Private 3-Day Tour · Fes to Marrakech
3-Day Desert Tour: Fes to Marrakech
The most beautiful way to travel between Morocco’s two great cities — across the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, into the Sahara by camel for a night in the dunes, and back over the High Atlas through gorges, kasbahs and Aït Benhaddou.
- Duration3 days / 2 nights
- Start → endFes → Marrakech
- Desert1 night in Erg Chebbi
- GorgesTodra & Dades
- LevelEasy, all ages
- Tour type100% private
Tour overview
Fes to Marrakech, the scenic way
Rather than travelling directly between Fes and Marrakech, this private three-day tour takes you the long way round — through the very best of southern Morocco. You leave Fes for the alpine town of Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques, then cross the Middle Atlas and follow the palm-filled Ziz Valley down to the Sahara.
At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, a camel caravan carries you to your desert camp in time for sunset, followed by dinner, Berber drums and a night under the stars. The next days lead west along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs — the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, the Valley of Roses and the famous ksar of Aït Benhaddou — before crossing the High Atlas to Marrakech.
The tour is entirely private, runs any day of the year and can also be done in reverse, from Marrakech to Fes.
Tour highlights
Three days, a whole country
Ifrane & cedar forests
The “Switzerland of Morocco” and its forests.
Barbary monkeys
Wild macaques in the cedars near Azrou.
The Ziz Valley
A green ribbon of palms through the desert.
Sunset camel trek
Ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Night in the Sahara
Camp dinner, drums and a sky full of stars.
Todra & Dades gorges
Towering canyon walls and Monkey Fingers rocks.
Aït Benhaddou
The UNESCO kasbah seen in countless films.
Tizi n’Tichka pass
Cross the High Atlas at 2,260 m.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your three days, day by day
Fes to the Sahara via Ifrane & the Ziz ValleyFes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Your private driver collects you from your riad or hotel in Fes in the morning. Drive south through Imouzzer to Ifrane, the alpine-style town known as the “Switzerland of Morocco”, then into the cedar forests near Azrou, where you can stop to watch the Barbary macaques.
After lunch in Midelt, at the foot of the High Atlas, cross the Tizi n’Talghemt pass and descend through the palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Erfoud and Merzouga. In the late afternoon, mount your camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, pausing on a high crest to watch the sunset before reaching your desert camp for dinner, drums around the fire and a night under the stars.
- Drive approx. 8 h with breaks
- Camel trek approx. 1.5 h
- Overnight Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
- Meals Dinner
Sahara Sunrise, Todra Gorge & the Dades ValleyMerzouga → Rissani → Tinghir → Todra Gorge → Dades
Wake early for an unforgettable sunrise over the dunes, then ride your camel back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. Drive via Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalet, known for its lively market, and continue west along the edge of the desert.
In Tinghir, walk through the Todra Gorge, where sheer red cliffs rise around 300 m on either side of a clear stream. Continue to Boumalne Dades and into the Dades Valley, stopping at the Monkey Fingers rock formations and the famous viewpoint over the winding gorge road. Overnight in a kasbah hotel.
- Drive approx. 5 h with stops
- Overnight Kasbah hotel, Dades
- Meals Breakfast & dinner
Rose Valley, Aït Benhaddou & MarrakechDades → Kelaat M’Gouna → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Aït Benhaddou → Marrakech
Drive through Kelaat M’Gouna in the Valley of Roses, famous for its rosewater and May rose festival, and the palm oasis of Skoura with its earthen kasbahs. Continue to Ouarzazate, the “gate of the desert”, where you can visit the film studios if you wish.
Explore Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones, then cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m). Arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, where your driver drops you at your riad or hotel.
- Drive approx. 6.5 h with stops
- End Drop-off in Marrakech
- Meals Breakfast
Photo gallery
What you’ll see along the way
What’s included
Everything taken care of
Included
- Pick-up from your riad or hotel in Fes, drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with English-speaking driver, fuel and tolls
- 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi (private tent)
- 1 night in a kasbah hotel in the Dades Valley
- 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Sunset camel trek and sunrise ride back (one camel per person)
- Campfire evening with Berber drums
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument, kasbah and film-studio entrance fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional activities: quad biking, 4x4 dune tour, sandboarding
- Tips for drivers, camel guides and camp staff
Good to know
Questions about this tour
Can’t find your answer? Message us on WhatsApp and a local expert will reply quickly.
Can this tour be done in reverse, from Marrakech to Fes?
Yes. The same route works in both directions. Starting from Marrakech, you visit Aït Benhaddou and the Dades Valley on day one, spend the second night in the desert, and arrive in Fes on day three.
How long are the driving days?
Day one, from Fes to Merzouga, is the longest at about 8 hours including breaks, lunch and photo stops. Days two and three are around 5 to 6.5 hours each, broken up by walks and visits.
What should I bring for the desert night?
Pack a small overnight bag with warm layers, a torch, sun protection and a scarf. Your main luggage stays safely in the vehicle while you ride to camp.
What is the desert camp like?
The camp sits among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with private tents, proper beds and bedding, and dinner served at the camp. Luxury tents with private bathrooms are available as an upgrade.
Is this tour suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes. The tour is private, so the pace is set around you, with as many stops as you need. The camel ride is short and gentle, and a 4x4 transfer to camp can be arranged instead.
Can I add more time in the desert?
Absolutely. You can add a second night in Merzouga with a 4x4 desert tour, or extend the trip into a 4-day tour. Just let us know when you enquire.
Book your adventure
Reserve your private desert tour
Send us your preferred dates and group size and a local travel designer will reply personally with availability and a tailored quote — no obligation. For the fastest answer, message us on WhatsApp.
- Tour3-Day Desert Tour: Fes to Marrakech
- DepartureAny day, from Fes
- GroupPrivate — your group only
- CancellationFree within seasonal notice
Request this tour
Tell us your dates and group — we’ll send availability and a tailored quote.
Usually replies within a few hours
