Fez to Marrakech: 3-Day Desert Tour & Ait Ben Haddou

Three Days Crossing Morocco: From Cedar Forests to Sahara Sand

You travel by private vehicle from Fez through the Middle Atlas and Sahara to Marrakech over three days, riding camels at sunrise and sunset in Merzouga, sleeping one night in a desert camp and one in a hotel, visiting Todra Gorge and the UNESCO kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou, and crossing the High Atlas at 2,260 meters. All transport, meals, accommodation and activities are arranged. You show up and move through the landscape.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Depart from Fes in morning
• Visit Ifrane city
• Explore Cedar Forest near Azrou
• See Berber Apes
• Lunch break in Midelt
• Drive through Ziz Valley palm oasis
• Watch sunset in Merzouga
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga sunrise and Todra Gorge visit

• Wake early for desert sunrise
• Camel ride back to hotel
• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Tinghir and Todra Gorge
• Arrive in Ouarzazate
• Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate

Day 3: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Kasbah

• Breakfast in Ouarzazate
• Drive to Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Tour UNESCO Kasbah site
• Visit Kasbah Taourirt
• Cross High Atlas Mountains via Tizi nTichka pass
• Stop at argan oil cooperative
• Arrive in Marrakech late afternoon

The experience

You start in Fez, a city of tight medinas and centuries-old walls. By day three, you're standing in front of Ait Ben Haddou, the largest kasbah in Morocco, watching the light change on its clay walls. The 3-day desert tour from Fez to Marrakech moves fast (it has to, to fit the Middle Atlas, the Sahara, and the High Atlas into seventy-two hours), but it doesn't feel rushed because each stop is the reason you came. On day one, the drive takes you through Ifrane (the stone chalets and red tile roofs catch most people off guard), then into the Cedar Forest where Berber apes cross the road without hurrying, then down into the Ziz Valley, where the largest palm oasis in the country spreads out below you. By late afternoon you're in Merzouga, watching the dunes turn gold at sunset before spending the night in a luxury desert camp.

The second day starts before dawn. You ride a camel out to watch the sun come up over the dunes (it's the kind of moment that justifies the early wake-up), then return for breakfast and head toward Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls rise so close you can almost touch both sides from the road. After that, it's a long drive to Ouarzazate, where you sleep in a hotel and eat dinner without sand in it. Your guide will tell you this is the Hollywood of Africa. They film here because the light is that good and the landscape that empty.

Day three is the payoff. You leave Ouarzazate after breakfast and drive toward Ait Ben Haddou, stopping for lunch at the kasbah itself: a UNESCO World Heritage site that looks like it was built yesterday and abandoned a hundred years ago. After you walk through it, the route climbs into the High Atlas, crossing the Tizi nTichka pass at 2,260 meters. There's a stop at an argan oil cooperative (the women who work there will show you how they press it by hand), and then the road descends into Marrakech, where you arrive late afternoon. Transportation, the camel rides, both nights' accommodation with breakfast and dinner, and sandboarding in the dunes are all included. You don't arrange any of it yourself.

What’s included

• Your three days include private vehicle transport from Fez to Marrakech, one night in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga with breakfast and dinner, one night in a hotel in Ouarzazate with breakfast and dinner, camel rides at sunrise and sunset, sandboarding in the dunes, entry to Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, a visit to an argan oil cooperative, and a stop at the Todra Gorge. Hotel pickup in Fez is arranged.
• you return to Marrakech in the late afternoon on day three.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 17.04

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marrakech Camel Trips - Day Trips

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cross Morocco's main landscapes (mountains, desert, kasbah, high passes) in one trip without planning transport, meals or camp logistics yourself. The fixed itinerary and private vehicle mean you move at a steady pace and don't waste time deciding what comes next.

Traveler reviews

4.91★★★★★★★★★★

114 verified traveler reviews

5 ★109

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic.

How long is the drive each day?

Day one is roughly 8–9 hours from Fez to Merzouga. Day two is 6–7 hours to Ouarzazate. Day three is 5–6 hours to Marrakech.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation, two nights' accommodation (one desert camp, one hotel), breakfast and dinner both nights, camel rides, sandboarding, and all entrance fees.

What kind of desert camp is it?

The tour uses either Camel Trips Luxury Camp or Milagro Luxury Camp in Merzouga, both equipped for comfort.

Do I need experience riding camels?

No. The rides are short and at a walking pace. The camel handlers manage everything.

Is there a guide with me the whole time?

Yes, a private guide travels with you for all three days.

Can I do this with children?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What if I have mobility concerns?

The tour involves walking through the kasbah and moderate activity. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, but is suitable for most fitness levels.

When do we see the sunrise and sunset?

Sunset is on day one in Merzouga before you reach the camp. Sunrise is day two, when you ride out on camel before breakfast.