Fes to Marrakech 3-day desert tour: Merzouga camel ride

Cross the Sahara by camel at sunset, then walk a UNESCO kasbah on the way to Marrakech

A 3-day guided tour departing Fes that crosses the Sahara Desert with a camel ride and night under the stars, passes through rose valleys and gorges, and ends in Marrakech after visiting the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Hotel pickup is included. Breakfast and dinner are provided each day, plus the sunset camel experience and campfire at the desert camp.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert

• Stop for a short walk and photos
• Take pictures with magot monkeys
• View Middle Atlas mountains
• Lunch break (not included)
• Prepare for camel ride to camp
• Stop for sunset photos at sand dunes
• Arrive at camp and rest
• Dinner at camp (included)
• Enjoy campfire music and dance
• Meditate under stars
• Sleep in luxury tent

Day 2: Merzouga to Ouarzazate

• Sunrise and shower
• Breakfast (included)
• Travel via Alnif or Tinejdad road
• Visit Todgha Gorges
• Lunch break (not included)
• Visit rose extraction cooperative
• Free time to visit Taourirt Kasbah and Cinema Studio
• Overnight at hotel with pool and AC
• Dinner at hotel (included)

Day 3: Ouarzazate to Marrakech

• Shower and breakfast (included)
• Visit Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou
• Panoramic view at Tizi n Tichka pass
• Lunch break (not included)
• Visit Argan Oil Cooperative
• Drop off at Marrakech accommodation

The experience

Day one starts in Fes and moves south through the Middle Atlas mountains, stopping at the Cedre Gouraud Forest to see magot monkeys and taking in views of the peaks. By afternoon you reach Merzouga and the Sahara itself. A camel ride carries you out to the camp at sunset, where dinner and campfire music follow before you sleep in a luxury tent with shower and toilet facilities.

Day two begins with sunrise and breakfast in Merzouga, then heads west toward Ouarzazate. The route passes the Todgha Gorges and a rose extraction cooperative in El Kelaa M'gouna, where you can watch the process and take photos. In Ouarzazate itself, you have free time to explore the Taourirt Kasbah and Cinema Studio before checking into a hotel with a pool and air conditioning for the night. Dinner is included.

Day three moves toward Marrakech, stopping first at the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village that sits on the UNESCO World Heritage list. After that visit, the route climbs to the Tizi n Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters for a panoramic view, then descends toward Marrakech with a stop at an Argan Oil Cooperative. You finish with a drop-off at your accommodation in the city. Breakfast is included. Lunch stops on days two and three are your own.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech.
• breakfast and dinner each day.
• camel ride at sunset in Merzouga.
• one night in a luxury tent at the desert camp with shower and toilet.
• one night at a hotel with pool and air conditioning near Ouarzazate.
• visits to Cedre Gouraud Forest, Todgha Gorges, a rose extraction cooperative, Taourirt Kasbah, the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, Tizi n Tichka Pass, and an Argan Oil Cooperative.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 241 per person and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesUp to age 70

GroupUp to 19

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by TARBOOSH TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a structured three-day loop from Fes through the Atlas and desert to Ouarzazate, with all transport and meals coordinated, rather than piecing together separate stops and accommodations yourself.

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Top questions

What's the camel ride like in Merzouga?

The camel ride happens at sunset on day one, carrying you from the edge of the desert out to the luxury camp where you'll sleep. It's a single ride to the camp, not a multi-day trek, followed by dinner and stargazing before bed in the tent.

Which meals are included on the 3-day tour?

Breakfast and dinner are included all three days. Lunches at stops along the route are not included, so you'll choose where to eat during those breaks.

Where do I sleep on the second night?

Night two is at a hotel in the Rose Valley area near Ouarzazate: either the Zaghro, Jardin, Barbara, or Perle du Sud or a similar property. All have a swimming pool and air conditioning.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour departs from your hotel in Fes on day one and concludes with drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech on day three. Specific start and end times are not listed. Confirm those details when you book.

Is the luxury tent private or shared?

The luxury tent at the desert camp is shared if you're traveling alone, but becomes private if your group is two people or more.