4-Day Marrakech to Fes Tour: Sahara Desert & Kasbah

Cross three landscapes and sleep in the Sahara, with one driver steering the whole way

A private 4-day guided tour from Marrakech to Fes that crosses the High Atlas Mountains, visits the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, and ends with a camel ride into Merzouga Desert and a night in a luxury camp. Your own driver and guide navigate the route. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle and stay in selected hotels and riads along the way. Lunches are on your own. All other transport, entry fees where noted, and accommodations are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Boumalne Dades

• Pick up from Marrakech accommodation
• Drive through High Atlas mountains and Tizi-N-Tichka pass
• Visit Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
• Visit Ouarzazate and Atlas Studio exterior
• Stop at Rose Valley or rose cooperative
• Arrive in Boumalne Dades and visit Dades valley

Day 2: Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast in Boumalne Dades
• Visit Todra Gorges and stroll canyon
• Visit Fossil Factory
• Arrive Merzouga Desert and switch to camels
• Enjoy sunset on dune
• Overnight in luxury desert camp

Day 3: Desert Excursion and Cultural Visits

• Watch sunrise in Sahara
• Breakfast at camp
• Return to Merzouga by camels or 4x4
• Visit French mine ruins
• Visit nomads and drink Berber tea
• Enjoy Gnawa music and dance in Khamlia village
• Lunch in local restaurant
• Stroll in palm tree grove

Day 4: Merzouga to Fes via Ziz Valley

• Depart desert and drive along Ziz river
• Stop for panoramic view of Ziz valley
• Lunch break in Midelt or nearby
• Visit cedars forest and feed Barbary Macaques
• Visit alpine-style town of Ifrane
• Drop off at Fes airport or accommodation

The experience

The tour picks you up at 8:30am from your Marrakech hotel or the airport. If your accommodation isn't accessible by car, the driver meets you at the nearest parking lot or Jamaa El Fnaa Square. From there you drive through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi-N-Tichka pass at 2,260 metres with stops for views of the valleys and Berber villages below. The route then reaches Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified kasbah and UNESCO World Heritage Site that has stood as a caravan stop between the Sahara and Marrakesh for centuries. It's also the filming location for Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy and Game of Thrones. You'll walk through the kasbah itself before continuing to Ouarzazate, where you can visit the Atlas Studio from outside (entrance 8€ per person, with a guide provided). A stop at a rose cooperative or rose valley follows, depending on the season, and you arrive in Boumalne Dades by evening.

Day two takes you through Dades Valley after breakfast, then to Todra Gorges, where the Todra river has carved a canyon through the mountains and you have free time to walk the spectacular walls. A visit to a fossil factory shows you specimens dating back hundreds of millions of years. In the afternoon you reach Merzouga Desert, leave the vehicle, and switch to camels for the crossing into the Sahara. You'll stop on a high dune to watch the sunset, then continue to your luxury camp, which has private bathrooms and hot running water. The evening includes Berber drum music and dancing around the campfire under the open sky.

Day three is a desert excursion by 4x4. You wake early to see the sunrise, return to camp for breakfast, then drive off-road to the ruins of an old French mining operation. Next you visit nomads in their hand-woven tent, drink Berber tea, and learn how they live. Khamlia village comes next, where you'll hear Gnaoua music and watch dancing performances by villagers from Sub-Saharan countries. After lunch in a restaurant, you walk through a palm grove. The final day departs the desert and follows the Ziz river valley with a panoramic stop, then continues through a cedar forest where Barbary Macaques live. You can feed them as you walk. You'll visit Ifrane, known for its alpine-style architecture and winters, before the tour ends with a drop-off at Fes airport or your accommodation.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with your own driver and guide.
• camel ride per person in Merzouga Desert.
• night in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom and hot water.
• two nights in selected hotels or riads in Boumalne Dades and Fes.
• desert excursion by 4x4 on day three.
• sand boards available at the camp.
• pickup from your Marrakech accommodation or airport at 8:30am.

Options for this experience

2 options

Up to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Up to 3 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or French08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Moroccan Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want one continuous journey through mountains, kasbahs, and desert with a private driver guiding you through all three, rather than piecing together separate regional trips or managing transport between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and why does it matter on this tour?

Aït Ben Haddou is a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site that served as a caravan stop between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It's the filming location for major films including Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy and Game of Thrones, and you'll walk through the kasbah itself on day one.

Do I ride camels on this tour, and where?

Yes. On day two, once you reach Merzouga Desert in the afternoon, you leave the vehicle and switch to camels for the crossing into the Sahara. You'll stop on a high dune to watch the sunset before continuing to your camp. On day three, you can return to Merzouga on camels or by the camp's 4x4, depending on your preference.

What's included in the luxury camp overnight in the desert?

The luxury tent has a private bathroom and hot running water. The evening includes Berber drum music and dancing around the campfire. Breakfast is provided the next morning before your desert excursion begins.

How many nights do I spend in hotels or riads, and where?

You spend two nights in hotels or riads: one in Boumalne Dades (options include Ksar Sultan Dades or Riad Dades Paradise) and one in Fes (Riad Azawad). The third night is in the luxury desert camp near Merzouga.

What happens on the desert excursion on day three?

The day starts with a sunrise viewing, then a 4x4 drive takes you off-road to visit the ruins of an old French mining operation, nomad tents where you drink Berber tea, Khamlia village for Gnaoua music and dancing performances, and a palm grove walk. Lunch is at a restaurant in the area.

Is the Atlas Studio entrance fee included in the tour price?

No. The Atlas Studio entrance fee is 8€ per person, paid separately. A guide provided by the studio walks you through the filming sets while explaining the location.