Marrakech to Fez via Merzouga: 3-day Sahara tour

Cross the Atlas, walk a UNESCO kasbah, ride camels into the Sahara, and sleep under stars in a Berber tent.

This 3-day guided tour travels from Marrakech to Fez through Morocco's high passes, desert oases and mountain valleys, with stops at the UNESCO Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the Todra Gorges, and a camel trek into Merzouga's Erg Chebbi dunes where you spend a night in a traditional Berber camp. The itinerary is fixed—transport, accommodation and timing are arranged—so the route holds together without building it yourself. Children from age 3 are welcome; a local guide leads the Kasbah visit (guide fees separate).

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Tinghir via Atlas Mountains

• Pickup from Marrakech hotel
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Stop for photos and coffee
• Cross Tizi Ntichka pass
• Explore Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
• Drive past Ouarzazate and Rose Valley
• Arrive and relax in Tinghir
• Dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 2 — Tinghir to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast in Tinghir
• Drive through Todra Gorges and Berber villages
• Arrive in Merzouga
• Pack overnight bag for camel trek
• Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes
• Watch sunset on dunes
• Overnight in Berber nomad tents

Day 3 — Merzouga to Fes via Middle Atlas

• Sunrise camel trek
• Breakfast at camp
• Drive through Ziz Valley to Errachidia
• Stop for lunch in Midelt
• Drive via Ifran and cedar forests
• Spot Barbary apes
• Arrive and drop off in Fes

The Experience

The tour leaves Marrakech early on Day 1, climbing through the High Atlas to the Tizi N'Tichka Pass, the highest road in North Africa. You'll stop for photos and a coffee break before reaching the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a walled Berber fortress and UNESCO site where you spend about 2.5 hours exploring the maze of stalls and clay buildings—the same location used for filming Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Kingdom of Heaven. From there the route continues east through Ouarzazate, the Skoura Oasis, and the Dades Valley, arriving at your hotel in Tinghir late in the afternoon.

Day 2 takes you deeper into the desert. After breakfast you drive through Berber villages and the Todra Gorges toward Merzouga, where the landscape opens into the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You'll pack a small bag, mount a camel, and trek across the dunes to a traditional Berber camp. After watching the sunset from the highest dunes, you spend the night in a nomadic tent under the stars, listening to drum music in the middle of the Sahara.

The final day starts before dawn. You ride back across the dunes to catch the sunrise, then begin the drive north toward Fez. The route crosses the Ziz Valley through Errachidia and stops in Midelt for lunch. As you climb back into the Middle Atlas, you'll pass through Ifran and its cedar forests—a region known for Barbary apes and winter skiing—before arriving in Fez late in the afternoon. Your accommodation is arranged for both nights: a private room in a hotel or riad in Tinghir, and a private tent in the desert camp.

What’s included

• Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle from Marrakech to Fez.
• a private room for one night in a hotel or riad in Tinghir.
• a private tent for one night in a traditional Berber desert camp in Merzouga.
• camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes with sunset and sunrise rides.
• breakfast at both accommodations.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Desert Family Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the major sights between Marrakech and Fez—the mountain passes, the UNESCO kasbah, the desert dunes—without arranging transport, hotels or timing yourself. The fixed itinerary and included accommodation mean the route holds together across three days, and the camel trek and night under stars in a Berber tent are the moments most travelers come for.

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Top questions

What is the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and how long do we spend there?

The Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed walled Berber fortress built of clay and stone, famous as a filming location for major films including Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. You spend approximately 2.5 hours exploring the site on Day 1 with a local guide (guide fees are paid separately).

Do we actually ride camels, and where does that happen?

Yes, on Day 2 you trek by camel across the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in Merzouga. You ride out to a traditional Berber camp, climb to the highest dunes to watch the sunset, then return to the camp for the night. On Day 3 you ride back across the dunes at sunrise before driving toward Fez.

What is the Berber camp like, and what do we sleep in?

The Berber camp is a traditional nomadic settlement in the Sahara where you spend your second night in a private tent. You'll listen to drum music and sleep under the stars; the camp provides basic but authentic desert accommodation.

How much driving is there, and what are the main stops along the way?

This is a driving tour across three days. Day 1 covers Marrakech to Tinghir via the Tizi N'Tichka Pass and Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. Day 2 goes from Tinghir through the Todra Gorges and Berber villages to Merzouga. Day 3 returns north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt, and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fez.

Are meals included, and what about water and snacks during the day?

Accommodation and transport are included, but lunches and drinks are not covered—you'll purchase meals along the way. Breakfast is provided at your hotel and desert camp each morning.

Can children go on this tour, and is it physically demanding?

Children from age 3 are welcome. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it involves long days of driving, camel riding, and walking on sand dunes. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.