3 DAYS FES TO MARRAKECH DESERT TOUR
- 3 Days/ 2 Nights
- Start in Fes
- Ends in Marrakech
Imagine leaving the old, winding streets of Fes to find yourself under a sky full of stars in the quiet Sahara Desert. This trip is more than just a road, you see. It is a full change of scenery in only three days. You will start high in the cold Atlas Mountains, pass through cedar forests where monkeys live, and finish with a peaceful camel trek over the high golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. It is really a special experience, feeling the soft sand beneath you while the sun goes down.
This three day adventure is the perfect way to travel between Morocco’s two famous Imperial Cities. Along the way, you will visit ancient, impressive places like the Todra Gorges and the famous Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, which many people recognize from movies. It is a wonderful chance to see the real, diverse heart of Morocco, from the green valleys to the dry, rocky deserts.
By the end of the trip, you will cross the biggest mountains in North Africa, the High Atlas, and you will arrive in the busy, colorful city of Marrakech. It is a long journey, but every day is full of stops that show you new beautiful views and a different part of the country’s amazing landscape.
Highlights of The 3 Day Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech:
- 🐒 Middle Atlas Mountains: Seeing the Barbary Apes in the Cedar Forest of Azrou.
- 🌴 Ziz Valley: Stopping to take pictures of the huge, green oasis with many palm trees.
- 🐪 Camel Trek: Riding a camel over the soft, high dunes of Erg Chebbi.
- 🌟 Desert Night: Spending one night under the amazing starry sky in a quiet camp.
- 🏞️ Todra Gorge: Walking deep inside the tall, dramatic rocky canyon.
🏰 Ait Benhaddou: Visiting the famous UNESCO Kasbah where many movies were filmed. - 🏔️ Tizi N’Tichka Pass: Driving over the highest road pass in the Atlas Mountains, with beautiful views.
Why Choose Our Private & Local 3 Day Desert Tour?
Choosing a private tour is really the best way to travel this long distance because it gives you so much comfort and freedom. When you book with a private local tour operator like us, you get a comfortable, modern car just for your group and a dedicated driver-guide who is from the area and knows all the best spots. This means we can drive at your speed. If you want to stop more for photos, we stop. If you want to spend less time somewhere, we can do that too, no problem.
We focus on making sure your trip is truly authentic and unique for you. We often use lovely, higher-quality accommodations, including a luxury desert camp where your tent has its own private bathroom. Also, by booking with us, you are helping to support the small Berber communities and local businesses that we work with along the road, which is very important to us. We promise you an honest trip with no hidden costs or forced stops for shopping.
3 Days Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech Itinerary:
Please look closely at the detailed plan for each day below. This is the classic, most popular route, but it is not set in stone, you know. Because this is a private tour, you are totally free to change anything you do not like or to add new things. Just contact us and we can make a custom trip that is perfect for you.
DAY 1: FES ⇢ IFRANE ⇢ MIDLLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS ⇢ ZIZ VALLEY ⇢ MERZOUGA
We will pick you up from your accommodation in Fes early in the morning, around 8:00 AM, ready to start the long journey to the desert. Our first important stop is the Middle Atlas Mountains. We will drive through Ifrane, a small town with clean streets and special roof styles, which is why people call it “Moroccan Switzerland.” The landscapes here are very different from Fes, everything is much greener and the air is cool.
Next, we drive to the cedar forest near Azrou. This place is famous because it is home to the Barbary Macaques, which are wild monkeys. We will stop so you can see them and take some pictures. After this, we continue south, and we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt. As we continue the drive, the scenery changes a lot, the mountains become dry and rocky, and you will know you are getting closer to the desert.
In the late afternoon, we will stop at a beautiful panoramic point overlooking the huge Ziz Valley, which is full of date palm trees, a really wonderful sight. We will arrive in Merzouga, the desert town, right before sunset. Here, your car journey ends, and you will begin the best part: the camel trek! You will ride your camel for about an hour and a half into the Erg Chebbi dunes. You will watch the breathtaking sunset from a high dune before continuing to your luxury desert camp for a traditional Moroccan dinner and a night of Berber music under the amazing stars.
DAY 2: MERZOUGA DESERT ⇢ RISSANI ⇢ TODRA GORGE ⇢ DADES VALLEY
It is a good idea to wake up early today to see the sunrise over the golden dunes, it is a truly magical and quiet moment you will not forget. After a nice breakfast at the camp, you can choose to ride the camels back to Merzouga town or take a quick 4×4 ride. Then, we will meet our driver and start the journey toward Dades Valley.
Our first stop is Rissani. This town is important for trade, and if you are traveling on a Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday, we can visit the traditional local market, which is very busy and authentic. Then we pass through several small Berber villages and palm groves before reaching the amazing Todra Valley. We will stop in the town of Tinghir and take a walk along the river until we reach the Todra Gorge.
The Todra Gorge is like a huge canyon where the rock walls are extremely high and very narrow, sometimes just wide enough for the river and a small road. You will have time to walk and feel small next to these giant walls. After lunch nearby, we continue our drive to the Dades Valley, which is also famous for its dramatic rock formations, sometimes called “monkey fingers.” We will check in to your hotel or riad there, where you will have dinner and spend the night.
