5 Day Tour from Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara Desert
The classic Fes to Marrakech desert crossing, with one extra day that changes everything. Instead of arriving in the dunes and leaving the next morning, you spend two nights around Erg Chebbi: one in a comfortable hotel with a pool and one in a camp among the dunes, with a full day to explore the desert in between.
- Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
- Starts: Fes (riad, hotel or airport)
- Ends: Marrakech
- Route: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga → Todra → Dades → Skoura → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
- Price: on request, depends on group size and camp level
Highlights
- Ifrane and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas
- Two nights at Erg Chebbi, one in a camp among the dunes
- A full desert day by 4x4 with music, nomads and fossils
- Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
- The Skoura oasis and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas crossing
Day by Day
Day 1: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga
Leave Fes in the morning for Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, then descend through Midelt and the Ziz Valley to a hotel at the foot of Erg Chebbi. Sunset from the dunes.
Day 2: Merzouga desert day
A 4x4 tour around the dunes: the village of Khamlia and its Gnawa musicians, a nomad family, the old mines and the seasonal lake. In the afternoon, a camel trek to your desert camp for dinner and a night under the stars.
Day 3: Merzouga → Rissani → Todra → Dades
Sunrise over the sand, then the Rissani market and a walk in the Todra Gorge before driving on to the Dades Valley.
Day 4: Dades → Valley of Roses → Skoura → Ait Ben Haddou
Through Kelaat M'Gouna and the Skoura palm grove with its Amridil kasbah, then Ouarzazate and a night near Ait Ben Haddou.
Day 5: Ait Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Morning visit of the ksar with a guide, then over the High Atlas to Marrakech, arriving in the afternoon.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver
- 4 nights: hotel in Merzouga, desert camp, hotel in Dades, kasbah hotel near Ait Ben Haddou, with breakfast and dinner
- Camel trek and 4x4 desert tour
- Guide at Ait Ben Haddou
- Fuel and bottled water
Not included: lunches, entrance fees, tips.
Good to Know
- Shorter: the 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour.
- Round trip from Fes: see the 3 day Fes to Merzouga tour.
- Luggage: large bags stay in the car; take a small overnight bag to the camp.