Fez to Marrakech via Merzouga: 3-day desert & mountain tour

Cross Morocco's highest passes and deepest gorges in three days, sleeping in the Sahara.

A 3-day tour from Fez to Marrakech through the Atlas Mountains and Sahara desert, with camel trekking at Erg Chebbi, guided stops at Todra Gorge and the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, and overnight stays in a desert nomad camp and a valley guesthouse. Hotel pickup is included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French. Lunches and drinks are not included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert Dunes

• Pick up from Fes hotel or meeting point
• Drive through Ifrane ski resort
• Stop for lunch in Midelt
• Pass Azrou cedar forest and Berber villages
• Drive through Ziz valley palm oasis
• Arrive Merzouga and camel ride to desert camp
• Overnight in nomad tent at desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga to Dades Gorges

• Early breakfast and camel ride to camp lodge
• Drive from Merzouga to Dades Gorges
• Guided visit to Todra Gorges
• Photography stop in Boumalne Dades
• Visit Dades Roses Valley
• Drive along Kasbah road to Dades Valley
• Dinner and overnight in Dades Valley or Ouarzazate

Day 3: Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Drive along Valley of the Roses to Kalaa Mgouna
• Visit rosewater cooperative
• Drive past Skoura oasis to Ouarzazate
• Lunch and visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Photography stop at Tizi Ntichka Pass
• Pass Berber villages in Atlas Mountains
• Arrive in Marrakech and transfer to hotel

The experience

The tour leaves Fez at 8am and heads south through Ifrane, the French-built ski resort that locals call the Switzerland of Morocco, then climbs into the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. You'll stop for lunch in Midelt, a town built between two mountain chains and known for its fossils and apple production, before dropping into the Ziz valley, famous for date palms, and arriving at Merzouga by late afternoon. There you'll ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi sand dunes to watch the sunset, then spend the night in a nomadic desert camp.

Day two starts with an early breakfast and another camel ride back to the camp lodge, then a drive to Todra Gorge, where towering canyon walls rise on both sides of the road. You'll have time to walk and photograph the gorge before heading west to Dades Valley, stopping for pictures at Boumalne Dades along the way. Overnight is in a guesthouse in Kelaat Mgouna or Ouarzazate, depending on availability.

The final day takes you through the Valley of the Roses toward Ouarzazate, passing the date-palm oasis of Skoura. At Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou (a UNESCO World Heritage site that has stood in for various Hollywood film sets) you'll have lunch and a guided tour of the adobe fortress before the drive back to Fez begins. The route descends through the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass with a photography stop, passes through Berber villages built of stone and mud, and arrives in Marrakech by late afternoon. Your driver will drop you at your riad or hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fez.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all three days.
• camel trekking at Erg Chebbi dunes.
• overnight stays in a nomadic desert camp and a valley guesthouse.
• live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• visits to Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, and Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou with photography stops at Tizi-n'Tichka Pass and Boumalne Dades.

Options for this experience

3 options

Basic tent in the desert campGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Standard tent at the camp. Duration: 3 days. Pickup is included.

Recommended: deluxe tent with air conditioningGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Deluxe tent with air conditioning: the first night in a deluxe camp tent with a private bathroom and AC, the second night at Rose Garden Dades or a similar Superior-service property. Duration: 3 days. 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. Van or minivan. Pickup is included.

Superior Private TourGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Superior camp and hotel: the first night at Merzouga Luxury Camp or Madu Luxury Camp, the second night at Dades Paradise or Xaluca Dades. A 1-hour quad bike (ATV) ride, a 1-hour camel ride and sandboarding are included. Superior level. Duration: 3 days. 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. Private air-conditioned transportation: a private 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or a minivan. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Marrakech City Life

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling between Fes and Marrakech and want one continuous journey through mountains and desert rather than separate day trips, with camel trekking included and private vehicle transport.

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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 (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's included in the price for this Fez to Marrakech tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup in Fez, an air-conditioned vehicle for all three days, camel trekking at Erg Chebbi, and overnight accommodation in a desert camp and a valley guesthouse. Your guide is included and speaks English, Spanish or French. Lunches, drinks and the guided entry fee at Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou (2€ per person) are separate.

How long is the drive from Fez to Merzouga on the first day?

The first day's drive to Erg Chebbi sand dunes takes about 8 hours from Fez, with stops in Ifrane and Midelt for sightseeing and lunch along the way.

What happens on the second day after the camel ride at sunrise?

After breakfast and a camel ride back to the camp lodge, you'll drive to Todra Gorge for a guided visit and photographs, then continue west to Dades Valley with a stop at Boumalne Dades before reaching your overnight guesthouse.

Will I visit Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, and what is it?

Yes, Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou is a stop on day three. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of multiple adobe kasbahs packed together as a single fortified unit, and it has been used as a filming location for Hollywood movies and commercials. A guide is available for an additional fee.

Can I choose different accommodation options for the desert camp?

Yes, you can select from four options at checkout: Deluxe AC tent (recommended), Superior Private Tour, Standard Basic option, or Basic desert camp tent. Each offers different comfort levels for your night at Merzouga.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility needs?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Specialized infant seats are available, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Service animals are allowed.