3-Day Private Desert Crossing: Marrakech to Fes
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- Duration
- 3 Days / 2 Nights
- Tour type
- Private
- Tour category
- Desert Tours
- Languages
- English, French, Spanish
About this tour
3 Days / 2 Nights from Marrakech to Merzouga and Erg Chebbi. From EUR 225 per person.
Tour highlights
- Wild Barbary apes in the cedar forest above Azrou
- The High Atlas crossed at 2,260 m over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, in a private air-conditioned 4x4
- Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before the drive north
- The Dades Gorges, then a walk on the flat riverbed under Todra's 300-metre limestone walls
- Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the backdrop to Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia
- Camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun goes down
- El Kelaa M'Gouna in the Valley of the Roses, where a rose water distillery can be added in spring
- A luxury desert camp with a private ensuite tent, real beds, a hot shower and drumming by the campfire
- A guided walk through the Tinghir oasis
- Ifrane, the town they call the "Switzerland of Morocco"
- The palm-filled Ziz Valley on the road toward Fes
Route at a glance
3 Days / 2 Nights · Marrakech → Erg Chebbi
- Marrakech Starting point
- Merzouga
- Erg Chebbi
About this tour
Marrakech at the start, Fes at the finish, and the Sahara in between: this is a one-way three-day crossing in a private air-conditioned 4×4 or van with your own driver-guide. The first day tops the High Atlas at Tizi n’Tichka, 2,260 m up, then drops to Aït Ben Haddou, the ksar on the UNESCO list, then runs on through Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses to a night in the Dades Valley.
Day 2 works east past the Tinghir oasis and Todra Gorge to Merzouga, where a sunset camel ride ends at a luxury ensuite camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes. The last day turns north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the cedar forest at Azrou with its Barbary macaques and the alpine streets of Ifrane, reaching Fes at about 17:00. The fare covers the private vehicle and driver, both nights on half board, the camel ride and the sandboarding, while lunches, entrance fees and tips are yours to pay.
Day by day itinerary
Print this itinerary- Day 1 of 3
Marrakech - Tizi n'Tichka (2,260m) - Aït Ben Haddou - Rose Valley - Dades Valley (High Atlas crossing to the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, approx. 6 hours drive)
The car leaves your Marrakech hotel at about 08:00 and heads for the High Atlas Mountains, crossing at the Tizi n'Tichka pass, 2,260 m up, with pauses at traditional Berber villages along the way. Midday belongs to Aït Ben Haddou. The earthen towers of this UNESCO World Heritage Site have appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia, and there is time to lose yourself in the maze of streets and climb to the top for the view. Lunch, not included, is taken at a local restaurant looking across at the ksar. The road then carries on via Ouarzazate to El Kelaa M'Gouna in the Valley of the Roses, where in spring, through April and May, you can stop at an artisanal rose water distillation factory. The day finishes in the Dades Valley, which people call the "Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs". Dinner and the night are at a hotel there, half board. An upgraded Dades Valley hotel is available for a 40 EUR per person supplement.
- Day 2 of 3
Dades Valley - Tinghir Oasis - Todra Gorge - Erfoud - Rissani - Merzouga (Gorges, desert markets and the sunset ride into the Sahara, approx. 4 hours drive)
Breakfast, then the road out of the Dades Valley to Tinghir. A local guide walks the oasis with you, along the irrigation channels and under the palms, telling the story of the town and of its Jewish heritage at the old Tinghir Kasbah. Todra Gorge is next, where the cliffs stand 300 metres over a flat riverbed you can walk, with time to follow the canyon and see the Todra River. The afternoon runs southeast through Erfoud, a town known for its fossils and its date market, and Rissani, where Morocco's Alaouite dynasty began. The Erg Chebbi dunes appear by mid-afternoon. Camels take you into them at sunset, and the ride ends at a luxury desert camp where the Sahara begins. Your tent is private and ensuite, with real beds, quality linens, electricity and a hot shower. Dinner is Moroccan and eaten under the stars, drumming follows around the campfire, and sandboarding is included. The night is spent at the camp, half board.
