5-Day Sahara Tour from Fes
Five private days from Fes to Marrakech: the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, a night in a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, a full day around Merzouga, the Todra and Dades gorges, the kasbahs of Skoura and Ouarzazate, and Aït Ben Haddou.
- Duration5 days / 4 nights
- StartFes (hotel or airport)
- EndMarrakech
- Tour typePrivate, 4×4 or minibus
- Meals4 breakfasts, 4 dinners
Tour Overview
From Fes to Marrakech Through the Sahara
This private five-day tour links Morocco's two great imperial cities by the most rewarding route: over the Middle Atlas, down to the Sahara and back across the High Atlas. With a full day in the desert region and short driving days at the end, it gives you time to enjoy each place rather than just pass through.
You leave Fes for Ifrane — the alpine-style "Switzerland of Morocco" — and the cedar forest of the Barbary macaques, then follow the Ziz Valley south to Merzouga. A camel trek takes you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset and a night in a luxury desert camp. Day two is spent exploring the Merzouga region by 4×4: nomad families, Gnaoua music in Khamlia, the palm grove and the flamingo lake.
From the desert, the road heads west past the Rissani souk and Erfoud's fossil workshops to the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley. You then follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses and Skoura to Ouarzazate, before visiting Aït Ben Haddou and crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Highlights
What Makes This Tour Special
- 01
Sunset Camel Trek
Ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sun go down from the crest of a high dune.
- 02
Luxury Desert Camp
Dinner, Berber drums around the campfire and a night in a comfortable tent under the stars.
- 03
A Full Day in Merzouga
Nomad families, Gnaoua music in Khamlia, a palm grove and the seasonal flamingo lake by 4×4.
- 04
Todra & Dades Gorges
Walk between towering canyon walls and see the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations of the Dades.
- 05
Kasbahs & Film Studios
The Valley of Roses, Skoura's Kasbah Amridil, Taourirt Kasbah and the studios of Ouarzazate.
- 06
Aït Ben Haddou
The UNESCO-listed ksar seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones, then the High Atlas to Marrakech.
Day by Day
5-Day Itinerary from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga
Your driver collects you early from your riad, hotel or Fes airport. The road climbs south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, the mountain town of alpine-style chalets known as the "Switzerland of Morocco". Nearby, the cedar forest is home to wild Barbary macaques — time to walk among the trees and see them up close.
Lunch is in Midelt, at the foot of Jbel Ayachi. In the afternoon you cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and follow the Ziz River through gorges and palm groves to Merzouga. There you switch to camels and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, stopping on a high dune for sunset before reaching the luxury camp for dinner, Berber drums around the campfire and a night under a sky full of stars.
Wake before dawn to watch the sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast at the camp, ride your camel back to Merzouga, where your driver is waiting with the 4×4.
The day is dedicated to the Merzouga region. Drive off-road to an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, then visit a nomad family in their handwoven tent to share Berber tea and learn about desert life. In Khamlia, a village whose people trace their roots to Mali, Sudan and Niger, enjoy a live Gnaoua music and dance performance. After free time for lunch, stroll through the palm grove and finish at Dayet Srji, the seasonal lake where flamingos gather after the rains.
After breakfast, head to Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalet and still a major trading town, for a walk through its busy souk. In nearby Erfoud, visit a workshop where fossil-rich marble is cut and polished.
The road continues west through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, where the limestone walls rise up to 300 metres on either side of a clear stream. After lunch, drive along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Boumalne Dades and up the Dades Valley, stopping at the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations and at a mountain viewpoint over the famous winding road.
Leave the Dades Valley for Kelaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses, known for its rose water, cosmetics and the rose festival held each May. Continue through the palm groves of Skoura to visit Kasbah Amridil, one of the best-preserved kasbahs in the south.
In Ouarzazate, the "gateway to the desert", tour the film studios where many international productions have been shot, then explore the Taourirt Kasbah, the former residence of the Glaoui family. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax.
A short drive brings you to Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO World Heritage ksar that has appeared in Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy and Game of Thrones. Cross the river and climb through its earthen lanes to the old granary at the top for wide views over the valley. On request, we can add a detour to the Kasbah of Telouet in the Ounila Valley.
The road then climbs into the High Atlas to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 metres the highest road pass in the range, with photo stops at the best viewpoints. After lunch on the way down through Berber villages, you arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon and are dropped off at your accommodation or the airport.
Tour Details
What's Included & Not Included
Included
- Pick-up in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad or airport)
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus
- Fuel and all transport costs
- English / Spanish-speaking driver
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- 3 nights in hotels (Merzouga, Dades Valley, Ouarzazate)
- Camel trek into the dunes
- 4×4 excursion around Merzouga
- 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners
Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments, kasbahs and film studios
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Tailor-made on request. This itinerary is a suggestion. Every tour is private, so we can add a second desert night, include Telouet or Fes sightseeing, change hotel levels or run the route in reverse from Marrakech. The price depends on group size and accommodation — send us your dates for an exact quote.
Book This Tour
Request Your Private 5-Day Sahara Tour
Tell us your dates, group size and preferred accommodation. We reply within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and price — no payment needed to enquire.
- Private tour — only your group in the vehicle
- Free itinerary changes before departure
- Local team based in the south of Morocco
Booking Enquiry
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The route covers roughly 1,100 km over five days. The longest day is the first, Fes to Merzouga (about 470 km, 8 hours with stops); the second day stays around Merzouga, and the remaining days are shorter with time for visits.
It is fully private. Only you and your travel companions are in the vehicle, and the pace and stops can be adjusted to suit you.
The luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes has spacious tents with proper beds and en-suite bathrooms. Dinner is served at the camp, followed by Berber music around the fire.
Yes. The same route works in the opposite direction, starting in Marrakech and finishing in Fes. We can also finish the tour in Fes or Merzouga.
Yes. Instead of the hotel in Merzouga on night two, you can stay a second night at the camp. Just tell us when you enquire.
Yes, camels are led on foot by a guide at a slow pace. If you prefer not to ride, a 4×4 transfer to the camp can be arranged.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. Winter days are sunny but desert and mountain nights are cold, and the Tichka pass can see snow; summer days in the desert are very hot.
Comfortable layers, a warm jacket for the evenings, closed shoes for the gorge walks, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf for sun and sand, and a small overnight bag for the camp.
The price depends on the number of travellers and the accommodation level, since vehicle costs are shared by the group. Send us your dates and group size for an exact quote within 24 hours.
Gallery
Moments from the Journey
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