5 DAYS TOUR FROM FES TO MARRAKECH
5 Days Tour From Fes To Marrakech Overview:
- 5 Days/ 4 Nights
- Start in Fes
- Ends in Marrakech
This tour is not just a drive, it is a big change of feeling. You start in the busy city of Fes and then you go into the quiet silence of the big Sahara Desert. The best part is the night you will spend under the stars, they look so clear and bright, like nothing you saw before. You will meet the Berber people and see their simple, warm way of life, which is a very special thing to experience. You will see how Morocco is different from the North to the South.
During these five days, you travel across the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, so the views are changing all the time. On the first day we drive from Fes to the beautiful orange dunes of Merzouga. Here, you ride a camel and stay in a traditional desert camp. This is a very important stop on the way.
Then we leave the desert and see some impressive places like the Todra and Dades Gorges, which are huge canyons. We also visit famous old Kasbahs, like the one in Ait Benhaddou, which is on the UNESCO list and was in many movies. The tour finishes in the famous, exciting city of Marrakech. This tour is a great way to see much of Morocco’s best sights, and you don’t need to worry about anything because we take care of the details.
Highlights of The 5 Day Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech:
- See the Barbary monkeys in the big cedar forest near Azrou.
- The long, scenic drive through the beautiful Ziz Valley.
- Ride a friendly camel through the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
- Sleep one night in a nice, comfortable private tent in the Sahara Desert.
- Listen to the famous Gnawa music played by local people.
- Walk inside the very big, beautiful cliffs of the Todra Gorge.
- Visit the old, historic village of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.
- Drive over the High Atlas Mountains pass, called Tizi n'Tichka.
Why Choose The Private 5 Days From Fes To Marrakech Desert Tour With Us?
Choosing a private tour is the best way to travel, truly. When you book a private tour with us, you are in control of your trip, not stuck with other people’s plans. We use comfortable, modern cars with good air condition, and your driver is a local expert, he knows all the secret spots and the best places to stop for photos. You can ask him to stop any time you want for a break or a photo, no problem. It’s your holiday, so you should feel relaxed and happy on the road.
We also only choose hotels and camps that are clean and nice and give you a good experience. Plus, by choosing us, you support a local Moroccan tour operator, and we are working hard to give you the best possible service and show you the real Morocco, with all its beautiful culture and friendly people. You get a personalized trip and really good value for your money. Please trust us to take care of your adventure!
5 Days Desert Tour From Fes To Marrakech Itinerary:
DAY 1: FES ⇢ IFRANE ⇢ MIDLLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS ⇢ ZIZ VALLEY ⇢ MERZOUGA
Our driver will meet you in Fes, at your Riad or Hotel, quite early in the morning so we have enough time for the long drive. We start going south through the mountains. The first stop is Ifrane, a nice town that looks like it is in Switzerland, very clean and quiet. After that, we go to the cedar forest near Azrou. Here we look for the wild Barbary apes, they are very fun to watch and take photos of.
We continue driving through the mountains, passing through Midelt for lunch. The landscape starts to change and look like the desert. We drive a long time, but we stop many times. The road takes us next to the Ziz Valley, where you see thousands and thousands of palm trees next to the river, a really beautiful view. This is the official gateway to the Sahara Desert.
In the late afternoon, we arrive in the Merzouga region. We leave the car and meet our camels. You take a camel ride for about one hour, walking into the high Erg Chebbi sand dunes. We watch the wonderful sunset from the dunes, which is a great feeling. After arriving at the desert camp, you will have a delicious traditional dinner and enjoy the fire and music from the Berber people under the stars.
DAY 2: DISCOVERY DAY IN MERZOUGA
Today is all about seeing and exploring the desert area around Merzouga. If you wake up early, you can see a truly amazing sunrise over the dunes, it is worth waking up for, promise! After a good breakfast at the camp, you will meet your driver again. We will spend the day driving off-road in a 4×4 car, exploring the very big sand area.
We will visit the village of Khamlia, where the people have roots from West Africa. They are famous for their spiritual Gnawa music. We will stop to listen to their performance, it is very interesting and energetic. We also drive to meet some local nomadic families who live in simple tents. They will be happy to welcome us for a glass of Moroccan mint tea and show us their way of life.
In the afternoon, you have free time. You can try sandboarding on the dunes if you like, or maybe ride a quad bike (this is an extra activity). We spend the second night in a comfortable hotel or Riad in the Merzouga village, close to the dunes, so you can relax, take a shower, and get ready for the next day.
DAY 3: MERZOUGA ⇢ RISSANI ⇢ TODRA GORGE ⇢ DADES VALLEY
After breakfast, we leave the Merzouga area. Our first stop is Rissani, which is known for its traditional market, it is an important trading town. If it is a market day (Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday), we can visit to see the local life and maybe buy some dates or spices. It is a busy place, sometimes a little confusing, but very authentic.
We continue our drive to Tinghir, passing by many small villages and palm tree oases. We will arrive at the famous Todra Gorge, which is a big canyon with high, vertical rock walls, they are over 300 meters high. It is very beautiful. We can take a nice walk through the gorge to see the power of nature and feel cool air from the river.
In the afternoon, we continue the journey towards the Dades Valley. The Dades area is famous for its special rock formations, sometimes called “monkey fingers,” which look strange and interesting. We drive up the winding roads of the Dades Gorge to enjoy the beautiful view of the valley and the farms below. We will stay here for the night in a nice local hotel with dinner included.
