Fes to Marrakech 3-Day Desert Tour: Camel Trek & Film Studios

You spend a night in a Berber tent in the Sahara, not just passing through it.

A 3-day guided tour from Fes to Marrakech crossing the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara, with a professional driver-guide, camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes, and two nights' accommodation in a luxury desert camp and hotel. The route includes Ifrane's French-built ski village, cedar forests where you see monkeys, the Todra Gorge, Kasbah Taourirt, and the Atlas Film Studios.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert Experience

• Visit Ifrane ski resort
• Pass through Azrou cedar forest
• See monkeys in the forest
• Rest and drink mint tea
• Camel ride at sunset on dunes
• Arrive at desert camp
• Dinner and stargazing in camp

Day 2: Merzouga to Dades Valley

• Visit Rissani historical kasbahs
• Explore Rissani market
• Walk through Todra Gorge

Day 3: Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Visit Kasbah Taourirt
• Stop at Atlas Film Studios
• Visit UNESCO Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou

The experience

The first day takes you from Fes south through Ifrane, a 1930s French ski resort built to look like a Swiss village in the middle of Morocco, then into the cedars of Azrou where Barbary macaques live in the trees. By afternoon you reach Merzouga at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. A guide and camels are waiting. You ride across the sand to watch the sunset, then arrive at a luxury desert camp where mint tea is served and dinner follows. You sleep in a Berber tent under the stars.

Day two starts in Merzouga and moves west through Rissani, the first capital of the Alaouite dynasty, where you visit historical kasbahs and the famous market. The route then passes through the Todra Gorge, a narrow canyon carved by the river, before you reach the hotel for the night in Dades or Ouarzazate.

The final day heads toward Marrakech, stopping at Kasbah Taourirt, a fortress built by the Glaoui family, then at the Atlas Film Studios, known as the world's largest film studio complex. You finish at Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO-listed kasbah where films such as Gladiator, Babel and Lawrence of Arabia were shot, before the drive concludes in Marrakech. Throughout the tour, a professional driver-guide handles navigation and commentary. You travel in a luxury air-conditioned SUV or minivan.

What’s included

• Professional driver-guide in English, Spanish or French.
• transportation in a luxury air-conditioned SUV or minivan.
• camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
• two nights' accommodation in a luxury desert camp tent and a hotel.
• mint tea and dinner at the desert camp.
• visits to Ifrane, Azrou cedar forest, Rissani market and kasbahs, the Todra Gorge, Kasbah Taourirt and Ait Benhaddou, plus a stop at Atlas Film Studios.

Options for this experience

2 options

Desert excursion to Marrakech from Fes over 3 days and 2 nightsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30 and 08:00Includes pickup

Small Group VIPGuide in English, Spanish or French · 08:00Overnight stay at Xaluca Dades Riad Bahmmou or similar. Local guides in Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and Rissani. VIP small group tour lasting 3 days. Dinner and breakfast: two dinners and two breakfasts. From Fes to Marrakech via Ifran, Midelt, Rissani, Tinghir, Dades Gorge, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou. Comfortable minibus or minivan with a professional driver who speaks English. Hotel pickup and drop-off 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 07:30 and 08:00, from US$ 490 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

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

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

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 3 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Luxury Holidays Morocco

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to sleep in the Sahara rather than drive through it in a day, and if having a guide handle the route, timing and camp logistics lets you focus on the landscape and the stops instead of navigation.

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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 (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

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 ride actually like on this tour?

The camel ride crosses the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset on day one, starting from Merzouga and ending at the desert camp where you spend the night.

Where do I sleep on the 3-day tour from Fes?

Night one is in a luxury Berber tent at the desert camp in Merzouga. Night two is in a hotel in Dades, Ouarzazate or a similar-quality property in that region. Both are included in the tour price.

Does the tour stop at Atlas Film Studios?

Yes, Atlas Film Studios is a stop on day three as you travel from Dades toward Marrakech. It's known as the world's largest film studio.

How fit do I need to be for the camel ride and walking?

You'll need a moderate level of fitness or better. The camel ride goes at a walking pace, and day two includes a walk through the Todra Gorge. It isn't a good fit for travelers with heart or circulatory problems.