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

Summary

Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga: Camel Trek & Atlas Mountains

You’ll cross mountains, ride camels into golden dunes, sleep beneath Saharan stars, and walk ancient kasbahs—all in three days between Marrakech and Fes.

What’s the experience like?

We left Marrakech just as the city was waking up—those early morning sounds of mopeds and distant calls from the medina still in my ears. The road to the High Atlas Mountains twisted higher than I expected, with the air getting cooler at each turn. Our driver, Youssef, knew every bend of the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass and pointed out tiny Berber villages clinging to the hillsides. We stopped for mint tea at a roadside café; honestly, I’d never tasted anything like it—sweet, almost syrupy, with a hint of wild herbs. By midday, we reached Ait Ben Haddou. Walking through its clay alleys felt like stepping into another century. Our guide told us about movies filmed here, but what stuck with me were the kids playing football in the dust and an old woman selling dates under a faded umbrella. The day ended in Dades Valley, where our hotel overlooked a patchwork of green fields and rocky cliffs. I could hear frogs croaking somewhere below my window that night.

The next morning, after a simple breakfast—flatbread, olive oil, strong coffee—we drove towards Todgha Gorge. The cliffs here are massive, almost closing in overhead, and you can hear water trickling even when you can’t see it. Climbers dangled like tiny dots on the rock face. Lunch was quick; I grabbed a chicken tagine from a small place called Café Yasmina (the owner’s cat kept trying to steal my bread). By afternoon, we reached Merzouga. The sand was warm underfoot and somehow softer than I imagined. Switching to camels felt surreal—my camel was named Bob Marley, which made me laugh. As we rode into the dunes, the sky turned gold and pink at sunset. Dinner at camp was full of laughter and drumming around the fire. That night, lying on my back outside the tent, I counted more stars than I’d ever seen in my life.

Waking up before sunrise in the Sahara is something I’ll never forget—the air was chilly and smelled faintly of wood smoke from last night’s fire. After riding back by camel (my legs were sore but happy), we met our driver and headed north through Erfoud and along the Ziz Valley. There’s this overlook above Aoufous oasis where you can see endless palm trees stretching out below—our guide said this region supplies dates all over Morocco. Lunch in Midelt was nothing fancy but filling: lamb brochettes with cumin and fresh bread. Driving through Azrou’s cedar forest, we spotted a group of Barbary macaques—one bold monkey tried to grab someone’s apple right out of their hand! We made a quick stop in Ifrane (the “Moroccan Switzerland”—it really does look European) before rolling into Fes just as evening prayers echoed across the rooftops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Dades Valley

• Start tour from Marrakech
• Drive through Tizi n'Tichka Pass
• Visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Drive to Boumalne Dades via Valley of the Roses

Day 2 — Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Visit Todgha Gorges
• Drive to Merzouga and camel ride at sunset
• Dinner and overnight in desert nomad tent

Day 3 — Merzouga to Fes

• Camel ride back to main road
• Drive to Midelt via Erfoud and Ziz Valley
• Drive through cedar forest and Ifrane to Fes
• End tour in Fes

Top questions

How long is the camel ride in Merzouga?

The camel trek lasts about an hour each way—enough time to catch sunset or sunrise over the dunes.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

Kids over 6 can join, but younger children aren’t recommended due to long drives and desert conditions.

What kind of accommodation is included?

You’ll stay one night in a local hotel in Dades Valley and one night in a nomad tent camp in Merzouga’s dunes.

Are meals included?

Breakfasts and dinners are included at your accommodations; lunches are at local cafés along the route (not included).

What’s included

Your tour covers hotel pickup/drop-off (in Marrakech), air-conditioned transport, guided visits at main stops, camel rides in Merzouga, overnight stays (hotel & desert camp), breakfasts, dinners, plus plenty of local stories along the way.