4-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech: Camel Ride & Kasbahs

Four days crossing the Atlas, the Sahara, and a UNESCO kasbah by camel and 4x4

A 4-day guided tour departing Fes that crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains, descends into the Ziz Valley, reaches the Sahara for a camel ride and night under the stars, then returns via Todra Gorge and the Rose Valley to Marrakech. The tour includes 3 nights of accommodation, a sunset camel ride across Erg Chebbi dunes, and stops at Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French, and hotel pickup in Fes is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Ziz Valley

• Pickup from hotel in Fes
• Travel through Middle Atlas Mountains
• Stop in Ifrane and Azrou cedar forest
• Lunch break in Midelt
• Drive through Ziz Valley with viewpoint stop
• Continue via Erfoud to Merzouga
• Welcome with traditional mint tea
• Camel ride at sunset to desert camp
• Dinner and Berber music at camp
• Overnight under Sahara stars

Day 2: Desert Activities and Relaxation

• Sunrise over Sahara
• Breakfast at desert camp
• 4x4 desert tour visiting Berber families and Khamlia
• Sandboarding on dunes
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Relax at hotel or guided dune walk
• Optional quad biking adventure
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorges

• Breakfast at hotel
• Pickup from hotel
• Travel through Erfoud, Jorf, Tinjdad
• Explore Todra Gorges in Tinghir
• Lunch in Tinghir or on road
• Drive through Dades Valley and Rose Valley
• Arrive at hotel in Ouarzazate
• Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate

Day 4: Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou to Marrakech

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit cinema studios
• Explore Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou
• Lunch at Kasbah
• Cross High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n Tichka pass
• Arrive and drop off in Marrakech

The experience

The route starts with a pickup from your Fes hotel or riad, then climbs through the Middle Atlas toward Ifrane, the cedar forest at Azrou where Barbary macaques live, and down into the Ziz Valley with its palm groves and ancient kasbahs. You'll stop at a panoramic viewpoint before reaching Merzouga, where a camel caravan waits for a sunset ride across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to a desert camp. That night you sleep under the stars with Berber music and a campfire.

Day two stays in the Sahara. You wake early to watch the sunrise, then choose how to spend the day: a 4x4 tour visiting nomadic Berber families and the village of Khamlia, sandboarding down the dunes, a guided walk, or quad biking for those wanting more speed. You return to your hotel in Merzouga for lunch and the afternoon.

On day three, the route turns west toward Todra Gorge, a narrow canyon carved through red rock that you'll explore after breakfast. The drive passes through Erfoud and Tinghir before reaching the gorge, then continues through the Rose Valley and Skoura to Ouarzazate, where you stay the night. The final day takes you to the cinema studios, then to Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified kasbah and UNESCO site where you'll have lunch, before crossing the High Atlas and the Tizi n Tichka pass to Marrakech.

What’s included

• The tour includes three nights of accommodation in a standard or luxury tent (your choice at checkout).
• a camel ride at sunset across the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• hotel pickup in Fes.
• and a live guide in English, Spanish or French.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard tentGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30The tent has no bathroom inside, but the hotel has one. Camel ride to the camp in the sands of Erg Chebbi, plus sandboarding, with sunrise and sunset viewing. Luxury service. Duration: 4 days, with 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts. Route from Fez via Merzouga and Ouarzazate to Marrakech. Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan or minibus for up to 17 passengers. Pickup is included.

Luxury tentGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Private luxury tent with its own bathroom inside, camel ride and sandboarding, luxury service. Duration: 4 days, from Fes through Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) and Ouarzazate to Marrakech, with 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts. The four days are packed with excitement, suspense, fun and visits to many famous tourist sites. Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan or minibus for up to 17 passengers. Pickup is included.

Private tourGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Camp plus 2 hotels, with camel riding and sandboarding and luxury service. Duration: 4 days, with 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Four days from Fes to Marrakech by small car or bus. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 114

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Desert Smile Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour option if you want the flexibility to set your own pace and skip activities. The standard tent keeps costs lower, while the luxury tent adds comfort on desert nights. The fixed four-day route means you'll see Todra Gorge, Aït Ben Haddou and the Sahara in one journey, but the second day in Merzouga lets you pick which activities suit your energy and interests.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What's included in the 4-day tour from Fes?

The tour includes three nights of accommodation, a camel ride at sunset across Erg Chebbi dunes, hotel pickup in Fes, and a guide in English, Spanish or French. Lunch and drinks are not included, nor are optional activities like quad biking or sandboarding.

Do I ride a camel on this tour?

Yes. On day one, after arriving in Merzouga, you'll ride a camel across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi at sunset to reach your desert camp.

What is Todra Gorge and when do we see it?

Todra Gorge is a dramatic canyon carved through red rock near Tinghir. You'll explore it on day three after breakfast, on the drive from Merzouga toward Ouarzazate.

What happens on the second day in Merzouga?

Day two is flexible. After watching the sunrise, you can choose a 4x4 desert tour to visit Berber families and fossil sites, try sandboarding down the dunes, take a guided walk, or go quad biking. Lunch is at a local restaurant, and you can relax at your hotel in the afternoon.

Is Aït Ben Haddou included in this tour?

Yes. On the final day, you'll visit Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah that has appeared in many films, and have lunch there before driving to Marrakech.