3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour with camel trek

Camel trek across Erg Chebbi at sunset, then sunrise from the highest dunes

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Fes that crosses the High Atlas mountains, stops at the UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou, descends into Todra Gorges, and spends a night under Berber tents in the Merzouga desert with camel rides at both sunset and sunrise. The route includes two hotel nights, all transport, a professional driver-guide, and a choice of standard or luxury desert camp accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Tinghir via Ait Ben Haddou

• Pick up from accommodation at 7:00 AM
• Drive across Tizi-n-Tichka Atlas pass
• Visit traditional High Atlas Berber villages
• Visit UNESCO site Ait Benhaddou
• Have lunch at Ait Benhaddou
• Stop at supermarket in Ouarzazate
• Continue to Tinghir via Rose Valley
• Overnight in hotel in Tinghir

Day 2: Tinghir to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Erg Chebbi Sahara desert in Merzouga
• Pass through Todra Gorges, oasis, Tinjdad, Jorf, Erfoud
• Arrive at hotel in Merzouga and relax
• Pack small bag for desert night
• Ride camels across Erg Chebbi sand dunes
• Walk to highest sand dunes for sandboarding and sunset
• Overnight in Berber nomad desert camp with drum music

Day 3: Merzouga to Fes via Azrou and Ifrane

• Wake early to watch sunrise in dunes
• Ride camels back to Merzouga
• Breakfast and shower at camp
• Drive to Fes passing Rachidia, Midelt, and Azrou
• See monkeys in Azrou cedar forest
• Visit Ifrane and take pictures
• Arrive in Fes late afternoon
• Drop off at hotel or nearest riad

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Marrakech accommodation at 7am and heads south across the Tizi-n-Tichka Atlas pass, where the road opens onto far-reaching mountain views and traditional Berber villages scattered across the slopes. You stop at Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO World Heritage kasbah, for a guided visit and lunch, then continue through Ouarzazate to Tinghir, where you spend the first night in a hotel. The drive covers the Rose Valley en route, a landscape of pink-hued earth and almond groves.

Day two takes you deeper into the desert. After breakfast you head toward Merzouga, passing through Todra Gorges (a narrow canyon carved by the river), and the oasis towns of Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud, where the Sahara begins to dominate the landscape. In Merzouga you leave most of your luggage at the hotel, pack a small bag for the night, and mount a camel for the trek across Erg Chebbi's sand dunes. You ride to the highest point to watch the sunset, then walk the dunes for photos and sand boarding before settling into the Berber nomad camp for the night. The camp has drums and music under the stars.

The final morning starts before dawn so you can ride back across the dunes to catch the sunrise, then return to camp for breakfast and a shower. The drive to Fes takes you north through Midelt and Azrou, where you stop to see the Barbary macaques in the cedar forest, and through Ifrane, known for its alpine scenery and European-style architecture. You arrive in Fes around 6:30pm and are dropped at your hotel or the nearest accessible point.

What’s included

• Professional driver-guide in your choice of language.
• accommodation in a hotel in Tinghir and a Berber nomad camp in Merzouga (standard or luxury).
• camel rides at sunset and sunrise across Erg Chebbi.
• all transport and fuel.
• entry to Ait Benhaddou UNESCO site.
• breakfast and camp facilities.

Options for this experience

2 options

Marrakech-to-Fes: 3 Days-Tour-via-Merzouga-Desert-&-Camel-TrekGuide in 4 languages · 07:00Pickup is included

Luxury campGuide in 4 languages · 07:00Choosing this luxury camp means you get a private tent with an en-suite bathroom inside it. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 194 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Morocco Global Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling solo or with a small group and want a guided route that moves you from Marrakech to Fes over three days, stopping at Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the Toudra Gorges, and a night under canvas in Merzouga with camel rides at sunset and sunrise.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

What's included in the 3-day Marrakech to Fes tour?

The tour includes two nights' accommodation (one in a hotel in Tinghir, one in a desert camp in Merzouga); all transport in a comfortable vehicle with a professional driver-guide; camel rides for both sunset and sunrise; fuel; and entry to Ait Benhaddou. Lunches and drinks are not included. You can choose between a standard or luxury camp for the desert night.

Do I need experience to ride a camel?

No. The camel treks are suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the guide will help you mount and ride. You ride one camel each for the sunset crossing and again at sunrise the next morning.

What are Todra Gorges like?

Todra Gorges is a narrow canyon carved by the river, with high rock walls on either side. You pass through it on the drive from Tinghir toward Merzouga on day two, seeing Berber villages scattered along the way.

Is there a local guide at Ait Benhaddou?

A local guide at Ait Benhaddou Kasbah is available as an add-on option. It is not included in the standard tour price.

Can I use a 4x4 vehicle instead of a camel for the desert crossing?

Yes. A 4x4 vehicle can be substituted for camel rides at 10 euros per person per transfer, available at checkout.