3 Days from Fes to Marrakech

3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Departure: Fes · End: Marrakech · Duration: 3 days / 2 nights · Total distance: approx. 1,085 km

Overview

Enjoy an unforgettable 3-day journey from Fes to Marrakech through some of Morocco’s most stunning landscapes. Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains, admire the palm-filled Ziz Valley and experience the magic of the Sahara Desert. Ride camels across golden dunes, watch breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, and spend a night in a traditional desert camp.

Route Map

Distances are approximate and may vary slightly depending on the exact route and stops.

Day 1 – Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Ziz Valley → Merzouga (≈ 470 km)

Your tour begins at 8:00 AM with pick-up from your hotel in Fes. Travel south through the Middle Atlas, stopping in Ifrane, known for its European-style architecture, and Azrou, where you visit the cedar forest and see Barbary macaques in their natural habitat. Continue over the Tizi n’Talghemt pass to Midelt for lunch. As the landscape gradually turns to desert, enjoy panoramic stops in the Ziz Valley before continuing to Erfoud and Rissani.

In Merzouga you are welcomed with mint tea. Leave your luggage at the hotel and ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset to your desert camp. Dinner, traditional music and an overnight stay under the stars.

Day 2 – Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley (≈ 290 km)

Wake up early for a breathtaking sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, return by camel and drive to Rissani to visit its local market (on market days). Continue via Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops, and the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad to Todra Gorge, a dramatic canyon popular with climbers. Free time for lunch and a walk through the gorge. In the afternoon, continue to the Dades Valley, famous for its “Monkey Fingers” rock formations. Dinner and overnight in a riad or hotel.

Day 3 – Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech (≈ 325 km)

After breakfast, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley and the palm groves of Skoura to Ouarzazate, where you can visit the Taourirt Kasbah and, optionally, the film studios. Continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site featured in films such as Gladiator and The Mummy, with free time for lunch. In the afternoon, cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass and arrive in Marrakech around 6:00 PM. Drop-off at your hotel.

Prices & Accommodation Options

All our tours are private. Choose the accommodation level that suits you; the price per person decreases as your group grows.

Included

• Pick-up from your hotel or riad in Fes
• Private air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver-guide
• 1 night in a hotel or riad and 1 night in a desert camp (dinner and breakfast)
• Camel ride in the Sahara Desert
• Drop-off at your hotel in Marrakech

Not Included

• Lunches and drinks
• Monument and museum entrance fees
• Tips and personal expenses

We offer a wide range of tours from Fes to suit every traveler and schedule: 4 days from Fes and 5 days from Fes. All our tours are private and can be customized to your dates and travel style.