3-Day Desert Tour from Fez to Marrakech: Camel Trek & Sahara Camp

Cross the Sahara by camel and sleep under desert stars, then drive through mountain passes and kasbahs to Marrakech.

A 3-day desert tour departing from Fez that crosses the Sahara to Marrakech, with overnight stays in an Erg Chebbi desert camp and a hotel in Ouarzazate. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle through the Middle Atlas, trek by camel across the dunes at sunset and sunrise, walk the Todra Gorges and Dadès Valley, visit the Kasbah of Taourirt and Ait Ben Haddou, and cross the High Atlas via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Hotel pickup and a professional English-speaking driver are included. Accommodation options range from shared to luxury tents and private rooms depending on the package you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fez to Merzouga Desert

• Pick up from accommodation at 8:00
• Drive through Ifrane, Azrou, Middle Atlas
• Lunch break in Midelt
• Visit Ziz gorges and Palm oasis
• Relax with mint tea at traditional Kasbah
• Camel trek across sandy dunes
• Overnight in Erg Chebbi Desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga to Ouarzazate

• Early sunrise camel ride
• Return to hotel for shower and rest
• Drive through Rissani, Erfoud, Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
• Lunch and walk in Todra Gorges
• Visit Dadès Valley escarpments
• Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate hotel

Day 3: Ouarzazate to Marrakech

• Visit Kasbah of Taourirt and Atlas Studios
• Lunch and visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Drive through High Atlas and Tizi-n-Tichka pass
• Arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon

The experience

You start with a pickup from your Fez accommodation at 8 a.m., heading southeast through the Middle Atlas toward Merzouga. The route passes Ifrane, the cedar forest of Azrou, and jagged rock faces of the middle mountains before a lunch break in Midelt. By afternoon you'll see the Ziz gorges and palm oasis open up ahead. Upon arrival in Merzouga, you have a stop for mint tea at a traditional kasbah, then mount a camel for a one-hour trek across the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi. You reach the desert camp as the light fades and spend the night there under the stars.

Day two begins early so you can watch the sunrise from the dunes before returning by camel to the hotel for a shower and rest. The drive to Ouarzazate takes you through Rissani and Erfoud along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. You stop to walk the Todra Gorges and explore the Dadès Valley, passing dramatic escarpments and changing landscapes, then arrive in Ouarzazate for dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.

On the final day you tour Ouarzazate itself, including the Kasbah of Taourirt and the Atlas Studios movie studios. A lunch break at Ait Ben Haddou gives you time to explore that famous kasbah before the drive continues through the High Atlas and over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, passing small villages, waterfalls and shifting mountain colors. You reach Marrakech in the afternoon, ending the tour at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Fez.
• two nights' accommodation (one in an Erg Chebbi desert camp, one in a hotel in Ouarzazate).
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
• professional driver who speaks English.
• camel trekking at sunset and sunrise on day one.

Options for this experience

4 options

Group tour with a shared tent or roomGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Shared tent or room for up to 4 people: first night at a desert camp; second night at La Perle Du Sud (or similar). Duration: 3 days, with 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts. Pickup is included.

Group tour with a private tent or roomGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Private standard tent or room: first night in a private standard tent with an ensuite bathroom; second night at Hotel La Perle Du Sud (or similar) in Ouarzazate. Camel ride over the sand dunes; sandboarding is available free on request. Shared group tour with private accommodations. Duration: 3 days. Dinner and breakfast: 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts (vegetarian option available). Route from Fes to Marrakech: day 1 from Fez to Merzouga; day 2 from Merzouga to Ouarzazate; day 3 from Ouarzazate to Marrakech. Air-conditioned minibus. Hotel pickup and drop-off; pickup is included.

Group Tour-Luxury Tent&3*HotelGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Luxury tent and hotel: first night in a luxury air-conditioned tent; second night at Hotel La Perle du Sud (or similar). The tour is shared, but the accommodation is private. Duration: 3 days, and you can add a day or more, as the tour is customized. Dinner and breakfast: 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. Fes to Marrakech route: day 1 from Fez to Merzouga; day 2 from Merzouga to Ouarzazate; day 3 from Ouarzazate to Marrakech. Comfortable air-conditioned minibus. Hotel pickup and drop-off, with the details confirmed via WhatsApp or email; pickup is included.

Group tour with a luxury tent and hotelGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Luxury accommodations: first night in a luxury tent with an ensuite bathroom and air conditioning; second night at Ksar Ben Youssef (or similar). Group tour lasting 3 days. Dinner and breakfast: 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts (vegetarian option available). Minibus with a professional driver. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00 and 07:30, from US$ 148 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

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

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by 3t Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the package that fits your accommodation preference: shared tents or rooms cost less, while private tents or luxury tent-and-hotel combinations offer more space and comfort across the three days. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you don't arrange the route, the camel trek timing, or the desert camp logistics yourself. Everything is coordinated so the three days hold together as a single journey.

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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 (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the camel trekking like on this desert tour from Fez?

The camel trek happens on the first evening in Merzouga, lasting about one hour across the dunes of Erg Chebbi. You ride out as the light fades and arrive at the desert camp where you spend the night.

Where do I sleep on the 3-day Fez to Marrakech desert tour?

You spend the first night in an Erg Chebbi desert camp in the middle of the Sahara. The second night is in a hotel in Ouarzazate. Accommodation options vary by package. You can choose between shared tents or rooms, private tents, or luxury tent and hotel combinations.

Does this tour include meals?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with two nights' accommodation and an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking driver. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so you'll pay separately at stops in Midelt, the Todra Gorges area, and Ait Ben Haddou.

What towns and sites do we visit between Merzouga and Marrakech?

After the desert camp, you travel through Rissani, Erfoud, the Todra Gorges, and the Dadès Valley on day two. On day three you visit the Kasbah of Taourirt and Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, explore Ait Ben Haddou, cross the High Atlas mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, and arrive in Marrakech.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour involves camel trekking for about an hour and walking at several stops including the Todra Gorges, Dadès Valley, and Ait Ben Haddou. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.