4-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes

Tour Details

Day 1: Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley

Your expedition launches from Marrakech at dawn, climbing into the High Atlas Mountains where serpentine roads reveal panoramic vistas of Berber hamlets clinging to mountainsides.

At Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco’s cinematic jewel and UNESCO site, you’ll wander through earthen corridors that have witnessed centuries of Saharan trade. This fortified marvel has graced the silver screen in numerous productions.

The route continues through Skoura’s verdant palmeries and the perfumed Valley of Roses before tracing the “Thousand Kasbahs Road.” As dusk approaches, you’ll settle into the Dades Valley, where ancient rock formations stand guard over your overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Dades Valley – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Merzouga

Following breakfast, head toward Tinghir, a riverside town embraced by date palms. A gentle walk through the oasis leads to Todra Gorge, where sheer canyon walls climb skyward, creating one of Morocco’s most awe-inspiring natural formations.

The journey continues through Erfoud and Rissani, gateways to desert life and fossil country. By mid-afternoon, the Sahara’s edge beckons in Merzouga. Here, camels await to carry you into the heart of Erg Chebbi as the sun paints the dunes in amber hues. Your desert camp welcomes you with traditional rhythms, shared stories, and a sky ablaze with stars. Night spent in an authentic nomadic tent.

Day 3: Full Day in the Sahara

Greet the day as dawn illuminates the dunes in rose and gold. After a hearty breakfast, today belongs to the desert: embark on camel expeditions across endless sand seas, share tea with nomadic families preserving ancient traditions, and seek out hidden oases or fossilized treasures. As evening falls, watch the sun melt into the horizon, savor home-cooked Berber cuisine, and lose yourself in the Milky Way’s brilliant display.

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

Rise before dawn to witness the Sahara’s awakening, a sunrise you’ll never forget. After your final desert meal, begin the northward journey through the Ziz Valley, where endless date palms create a green lifeline through arid terrain.

The road climbs through Midelt, apple orchards replacing desert sands, before entering the Middle Atlas cedar forests. Watch for Barbary apes playing among ancient trees. Your final pause comes in Ifrane, where European-style chalets and manicured gardens earned it the nickname “Morocco’s Switzerland.”

As evening descends, you’ll arrive in Fes, the cultural heart of Morocco, bringing your desert odyssey to a memorable close.