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

You ride camels at sunset and sleep in the dunes, then wake to the Sahara at dawn.

A 3-day guided tour from Fes to Marrakech through Morocco's desert and mountain landscapes, with camel trekking in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi dunes, one night in a luxury desert camp, visits to Todra Gorge and the UNESCO site of Aït Ben Haddou, and an English-speaking driver. The tour includes air-conditioned transport, two nights' accommodation, camel ride, and entrance fees. Lunches at local cafés are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Middle Atlas

• Drive from Fes through Middle Atlas
• Pass cedar forests and visit Azrou
• Cross Ziz Valley and gorges
• Drive rock desert trail to Merzouga
• Camel ride at sunset
• Overnight in luxury desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga to Dades Valley

• Watch sunrise over dunes
• Breakfast at camp
• Camel ride for up to two hours
• Drive to Tinghir and Todra Gorges
• Lunch near Todra Gorges
• Walk along river or gorge
• Continue to Dades Valley and Gorges
• Overnight in hotel in Dades

Day 3: Dades to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Drive to Ouarzazate
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Lunch at Ait Ben Haddou
• Visit Atlas Film Studios
• Drive across Tizi n'Tichka pass
• Stop for photos along pass
• Arrive in Marrakech and transfer to riad

The experience

Three days means the route unfolds without rushing. You leave Fes and drive through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, passing Ifran and Azrou, a Berber village in the mountains, before crossing the Ziz Valley toward Merzouga. The landscape shifts as you go: mountains give way to desert. At Merzouga, you ride camels across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset, then spend the night in a luxury Berber tent in the heart of the sand, with dinner and breakfast included.

Day two starts early if you want to watch sunrise paint the dunes. After breakfast, you ride camels for a couple of hours (or less, it's your choice), then drive to Todra Gorge near Tinghir. The gorge cuts through red cliffs with a river running through gardens below. You can walk along the water or up the other side. The road continues to Dades Valley and Dades Gorges, where you spend the night in a hotel with dinner and breakfast.

The final day takes you to Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-protected kasbah where you stop for lunch and can visit the Atlas Film Studios nearby. Then you cross the High Atlas via the Tizi 'n Tichka pass (the road climbs with views at every turn), and arrive in Marrakech. Your driver drops you at your riad. The whole route is called the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs for the fortress-like villages you pass along the way.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver.
• two nights' accommodation (one night in a luxury desert camp with dinner and breakfast, one night in a hotel in Dades with dinner and breakfast).
• camel rides in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and optionally at sunrise.
• sandboarding in the dunes.
• entrance fees to Todra Gorge, Aït Ben Haddou, and other sites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Discover Morocco Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this 3-day route if you need to cross from Fes to Marrakech while seeing mountains, gorges, and desert camp together. Shorter tours skip the Sahara overnight or the gorges, longer ones linger in single locations.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

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

The tour includes air-conditioned transport with an English-speaking driver, two nights' accommodation (one in a luxury desert camp, one in a hotel), camel rides in Merzouga, entrance fees to sites, and all breakfasts and dinners. Lunches at local cafés and drinks are not included.

Do I ride camels both days in the desert?

You ride camels at sunset on the first day in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi dunes. On the second day, you ride for a couple of hours after sunrise if you wake early, then drive to Todra Gorge. The camel ride that morning is optional and up to you.

What is Aït Ben Haddou and why is it on the route?

Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a kasbah (fortress village) built of clay and stone on a hillside. You visit it on day three with time for lunch and a visit to the nearby Atlas Film Studios before driving to Marrakech.

What happens if I don't want to ride camels?

Camel rides are part of the tour itinerary: a sunset ride on day one and an optional morning ride on day two. If you have concerns about camel riding, contact the operator before booking to discuss alternatives.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible for transportation and some activities, though the desert camp and camel riding may present challenges. The operator notes the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Discuss your specific needs with the operator before booking.