3-Day Desert Tour Fes to Marrakech: Camel Ride & Merzouga Camp

Three days across mountains, gorges and golden dunes, ending in Marrakech

A 3-day tour from Fes to Marrakech through Morocco's High Atlas and Sahara Desert, with camel ride, overnight in a desert camp near Merzouga, visits to Todra Gorge and the UNESCO kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou, and a guide in English, Spanish or French. Hotel pickup starts at 7:30am on day one; lunch is on your own; the tour ends at Marrakech's main square. Choose between private, VIP, or group options with either luxury or standard camp accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert Journey

• Pick up from Fes hotel
• Drive to Ifrane ski resort
• Explore Azrou cedar forest
• Lunch stop at Midelt
• Cross Tizi N' Talghoun pass
• Photo stop at Ziz Valley
• Arrive Merzouga and camel ride
• Watch desert sunset
• Check in to desert camp
• Dinner and campfire with locals

Day 2: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Gorges

• Sunrise and sandboarding
• Breakfast and camel/jeep return
• Drive to Todra Gorge
• Stroll and explore Todra Gorge
• Panoramic photo stop in valley
• Coffee break with Rose Valley view
• Drive through Skoura palm grove
• Arrive Ouarzazate and check in
• Dinner at hotel

Day 3: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Breakfast and explore Ouarzazate
• Visit Kasbah of Taourirt (optional)
• Stop at Ait Ben Haddou ksar
• Drive Tizi'n Tichka mountain pass
• Photo stop at 2260m altitude
• Lunch en route to Marrakech
• Arrive and drop off at Marrakech square

The experience

The route leaves Fes at 7:30am and climbs through the Middle Atlas, passing the French-built ski resort of Ifrane after 90 minutes, then the cedar forest at Azrou where you can feed local monkeys. Lunch stops in Midelt, a town known for fossils and apple farming, before the drive crosses the Tizi N' Talghoun pass and descends into the Ziz Valley. The first day ends at Merzouga with a 40-minute camel ride into the dunes at sunset, followed by mint tea and dinner at the desert camp.

Day two starts before sunrise for sandboarding, then breakfast and the camel or jeep ride back to meet your driver. Two hours later you reach Todra Gorge, where the river has carved a cliff-sided canyon famous among climbers for its steep rock walls. A walk through the gorges is recommended to see the landscape properly. The afternoon passes through the Rose Valley with views of the High Atlas and historic kasbahs, following the "One Thousand Kasbahs Road" and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate, where you check in for the night and dinner is served at the hotel.

The final day explores Ouarzazate's Kasbah of Taourirt (optional) and the film studios, then stops at Ait Ben Haddou, an 11th-century ksar and UNESCO World Heritage Site used to film Gladiator, The Mummy, Sahara and others. The drive to Marrakech follows the famous Tizi'n Tichka route through the High Atlas at 2,260 meters, with stops for photographs of the mountain views. After lunch, the tour continues through scenic atlas landscape and ends at Marrakech's main square.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fes at 7:30am.
• camel ride into the Merzouga dunes at sunset.
• overnight in a desert camp with mint tea, dinner and campfire.
• breakfast on days two and three.
• dinner on days one and two.
• visits to Azrou cedar forest, Todra Gorge, Rose Valley, Ouarzazate's Kasbah of Taourirt, and Ait Ben Haddou kasbah.
• live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• drop-off at Marrakech's main square.

Options for this experience

4 options

Group tour including a standard campGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Standard camp with bathroom and toilets outside the tent. Lasts 3 days, with dinner and breakfast. Bus travel from Fes to Merzouga to Marrakech. Pickup is included.

Group tour including a luxury campUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Luxury camp, lasting 3 days, with dinner and breakfast; pickup is included, travel by bus

Private TourUp to 6 people · Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Deluxe desert camp and deluxe riad: the first night is at Soleil camp or a similar one, and the second night is at Dades Riad Sahara Stars Dades or a similar riad. Very good quality. Lasts 3 days, with dinner and breakfast. 3-day tours by van: Mercedes Vito, Ford Tourneo or similar, comfortable air-conditioned vehicles. Pickup is included.

VIP TourUp to 6 people · Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Premium camp and Kasbah Tamsna: in Merzouga, Royal Luxury Camp, Lemnouar Erg Camp or similar; in Ouarzazate, Kasbah Tamsna or similar. Premium service over 3 days, with dinner and breakfast. Travel by Mercedes Vito. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 5 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Morocco Customized Tours

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day version if you want both the Merzouga desert camp and Ait Ben Haddou kasbah in one trip. Shorter itineraries skip one or the other, while longer ones add coastal stops you may not need.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (2 to 5 years); Infant (under 2).

What's included in the 3-day tour from Fes to Marrakech?

Hotel pickup in Fes at 7:30am, camel ride in Merzouga, overnight accommodation in a desert camp (luxury tent with bathroom and toilet, or standard depending on your option), breakfast on days two and three, dinner on days one and two, and a live guide in English, Spanish or French. Lunch is on your own throughout the tour.

Do I need experience to ride a camel in Merzouga?

No experience is needed. The camel ride lasts about 40 minutes and happens at sunset on day one. After the ride you return to the camp for mint tea, dinner and a campfire with local dancers.

What is Todra Gorge and how much time do we spend there?

Todra Gorge is a cliff-sided canyon carved by a river in the High Atlas, famous among climbers for its steep rock walls and beauty. You arrive two hours after leaving Merzouga on day two, have time for lunch (on your own) and a walk through the gorges to see the landscape before continuing to Ouarzazate.

What's special about Ait Ben Haddou?

Ait Ben Haddou is an 11th-century ksar (fortified village) declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. It has been used to film major movies including Gladiator, The Mummy, Sahara and others. You explore the kasbah on day three before driving to Marrakech.

What are the differences between the tour options?

You can book a private tour for your group, a VIP tour with premium service, or a group tour. Group tours offer either a luxury tent with bathroom and toilet or a standard camp option for accommodation in Merzouga. All options include the same route, guide and meals except lunch.