3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech: Merzouga Camel Trek

Ride into the Sahara at sunset, wake to the desert sunrise, and cross three days without planning the logistics.

A three-day guided tour from Fes to Marrakech through the Merzouga Sahara, with camel treks, a night in a traditional Berber desert encampment and a hotel stay in Ouarzazate. The route includes Ifrane, the Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorges, Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and the Skoura Palm Groves. Hotel pickup is included, a live guide speaks your language, and breakfast and dinner are provided on days one and two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Atlas Mountains to Desert Camp

• Pick up from hotel at 7:30 AM
• Visit Ifrane town
• Explore cedar forests and see Barbary Macaques
• Lunch break in Midelt
• Visit Ziz Valley oasis
• Camel trek into desert
• Watch desert sunset
• Overnight at Berber desert camp with dinner and music

Day 2 — Desert Sunrise and Gorge Exploration

• Watch desert sunrise
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Camel ride back to Merzouga
• Visit Rissani market
• Explore Erfoud fossil workshops
• Visit Todra Gorges
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Travel to Dades Valley
• See "monkey fingers" rock formation
• Dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 3 — Kasbahs and Atlas Mountains to Marrakech

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Rose Valley in Kalaa Magouna
• Drive through Skoura Palm Groves
• Visit Ouarzazate movie studios
• Explore Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Drive through Tizi-N-Tichka pass and High Atlas Mountains
• Lunch and photo stops
• Arrive in Marrakech and end tour

The Experience

The tour starts with a 7:30 AM pickup from your hotel or riad in Fes. You'll drive through the Middle Atlas mountains toward the Sahara, passing through Ifrane—a French-built alpine town known for its chalets and the Barbary Macaques that live in the cedar forests nearby. The road climbs through forested peaks and mountain streams before reaching Midelt for a lunch break, then descends into the Ziz Valley, a ribbon of date palms along the river that marks the edge of the desert.

On day one, you trade the vehicle for a camel at the edge of the dunes. The trek takes you across the shifting sands toward a traditional Berber encampment, timed so you arrive as the light changes across the desert. You'll spend the night in a tent at the camp, with dinner and traditional Berber music under the stars. The next morning, you ride camels back to Merzouga at sunrise, have breakfast, and rejoin the driver for the journey south. The day includes stops at Rissani's souk, a fossil workshop in Erfoud, and the Todra Gorges—a canyon carved by the river where the walls rise sheer on both sides. You'll overnight at a hotel in the Dades Valley after seeing the "monkey fingers" rock formation near Boumalne Dades.

Day three takes you west through the Rose Valley near Kalaa Magouna, the Skoura Palm Groves, and Ouarzazate, where you can visit the film studios. The route then climbs to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed kasbah built into a hillside with earthen walls—the same fortress used in dozens of films. From there, you cross the Tizi-N-Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains with stops for photos and lunch, arriving in Marrakech by evening. The whole route is covered in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or two other languages depending on your booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fes.
• camel rides in the Merzouga Sahara.
• one night in a traditional Berber desert tent (luxury or standard, depending on your option).
• one night in a hotel in Ouarzazate.
• breakfast and dinner on days one and two.
• sandboarding in the dunes.
• an air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• and a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Desert Life Tours

Is this one for you?Book the Luxury or Premium option if you want a more comfortable tent and want the camel trek to be the centerpiece without worrying about vehicle logistics or which stops matter most. Choose the Shared Standard option if you're comfortable with a basic tent setup and want to travel with other small groups at a lower price—the route and the camel experience are the same.

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Top questions

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

The tour includes hotel pickup in Fes, camel rides in Merzouga, one night in a traditional Berber desert tent and one night in a hotel in Ouarzazate, breakfast and dinner on days one and two, an air-conditioned vehicle, a live guide, and sandboarding in the dunes. Lunch is not included and you arrange it at local restaurants during the stops.

Do I need experience to ride a camel, or is this for first-timers?

The camel trek is suitable for all physical fitness levels. No prior experience is needed—the guide will show you how to mount and ride. The trek takes you from the edge of the desert to the Berber encampment at a pace that works for the group.

What happens if I arrive in Fes late or need to leave Marrakech early?

The tour departs at 7:30 AM from your hotel or riad in Fes, so you'll need to arrive the night before. The tour ends in Marrakech by evening on day three. If your flight times don't align, you can arrange a separate transfer or stay an extra night in either city.

What's the Berber desert camp like, and will I be comfortable sleeping there?

The Berber encampment is a traditional setup with tents in the dunes. You can choose between a luxury tent or a standard tent depending on which tour option you book at checkout. Both include dinner, breakfast the next morning, and traditional music in the evening. The camp has basic facilities and the night is part of the authentic desert experience.

Which towns and landmarks will I actually see on this route?

You'll pass through Ifrane and its cedar forests, drive the Atlas Mountains, stop at the Ziz Valley oasis, ride camels in Merzouga, visit Rissani's market and Erfoud's fossil workshops, trek through the Todra Gorges, see the Dades Valley's rock formations, cross the Rose Valley, drive the Skoura Palm Groves, tour Ouarzazate's film studios, and visit the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah before crossing the Tizi-N-Tichka pass to Marrakech.

Can I book this tour if I'm traveling with young children or need wheelchair access?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller in the vehicle. Specialized infant seats are available. Service animals are allowed. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, though the camel ride itself depends on individual mobility—discuss your needs when booking so the operator can advise on the best option for your group.