- Day 3 of 3
Merzouga - Ziz Valley - Midelt - Azrou (cedar forest and Barbary apes) - Ifrane - Fes (Sahara sunrise, the Ziz Valley, cedar forests and arrival in Fes, approx. 8 hours drive)
An early start puts you on the dunes for sunrise over the Sahara. Breakfast at camp, then the car points northeast toward Fes on a road you have not driven. The Ziz Valley comes first, a green corridor of date palm groves running below high cliffs, with photo stops as you go. Midelt, set between the Middle and the High Atlas, is the lunch halt, at a local restaurant. The afternoon crosses the Middle Atlas to Azrou, a Berber village known for the cedar forest around it, and you stop there to watch the Barbary macaques. Ifrane follows, the town they call the "Switzerland of Morocco" for its alpine-style buildings and green parks, with time for a coffee. Fes is reached at around 17:00, with the drop-off made at your accommodation.
What's included
Included
- A modern air-conditioned private vehicle and driver-guide, yours alone for 3 full days
- Collection from your Marrakech hotel or riad at approximately 08:00 AM
- One night at a hotel in the Dades Valley, private ensuite room, half board with dinner and breakfast
- One night at a luxury desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, private ensuite tent with hot shower, real beds and quality linens, half board
- The sunset camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes on the evening of Day 2
- Sandboarding on the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Delivery to your Fes hotel or riad at the end, or to the closest point a car can reach
Not included
- Lunches and any extra drinks along the way
- Entrance fees where they apply
- Guides at the monuments, which can be arranged on request and paid on the spot
- Optional extras: quad biking, a 4x4 dune circuit at Erg Chebbi
- Anything you choose to tip your driver-guide
- Travel insurance, which we recommend
What to bring
- Layers, because the desert nights turn cold
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- Sunscreen
- Walking shoes
- A small day bag
- A power bank
- A small bag packed for the camp, with the main luggage left in the vehicle, or brought to the tent if you ask
Group rates
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | €925 per person |
| 2 people | €495 per person |
| 3 people | €435 per person |
| 4 people | €395 per person |
| 5 people | €345 per person |
| 6 people | €295 per person |
| 7-9 people | €275 per person |
| 10-13 people | €245 per person |
| 14-17 people | €225 per person |
Frequently asked questions
How much ground does the Marrakech to Fes desert route cover?
Somewhere between 1,000 and 1,100 km, which is 620 to 680 miles. It splits into three days at the wheel of about 6 hours, then 4, then 8, with scenic and comfort halts built in.
Can we change the stops on the way to Fes?
Yes, and that is the main reason to book privately. Timings can shift, you can linger longer anywhere you like, add the Ouarzazate film studios or drop a stop altogether. Tell us your priorities when you book.
Where does our luggage end up in Fes?
It stays in the vehicle with you for all 3 days, and the driver delivers you and it to your Fes hotel or riad, or to the closest point a car can reach if you are staying in the medina.
Does this Sahara route work for families with children?
It does. A private tour suits families, child seats are free when you ask for them, and the camel ride can be cut short or exchanged for a 4x4. Children usually rate the Barbary apes at Azrou on Day 3 the highlight.
What if I would rather not ride a camel at Merzouga?
Then you take the 4x4 transfer to the luxury camp instead, which is available for anyone who prefers it.
What sort of accommodation is the desert camp?
Ensuite tents of a luxury standard, so real beds, quality linens, electricity and hot water showers. For +20 EUR per person you can have an air-conditioned one, cooled through summer and heated through winter.
Is there a four-day version of this crossing?
Yes. A four-day version of the same route exists, adding a full day at Merzouga with Khamlia village, Gnaoua music and more time in the desert before the drive to Fes.
Which months are best for the three-day run from Marrakech to Fes?
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable. Summer gets hot, though air conditioning makes it workable, and winter is clear and scenic.
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