Fes to Marrakech Desert Trip with Camel Ride & Luxury Camp

Summary

Private 3-Day Morocco Desert Journey via Ait Benhaddou

Travel from Fes to Marrakech across Morocco’s shifting landscapes: sip mint tea in cedar forests, ride camels through Merzouga’s dunes with a local guide, sleep under stars in a luxury camp, and wander ancient kasbahs like Ait Benhaddou. With private transport and authentic meals included, you’ll collect moments you’ll remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We rolled out of Fes just after sunrise, the city still yawning and quiet behind us. Our driver, Youssef, had this calm way of pointing out things as we passed — like the snowy rooftops in Ifrane (he called it “Moroccan Switzerland,” which made me laugh because I never thought of snow here). The air got colder as we climbed into the cedar forests near Azrou. We stopped for mint tea and watched a couple of monkeys squabble over orange peels. I tried to snap a picture but they were too quick for me — or maybe I was just slow after the long drive.

By the time we reached Midelt for lunch, my legs were stiff but the tagine was worth it. Fossils everywhere in that town — even the café tables had little ammonites pressed into them. The road stretched on toward Merzouga, and suddenly everything turned gold and flat. There was this moment stepping off the van when the desert heat hit me all at once, dry and sharp, but then someone handed me sweet mint tea and it felt like a small ceremony. The camel ride into the dunes was quieter than I expected; you mostly hear your own breathing and that soft crunch of sand under hooves. Our guide, Hassan, sang something low while we watched the sun drop behind those huge orange waves. Dinner at camp tasted smoky from the fire — I still think about that bread they baked right in the sand.

I woke up before dawn because someone whispered “sunrise” outside my tent (I think it was Hassan again). The cold bit at my fingers but I didn’t care — standing on top of a dune with everyone half-awake, watching pink light spill over Merzouga’s sand, is one of those memories that sticks around longer than you expect. After breakfast (eggs somehow fluffy even out here), we rode back by camel and piled into the van again. The drive through Todra Valley was all palm trees and old mud-brick villages clinging to cliffs; Youssef told stories about his grandmother picking dates there as a girl.

The last day felt like a blur: kasbahs rising up like sandcastles along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, stopping at Ait Benhaddou where some local kids tried to sell us painted stones (“Game of Thrones! Gladiator!” they shouted). Climbing up to see the view from the granary left me winded but happy. Crossing Tizi-n’Tichka Pass back toward Marrakech, clouds curled around mountain peaks and every village seemed to have its own color — red walls here, blue doors there. We got dropped off at our riad just as evening call to prayer echoed through the city. Still not sure if I’ve shaken all that desert sand out of my shoes yet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fes to Merzouga Desert

• Pick-up and drive from Fes
• Pass by Ifrane village
• Stop at Azrou for Berber monkeys
• Lunch in Midelt
• Camel ride to desert camp and sunset

Day 2 — Merzouga to Dades Gorge

• Sunrise over dunes and breakfast
• Drive through Anti-Atlas and Draa Valley
• Sunset in Atlas Mountains and hotel check-in

Day 3 — Dades Valley to Marrakech

• Drive to Ouarzazate via Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
• Visit Ait Benhaddou ksar
• Drive through Tizi-n-Tichka pass to Marrakech
• Drop off at hotel or riad in Marrakech

Top questions

How long does the Fes to Marrakech desert trip take?

The trip lasts three days and two nights from Fes to Marrakech.

Is hotel pickup included in this private desert trip?

Yes, pickup from your hotel or riad in Fes is included.

Will I get to ride a camel in Merzouga?

Yes, there is a guided camel ride across the dunes at Merzouga included.

Where do we sleep during this tour?

You spend one night in a luxury desert camp near Merzouga and another night in a 4-5 star hotel or riad in Dades Gorges.

Are meals provided on this trip?

A lunch is included on the first day; other meals are provided at your accommodations.

Do we visit Ait Benhaddou on this route?

Yes, there is a stop at Ait Benhaddou with time to explore this UNESCO site.

Is this tour suitable for families or older travelers?

The trip is suitable for all physical fitness levels; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What kind of vehicle is used for transportation?

An air-conditioned private vehicle is used throughout the journey.

What’s included

Your journey includes private air-conditioned transport with hotel pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech, two nights’ accommodation (one night in a luxury desert camp near Merzouga with dinner under the stars and one night at a 4-5 star hotel or riad in Dades Gorges), an included lunch on day one, guided camel ride across Erg Chebbi dunes with local guides sharing stories along the way, plus plenty of mint tea stops before returning comfortably each evening.