DAY 4: DADES VALLEY ⇢ BOU THARAR ⇢ KELAAT M’GOUNA ⇢ SKOURA ⇢ OUARZAZATE
Today we leave the Dades Valley. We start with a scenic drive through the region, often called “The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” because you see so many old mud-brick fortresses along the road. We can drive off-road for a bit near the village of Bou Tharar to explore the raw nature and maybe meet other nomadic people living in caves in the mountains.
Next, we arrive at Kelaat M’Gouna, which is the famous Rose Valley. The town is known for its festival in May and for the rosewater products they make all year long. We can stop here to learn about the roses and maybe buy some nice local soaps or perfumes.
The tour continues to Skoura, which has a very large and quiet palm tree oasis. We will stop to visit the impressive Amridil Kasbah, a very well-preserved fortress that shows how the local rich families lived a long time ago. Finally, we arrive in Ouarzazate, which is known as the “Hollywood of Africa” because many famous movies were filmed here. We will check in to our hotel for the night.
DAY 5: OUARZAZATE ⇢ AIT BEN HADDOU ⇢ HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS ⇢ TELOUET KASBAH ⇢ MARRAKECH
On the final day, we start by visiting the most famous Kasbah in Morocco: Ait Benhaddou. This old fortified village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk through the small alleys and see the amazing architecture. It is a very impressive stop and good for taking many photos before it gets too crowded.
Then, we drive into the High Atlas Mountains. We will take a break to visit the Telouet Kasbah, which was once a very important place for the powerful Glaoui family. Parts of it are ruined, but the inner rooms are still beautiful with mosaic and wood ceilings. It is like a forgotten palace, and it is a good contrast to Ait Benhaddou.
The road goes high up over the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass, which is over 2,260 meters high. The drive is very beautiful with panoramic views, but the road is winding, so take care. We will stop for photos at the highest point. We arrive in the busy city of Marrakech in the afternoon, and the driver will drop you off at your hotel or Riad, ending your long and wonderful 5-day desert tour.
Tour Includes & Excludes
Includes:
- Private transportation in a comfortable 4x4 car or van with air condition.
- The gas for the car and all the driving time.
- An experienced and friendly English-speaking driver/guide.
- Four nights of accommodation (hotels, Riads, and the desert camp).
- Dinner and breakfast for four nights (4 Dinners and 4 Breakfasts).
- The camel ride experience in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Excludes:
- Lunches during the five days
- Entrance Fees
- All drinks and personal shopping.
- Tips for your driver, guides, or restaurant staff (optional).
5 Days Tour From Fes To Marrakech Price:
The price for this wonderful 5 Days Tour From Fes To Marrakech is not fixed, you see. It changes for a few important reasons. It depends on the number of people who are traveling together, because if you are more people, the price per person becomes lower, which is a good thing. Also, the price changes depending on the time of year you want to travel and what kind of accommodation you choose, like if you want standard, medium, or luxury hotels and desert camp. The best thing is to send us a quick message so we can give you a personalized, exact price.
Book or Ask Us Anything!
If you like what you see and are ready to book, or if you still have one or two questions that you need their answers, please use the contact form below to talk to us! We are here and waiting for your message.
The Tour Map
Available Tour Options
Luxury Tour Pack
- Luxury Hotels/Riads
- Luxury Desert Camp
- Private Transportation
Mixed Tour Pack
- Standard Hotels/Riads
- Luxury Desert Camp
- Private Transportation
Standard Tour Pack
- Standard Hotels/Riads
- Standard Desert Camp
- Private Transportation
Tips To Get Ready For Your Adventure
- Clothes for Desert: Please pack clothes for both hot and cold weather. The desert is very hot during the day, but when the sun goes down, it gets cold, especially in the winter nights. A light jacket is very important.
- Tell Us About Food: If you or someone in your group has a food allergy, like nuts, or if you need vegetarian food, please tell us when you book the trip. It is much easier for us to arrange it ahead of time.
- Small Money is Good: We suggest you carry some small cash (Dirhams) with you. Many places like small shops, cafes in the mountains, and some toilets do not take credit cards, so cash is better.
- Luggage During Camel Trek: When you ride the camel to the camp, you should only bring a small bag with what you need for the night, like a camera, water, and toothbrush. The big bags stay safe in the car or will go to the camp separately by 4×4.
- Photos and People: Moroccan people are often friendly, but if you want to take a photo of someone, especially women or local children, you must always ask them first. Say “S’il vous plaît” or just show your camera and smile. It is the polite thing to do.
- Charging Your Phone: You can charge your devices in the car while you drive, and also in the hotels. The desert camp usually has electricity for charging in the dining area, but sometimes the power goes off after midnight, so charge things early.
Frequently Asked Questions
The camel ride is about 1 to 1.5 hours long, which is a nice amount of time to enjoy the sunset. If you don’t like the idea of riding a camel, you can use the 4×4 car to go directly to the camp, no problem.
We use a modern, comfortable 4×4 SUV or a small, air-conditioned van, depending on how many people are in your group. All cars are new and have air condition for comfort.
It is best to book as soon as you know your travel dates, especially if you plan to travel during busy times like spring or autumn. Booking early helps us to secure the best hotels and desert camp for you.
Yes, absolutely! Your driver knows the best panoramic spots, but because the tour is private, you can ask him to stop for a quick photo whenever you see a view you really like. Just tell him, it’s fine.
Yes, this tour is good for families and people of all ages. The cars are comfortable, and we make many stops. Just know that some driving days are long, so maybe bring some games or books for the children for the long road.