This private 4-day tour takes you from Marrakech to Fes the scenic way, through the Sahara. You get two nights at Merzouga: the first in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the second in a hotel after a full day exploring the desert. Then you cross the Middle Atlas to Fes.
This private Marrakech to Fes desert tour takes four days, giving you two nights in the Sahara on the way north.
The 3-day Marrakech to Fes tour is popular, but it spends most of its time in the car. This 4-day version gives you a full day in the desert. You still spend the first night in the Dades Valley and the second in a camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes. On day three, you explore the region around Merzouga: the Rissani market, the Gnawa village of Khamlia and the desert landscapes by 4×4. Then you sleep in a hotel at the edge of the dunes before driving north to Fes through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.
At Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi dunes rise to around 150 meters, among the tallest in Morocco. North of Merzouga, the Ziz River has carved a canyon filled with date palms, one of the most photogenic stretches of the drive. The Medina of Fez, founded in the 9th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.
The best time for this trip is March to May or September to November. From June to August, desert afternoons can pass 40°C, and from December to February, nights in the Sahara drop close to freezing, so bring a warm layer.
Deciding how long to go for? Read our honest comparison: 3 or 4 day desert tour from Marrakech.
Leave Marrakech in the morning and cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the main road over the High Atlas at 2,260 meters. Stop at Ait Ben Haddou to explore the ksar, then continue through Ouarzazate and Skoura’s palm groves along the Valley of Roses to Kelaat M’Gouna. Arrive in the Dades Valley in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at a hotel overlooking the gorge.
After breakfast, drive up into the Dades Gorge to see the rock formations and winding road, then head east to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, where you can walk along the river between towering cliffs. Continue through Tinejdad and Erfoud to Merzouga. In the late afternoon, meet your camels and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Dinner and a night in a desert camp, with Berber music around the fire.
Wake early for sunrise from the dunes, then ride back and have breakfast. Spend the day exploring the desert around Merzouga with your driver-guide: visit Khamlia to hear Gnawa music, see the Rissani market (especially lively on market days), stop at the nomad areas and dry lakes, and try sandboarding or quad biking if you like (optional, extra cost). In the evening, check into a hotel at the edge of the dunes for a hot shower and a comfortable night.
After breakfast, head north along the Ziz Valley, a long canyon full of date palms, to Errachidia and Midelt at the foot of the Middle Atlas. Continue through the cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live, and the mountain town of Ifrane before arriving in Fes in the early evening. Drop-off at your riad or hotel.
How much does the 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour cost?
Our private 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour starts from $460 per person, based on 2 travelers. That includes the private vehicle and driver-guide, 3 nights (Dades Valley, a desert camp and a Merzouga hotel), the camel ride, and breakfasts and dinners. Larger groups pay less per person. Send us your dates for an exact quote.
Why choose 4 days instead of 3?
The 3-day route to Fes spends most of each day driving. The fourth day gives you a full day in the desert and a second night in Merzouga, so the trip feels much less rushed.
Is this tour private?
Yes. You travel only with your group, in your own vehicle with a driver-guide.
How long is the drive from Merzouga to Fes?
About 470 km, or 8 to 9 hours with stops for lunch, the Ziz Valley viewpoints and the cedar forest.
Can I do the tour the other way, from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. See our 4-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour, or ask us to reverse this route.
What kind of desert camp will I stay in?
A tented camp in the dunes with beds and blankets. Standard and luxury options with private bathrooms are available.
When is the best time for this tour?
March to May and September to November. Winter nights in the desert and the Middle Atlas are cold, and summer days in the Sahara are very hot.
Can you pick us up at Marrakech airport?
Yes. We can meet you at Marrakech Menara Airport, or at your riad or hotel in the city.
