Welcome to Fes, the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco. Your Navigate Morocco driver will meet you at Fes Airport or your agreed pickup point and transfer you to your traditional riad in the heart of the old medina. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Take a gentle first walk into the medina, find a rooftop cafe for a mint tea with your first views over the ancient city, or simply relax at your riad and let the atmosphere of one of the world’s most extraordinary medieval cities wash over you. Fes is a place that reveals itself slowly and the first evening is the perfect time to begin that process without any pressure. Dinner independently at one of the excellent restaurants in and around the medina.
Overnight stay: Traditional riad in Fes | Meals: Breakfast only
After breakfast at your riad, your local expert guide will meet you for a half-day guided cultural tour of Fes el-Bali, the ancient walled medina of Fes and one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval cities in the world. In half a day you will cover the essential highlights of the city, walking through the labyrinthine alleyways to visit Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 AD and recognized as the world’s oldest continuously operating university, the Bou Inania Madrasa with its extraordinary decorative craftsmanship of zellige tilework, carved stucco, and cedar wood ceilings, and the world-famous Chouara Tanneries, where leather has been dyed using traditional methods for over a thousand years. The tour also covers the artisan workshops where coppersmiths, weavers, and potters practice their crafts as they have for generations.
After the guided tour and a lunch break, depart Fes in the afternoon and head south into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Pass through Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco, and the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaque monkeys often appear along the roadside in the late afternoon. Continue through the mountain roads before arriving in the peaceful valley of Bou Laajoul as the evening settles in. Check into your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay in one of the most tranquil and beautiful corners of the Middle Atlas.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
After breakfast in Bou Laajoul, continue south through the Middle Atlas and into the pre-Saharan landscape. The road descends gradually from the mountain terrain into the open plains, passing through Midelt before entering the dramatic Ziz Valley. This is one of the most beautiful and photogenic landscapes in southern Morocco, the Ziz River winding through a long corridor of thousands of date palms, ancient mud-brick kasbahs, and small Berber villages. Stop at the panoramic viewpoint high above the valley for sweeping photographs before continuing through the Foum Zabel tunnel and across the Tizi-n-Talghemt mountain pass toward Merzouga.
By late afternoon, the towering orange dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon. Your camels will be waiting at the edge of the desert for a sunset trek across the golden sands. As the sun descends, the dunes glow in shades of amber and rose and the silence of the Sahara settles completely around you. Arrive at your luxury desert camp to a warm welcome of mint tea and Berber bread. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner under a sky full of stars, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of live Berber music around the campfire.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Rise before dawn to witness the Sahara sunrise, one of the most peaceful and unforgettable moments the desert offers. As the first light of day creeps over the dunes, the desert awakens in shades of gold and pink. After breakfast at the camp, check out and transfer to your comfortable riad or hotel in Merzouga for the second night.
The full day is dedicated to exploring the rich culture and landscapes of the Merzouga desert region. Begin with a visit to a nomadic Berber family in their tent and gain a genuine insight into their quiet, self-sufficient way of life. Continue to the fossil mines near Merzouga, where millions of years of prehistoric marine life are embedded in the local rock. Head next to Khamlia village, home to the descendants of sub-Saharan Africans brought to Morocco during the 16th and 17th centuries, who have preserved the ancient tradition of Gnawa music. A live performance by local musicians in this small desert village is one of the most memorable cultural encounters of the entire tour.
After lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon is free for optional activities. ATV quad biking across the Erg Chebbi dunes is the most popular choice. Sandboarding and 4×4 excursions are also available at an additional cost paid locally. Return to your riad or hotel in the early evening for dinner and a second overnight in Merzouga.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
After breakfast, leave Merzouga and begin the drive westward. The road west passes through the historic town of Rissani, the ancient former capital of the Tafilalt region, before continuing through Erfoud and the pre-Saharan plains toward the Todra Gorge. If your visit to Rissani falls on a market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday), a brief stop at the local souk offers a genuine glimpse into desert trade and daily life.
