Fes to Marrakech 3-day Sahara tour: camel ride & desert camp

You cross Morocco in three days without backtracking to your starting point.

A 3-day guided tour from Fes to Marrakech that crosses the Sahara with a sunset camel ride and overnight stay in a desert camp near Merzouga. The route includes the Middle Atlas Mountains, Todra Gorges, Dades Gorges, and the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, with an English-speaking driver and hotel pickup in Fes. Two nights of accommodation with dinner and breakfast are included; you choose between standard or deluxe tent options for the desert camp.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fes to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Early breakfast in Fes
• Drive through Ifrane ski resort
• Traverse Azrou cedar forest, spot monkeys
• Drive through Middle Atlas Mountains
• Lunch stop in Midelt
• Cross Ziz River, pass palm trees and Kasbahs
• Admire palm tree oasis view
• Arrive Merzouga, meet camels and guide
• 1-hour camel ride at sunset
• Overnight in Berber desert camp

Day 2 — Merzouga to Dades Gorges

• Sunrise camel ride to camp lodge
• Early breakfast at camp lodge
• Visit Todra Gorges and walk in valley
• Drive through Thousand Kasbah and Roses Valley
• Overnight in Dades Gorges accommodation

Day 3 — Dades to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

• Breakfast in Dades
• Drive through Valley of the Roses to Kalaa Mgouna
• Photography stop at Atlas Studios
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Drive across Atlas Mountains via Tizi N'Tichka pass
• Arrive in Marrakech, drop-off at accommodation

The Experience

You start early from your Fes hotel — 7 a.m. in winter, 8 a.m. in summer — and spend the first day driving south through the cedar forests of Azrou, where you might spot monkeys, then across the winding Middle Atlas Mountains toward the Sahara. The route passes through Ifrane, a French-built ski resort from the 1930s, and includes a lunch stop in Midelt before you descend into palm valleys and reach Merzouga by afternoon. After mint tea and an introduction to your camels, you ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi for an hour at sunset, then spend the night in a traditional Berber tent at the desert camp with shared bathrooms.

Day two starts with a sunrise camel ride back to the camp lodge for breakfast, then you drive north to Todra Gorges for a walk through the valley before heading to Dades Gorges. The route follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Rose Valley, and you overnight in a private ensuite room with dinner and breakfast included. On the final day, you leave Dades through the Valley of the Roses, stop at Atlas Studios for photos, visit the UNESCO World Heritage kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, and cross the Tizi N'Tichka Pass — the highest pass in North Africa — before arriving in Marrakech in the early evening.

The tour is built for travelers short on time who want a complete Sahara crossing without a return journey. You travel in an air-conditioned 4×4 or van with an English-speaking driver and guide; if you prefer not to ride camels to the desert camp, a 4×4 option gets you there instead. The second night's accommodation can be upgraded to a deluxe tent, and all transport, the camel ride, two nights' lodging with meals, and hotel pickup and drop-off are arranged — you only need to budget for lunch on the road.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech.
• air-conditioned 4×4 or van with English-speaking driver and guide.
• sunset camel ride across Erg Chebbi.
• two nights' accommodation with dinner and breakfast (first night in a desert camp tent, second night in a private ensuite room).
• sunrise camel ride on day two.
• stops at Todra Gorges, Dades Gorges, Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, and Tizi N'Tichka Pass.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Morocco Destinations

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Fes and leaving from Marrakech, or if you want to cross Morocco without retracing your route. The fixed three-day schedule and one-way routing mean you don't backtrack, and the camel ride and desert camp overnight are included — you just need to budget for lunch stops along the way.

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Top questions

What's the camel ride actually like on this tour?

The sunset camel ride lasts about an hour across the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga on day one. You ride to the desert camp where you'll spend the night in a Berber tent; if you'd rather not ride, the tour offers a 4×4 option to reach the camp instead.

How much driving is there each day?

Day one covers 467 kilometers from Fes to Merzouga with stops for scenery and lunch. Day two is 255 kilometers from Merzouga to Dades Gorges. Day three is 315 kilometers from Dades through Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech, arriving in the early evening.

What's included in the accommodation?

The first night is in a private tent at the Merzouga desert camp with shared bathrooms. The second night is in a private ensuite room at Dades Gorges or a nearby location, with dinner and breakfast both nights included. You can upgrade to a deluxe tent option for the desert camp.

Do I need to arrange my own lunch?

Lunch on the road is not included in the tour price, so you'll stop at towns like Midelt where you can buy food. Breakfast and dinner are provided at both overnight locations.

What time does the tour start and end?

Hotel pickup in Fes is at 7 a.m. in winter or 8 a.m. in summer on day one. The tour ends in Marrakech on day three in the early evening, with drop-off at your hotel or the nearest accessible location.

Is this tour suitable for people who aren't very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The camel ride lasts an hour, but if riding isn't comfortable for you, the 4×4 option gets you to the desert camp instead. Most of the experience is driving and walking at your own pace.