4-Day Desert Tour Fes to Merzouga: Camel Trek & Kasbah

A camel trek at sunset across Erg Chebbi's sand dunes, then four days crossing gorges and kasbahs to Marrakech.

A 4-day tour departing Fes that crosses the Atlas highlands to Merzouga, where you ride camels into the Sahara and sleep in a desert camp under nomadic tents. The route then loops through Todra and Dades gorges, visits the UNESCO World Heritage Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, and ends in Marrakech. Pickup from your Fes accommodation is included. Lunch is provided each day. The itinerary splits day three between a half-day and full-day trek option in Dades Valley, so you choose how much time to spend walking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga and Camel Trek

• Pick up from accommodation in Fes
• Drive through Ifrane and take photos
• Visit Azrou to see monkeys
• Stop for lunch in Midelt
• Drive through Ziz Valley to Merzouga
• Change vehicle for camels
• Camel trek to Erg Chebbi dunes
• Watch sunset over sand dunes
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga to Dades Valley

• Wake up and climb sand dunes
• Watch sunrise
• Camel ride back to hotel
• Shower and breakfast
• Drive through Erfoud, Jorf, Tinjdad
• Visit Todra Gorges in Tinghir
• Lunch on the road or in Tinghir
• Continue to Dades Valley
• Dinner and overnight in Dades Valley

Day 3: Dades Valley Guided Trekking

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Half or full day trek in Dades Valley
• Discover nature and Berber traditions
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 4: Dades Valley to Marrakech via Kasbah

• Breakfast and depart Dades Valley
• Drive through Rose Valley and Skoura
• Visit Kasbah Taourirt and cinema studios
• Visit Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO site
• Lunch at Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou
• Drive over High Atlas via Tizi n Tichka
• Arrive and drop off at Marrakech accommodation

The experience

The tour starts with a morning pickup from your Fes hotel and heads south through Ifrane, known for its Alpine-style stone architecture, then to Azrou to spot wild monkeys in the cedar woodlands before lunch in Midelt. By afternoon you reach Merzouga, trade the vehicle for camels, and ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi to watch the sunset. You sleep in a luxury desert camp under traditional nomadic tents, waking early to climb the dunes on camelback for sunrise before returning for breakfast and a shower.

Day two takes you east through the Ziz Valley to Erfoud, then to Tinghir to explore the Todra Gorges (a narrow canyon carved by the river) before continuing to Dades Valley for the night. On day three you choose between a half-day or full-day guided trek through Dades Valley with a local guide, discovering Berber traditions and the gorge's rock formations. The final day heads west through the Rose Valley and Skoura, stops at the Kasbah of Taourirt and Ouarzazate's film studios, then reaches the UNESCO World Heritage Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou for lunch before crossing the High Atlas and Tizi n Tichka pass to Marrakech, where you're dropped at your accommodation.

Overnight stays are in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga and riads or kasbahs in Dades Valley. The route covers high mountain passes, river valleys, and desert landscape, so the pace is steady but not rushed. A live guide speaks English, French, or Arabic depending on your group.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fes on day one.
• lunch each day.
• overnight stays in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga and in riads or kasbahs in Dades Valley.
• camel trekking at sunset and sunrise in the Sahara.
• a guided trek option in Dades Valley.
• entry to the Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou.
• a live guide in English, French, or Arabic.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, 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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Starry Morocco Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're starting from Fes and want to skip arranging separate transport and accommodation. The loop handles pickups, the Atlas highlands, and two desert nights in one itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

What's the camel trek like in Merzouga?

You ride camels into the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi on day one to watch the sunset, then again on day two at sunrise before breakfast. The trek is part of the first two days and no prior riding experience is needed.

Can I choose how much trekking to do in Dades Valley?

Day three offers a choice between a half-day and full-day guided trek through Dades Valley with a local guide, so you decide how much time to spend exploring the gorge and Berber villages.

What are the overnight accommodations like?

Night one is in a luxury desert camp under nomadic tents in Merzouga. Nights two and three are in riads or kasbahs in Dades Valley. All accommodations are included in the tour price.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included each day. Breakfast and dinner are provided at your accommodations, though drinks and tips are not included in the tour price.

What UNESCO site does the tour visit?

The Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified clay city on the final day, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You have time to explore it and eat lunch there before heading to Marrakech.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in Fes?

Hotel pickup from your Fes accommodation is included on the morning of day one. The driver collects you and the group starts toward Merzouga from there.