Continue west to the Todra Gorge, a spectacular natural canyon carved by the Todra River through limestone cliffs that rise over 300 meters on either side. At its narrowest point the walls close in to just a few meters wide, creating one of the most dramatic corridors of rock in Morocco. Take a refreshing walk along the river through the gorge, absorb the extraordinary scale of the landscape, and enjoy a lunch stop near the gorge before continuing west.
The afternoon drive continues through the Dades Valley, passing the famous Monkey Fingers red rock formations and ancient kasbahs before heading south through the Valley of Roses and on to Ouarzazate. Arrive in the city in the evening and check into your riad or hotel. Ouarzazate is known as the Hollywood of Africa and has a relaxed desert character that makes for a pleasant overnight stop. Dinner independently in the city.
Overnight stay: Riad or hotel in Ouarzazate | Meals: Breakfast only
After breakfast in Ouarzazate, begin the final day of the tour with a visit to the legendary Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic fortified villages in Morocco. This ancient ksar, built entirely from red earthen clay, has appeared in productions including Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Mummy. Your guide will walk you through the narrow alleyways and take you up to the top for sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding desert landscape. Please note that entrance fees to Ait Ben Haddou are paid locally and not included in the tour price.
Continue north across the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest paved road in North Africa at approximately 2,260 meters above sea level. The road winds through spectacular switchbacks with sweeping views of rocky peaks, deep gorges, and traditional Berber villages perched on the hillsides. Stop along the route for photographs and to take in the extraordinary mountain scenery for the last time before descending into the red plains surrounding Marrakech. Arrive in the city in the late afternoon or early evening. Your Navigate Morocco driver will drop you off at your accommodation, bringing your 6-day journey to a memorable close.
Meals included: Breakfast
Is this a private tour?
Yes. This is a fully private tour operated exclusively for you and your travel companions by Navigate Morocco. You will have a dedicated vehicle and driver-guide for all 6 days and will not share with any other group.
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts in Fes with a pickup from Fes Airport or your accommodation and ends in Marrakech with a drop-off at your hotel, riad, or Marrakech Menara Airport depending on your onward travel plans.
What does the half-day Fes guided tour cover?
The half-day guided tour covers the essential highlights of Fes el-Bali including Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara Tanneries, and the artisan workshops. It takes approximately 3 to 4 hours in the morning and gives you a genuine understanding of the city’s history and living craft traditions before departing south in the afternoon.
What is Bou Laajoul and why does the tour stop there?
Bou Laajoul is a peaceful and beautiful valley in the Middle Atlas Mountains, a quiet overnight stop that most Morocco itineraries skip entirely. Stopping here breaks the long journey from Fes to the Sahara into two comfortable days, allows for a relaxed pace through the cedar forests and mountain landscapes, and gives you a genuine experience of the Middle Atlas countryside that very few travelers ever see.
Why are there two nights in Merzouga?
Two nights in Merzouga gives you a genuinely immersive desert experience. The first night in the luxury desert camp provides the full sunset camel trek and campfire experience. The full day on Day 4 allows proper exploration of the desert including nomadic families, Khamlia village, and the fossil sites, and the second night in a comfortable riad or hotel gives you a relaxed base with full facilities after a day of activity.
Are dinners included in Fes and Ouarzazate?
Dinners in Fes and Ouarzazate are not included, giving you the freedom to explore each city’s restaurant scene independently. Dinners are included at Bou Laajoul, the desert camp, and the Merzouga riad, where restaurant choice is more limited and the included meal is part of the experience.
What meals are included?
The tour includes 6 breakfasts and 3 dinners. Lunches are not included throughout the tour, giving you the freedom to explore local restaurants and street food along the route.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Absolutely. Navigate Morocco offers fully flexible itineraries. Stops, pacing, accommodation preferences, and optional activities can all be adjusted to match your group’s interests and schedule.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The best months are March to May and September to November when temperatures are comfortable across all regions of the route. Summer can be very hot in the Sahara and southern Morocco, while winter is cooler but still manageable with appropriate clothing particularly in the mountains.
What should I pack?
Comfortable walking shoes, light layered clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential. Bring a warm layer for cool evenings in the mountains and desert. A small daypack is ideal for daily excursions and the camel trek, and a scarf is useful for the desert wind and when visiting religious sites in Fes.