DAY 3: DADES VALLEY ⇢ AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH ⇢ HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS ⇢ MARRAKECH
After breakfast at your hotel in the Dades Valley, we start the final leg of the tour towards Marrakech. We will drive through the Valley of the Roses, especially known for its rosewater products, and then continue on the scenic route known as the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. We will pass through Skoura, which is a very large palm oasis.
We arrive in Ouarzazate, which is often called the “Hollywood of Africa” because of its film studios. You can choose to visit the studios or the old Taourirt Kasbah here. Our next and most famous stop is the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an ancient fortified village built from mud and straw, and it is very beautiful and old. We will stop here for a visit and for lunch.
In the afternoon, we begin the final part of our journey, crossing the mighty High Atlas Mountains. We will go over the Tizi N’Tichka pass, which is 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) high. The road winds through the mountains and offers incredible panoramic views of valleys and traditional Berber villages built into the hillsides. We will arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon or early evening, and your driver will take you directly to your accommodation.
Tour Includes & Excludes
Includes:
- Private transport with AC (4x4 or nice minivan).
- Fuel for the car.
- Experienced English-speaking driver/guide.
- Pick-up from Fes and drop-off in Marrakech.
- Two nights of accommodation (one night in Dades Valley, one night in the Desert Camp).
- Meals: two dinners and two breakfasts.
- Camel trekking excursion in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Sandboarding activity (if you want to try it).
Excludes:
- Lunches for all three days.
- Entrance Fees
- Drinks and water.
- Tips for your guide and staff (totally optional).
Fes To Marrakech 3 Days Desert Tour Price:
We don’t list a fixed price here because the cost of this 3-day tour is not always the same. The final price depends on several factors, such as the size of your group, the type of accommodation you choose (Standard or Luxury), and the time of year you plan to travel. Since each trip is customized, prices can vary from one booking to another. To receive the most accurate price for your group and preferred dates, please send us a message below and we’ll get back to you with a personalized offer.
Book or Ask Us Anything!
We are so happy that you are thinking about this incredible adventure with us. If you are ready to book your spot, just fill out the simple form below with your dates. If you still have questions, maybe something we did not cover, please do not hesitate to write your question in the message box. We will get back to you with the answer or your personalized price very quickly. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
The Tour Map
Available Tour Options
Luxury Tour
- Luxury Desert Camp
- Private Transportation
Standard Tour
- Standard Desert Camp
- Private Transportation
Tips To Get Ready For Your Adventure
- Tell us your needs: If someone in your group has a food allergy or needs a special diet (like vegetarian or vegan food), please, please tell us right away when you book. We need to tell the hotels and the desert camp in advance to make sure they can prepare the right meals for you.
- What to wear for the weather: The desert is usually very hot during the day, so you should wear light, loose clothing. But, remember that the desert night and the high mountains can get very cold, especially in winter. You should bring layers, like a warm jacket, just in case. Also, long, comfortable trousers are better for the camel ride.
- Cash is important for the road: The price of the tour covers your dinners and breakfasts, but not your lunches or the entry fees for places like the Film Studios. You will need Moroccan Dirhams or Euros (cash) for these stops, as the smaller restaurants and markets along the road do not accept credit cards.
- About the desert camp: You do not need to bring a sleeping bag because the tents are well-equipped with beds and blankets to keep you warm. Also, the luxury camps we use have electricity, so you can charge your phone and camera inside your tent or in the common areas.
- We promise no tourist traps: Our drivers are instructed to respect your time and only take you to places you want to see. We will recommend good local spots for lunch, but you are free to choose. You will not be forced to stop at carpet shops or souvenir places if you do not want to.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, of course, you can bring your main luggage. Our vehicles, whether they are a 4×4 or a minivan, have enough space in the back for all your suitcases. You will get your luggage right away when you arrive at your hotel or the desert camp each night.
Yes, absolutely, you can. If you prefer not to ride the camel, please just tell your driver. We will arrange a safe 4×4 car to take you to the desert camp, and also back out the next morning, at no extra cost to you.
The days are long but full of stops. Day 1 is the longest, about 7 to 8 hours of total driving time. Day 2 is much shorter, around 4 to 5 hours. Day 3 is about 6 to 7 hours of driving. These times do not include all the stops we make for photos, sightseeing, and lunch breaks.
You will be eating mostly traditional Moroccan food. For dinner at the hotels and the camp, it is often a tagine (chicken or beef) or maybe a couscous dish, always with bread and some local soup or salad. If you have dietary requests, like for vegetarian meals, we can easily arrange that.
To confirm your booking, we just ask for a small deposit first. You can pay this part online using PayPal, which is easy. The rest of the money, the remaining balance, you can pay in cash directly to your driver on the first day of your tour. You can pay in Euros (€) or US Dollars ($).
Yes, there are. The hotels and the luxury desert camps we use are equipped with electricity, usually from solar power. You will find electrical outlets in your private tent and in the common areas of the camp, so you can charge your devices easily overnight.
Yes, there are. The hotels and the luxury desert camps we use are equipped with electricity, usually from solar power. You will find electrical outlets in your private tent and in the common areas of the camp, so you can charge your devices easily overnight.