facilities and historic fortifications. Evening provides opportunity for repose and absorption of the desert-adjacent terrain.

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech

Your final day commences with exploration of Ouarzazate’s premier attractions, including the Taourirt Kasbah and neighboring Atlas Studios, backdrop to numerous celebrated films. Proceed to the historic fortified settlement of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage monument exemplifying Morocco’s distinctive earthen construction traditions. Journey through the Fint Oasis before ascending the High Atlas range via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, revealing panoramic vistas of terraced valleys, alpine summits, and Berber communities. Descend into Marrakech’s pulsing heart during late afternoon, concluding your passage through Morocco’s remarkably diverse landscapes.