Marrakech to Fez Desert Trip: Kasbahs, Camel Ride & Gorges

Summary

Cross the Atlas to Fez with kasbahs, camel rides and desert nights

You’ll wind from Marrakech over the Atlas Mountains to Fez, pausing for mint tea at Tizi-n'Tichka Pass, exploring ancient kasbahs like Aït Ben Haddou, sleeping under Saharan stars after a camel ride across Erg Chebbi dunes, and sharing laughter (and bread) with Berber hosts along the way.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the sound of tires crunching gravel as we left Marrakech behind — our driver Youssef humming something I didn’t recognize. The road climbed fast into the High Atlas, where the air thinned and changed from city dust to something sharper, almost cold. We stopped at Tizi-n'Tichka Pass for mint tea — honestly, it tasted sweeter than any I’d had in Marrakech. I tried to say thank you in Arabic and got a smile back that said I’d mangled it. The light on the mountains kept shifting colors; I kept trying (and failing) to catch it on my phone.

Aït Ben Haddou was next — all sun-baked mud walls and quiet corners that felt like they belonged in another century. Our local guide pointed out where “Gladiator” was filmed (I pretended not to be impressed but, yeah, it’s cool). Lunch was simple: bread still warm from the oven and a tangy salad with olives. By late afternoon we were winding through the Valley of Roses, which actually did smell faintly floral even though it wasn’t peak season. That night in Dades Gorge, dinner came with laughter from the kitchen and a sky so dense with stars it almost looked fake.

The second day started early — Todra Gorges echoing with birdsong and our footsteps on damp stone. We passed through Tineghier village; kids waved at us like we were celebrities or maybe just oddities. After lunch in Rissani’s market (dates everywhere), we reached Merzouga just before sunset. Camels aren’t as comfortable as they look but riding into Erg Chebbi’s dunes felt surreal anyway. Our Berber hosts welcomed us at camp with music around a fire; someone handed me bread baked in hot sand — gritty but good. I still think about that silence after everyone went quiet under those stars.

Sunrise in the Sahara is cold — nobody tells you that part. Our camel guide woke us gently (“shwiya shwiya,” he said) so we could climb a dune before breakfast. The way back toward Fez cut through Ziz Oasis (palms everywhere) and Medilt’s apple orchards. Somewhere between naps in the van and watching cedar forests blur past, I realized how much ground we’d covered since Marrakech. It’s a lot to take in — not everything fits into photos or even words sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Dades Gorge via Kasbahs

• Meet at Marrakech hotel after breakfast
• Drive through Tizi-n-Tichka pass
• Stop for mint tea and scenery
• Visit Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
• Lunch at Ait Benhaddou
• Visit Ouarzazate and Atlas Studios
• Drive through Valley of Roses and Dades Valley
• Arrive at Dades Gorge for sunset
• Dinner and overnight at traditional hotel

Day 2 — Dades Gorge to Merzouga Desert Camp

• Breakfast at hotel
• Walk through Todra Gorges
• Drive road of 1000 Kasbahs via Tineghier village
• Arrive in Rissani for lunch
• Walk in Rissani market and visit Kasbahs
• Drive to Merzouga before sunset
• Leave car at hotel
• Camel ride into Erg Chebbi dunes
• Dinner and overnight in Berber tent

Day 3 — Merzouga to Fez via Ziz Oasis

• Wake up for sunrise over dunes
• Camel ride back to hotel
• Breakfast and shower
• Depart towards Fez via Rissani
• Pass through Ziz Valley
• Lunch in apple village
• Drive through mountains and cedar forest
• Arrive in Fez in afternoon

Top questions

How long does the Marrakech to Fez desert trip take?

The trip lasts 3 days and 2 nights, starting from Marrakech and ending in Fez.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included at your accommodation in Marrakech.

Do you sleep in the desert during this trip?

Yes, one night is spent in a Berber tent camp in Erg Chebbi near Merzouga.

Are meals included on this private desert tour?

Breakfasts and dinners are included throughout the trip; lunch is not specified.

What are some main stops on this route?

You visit Tizi-n'Tichka Pass, Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, Dades Gorge, Todra Gorges, Rissani market, Merzouga/Erg Chebbi dunes, Ziz Oasis, Medilt’s apple village and finish in Fez.

Is there a camel ride included?

Yes, there is a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for your night in the desert camp.

What kind of vehicle is used for transport?

The tour uses an air-conditioned minibus driven by an English-speaking professional driver.

Are infant seats available?

Specialized infant seats are available upon request for this trip.

What’s included

Your journey includes hotel pickup in Marrakech by air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking driver; two nights’ accommodation (one traditional hotel near Dades Gorge and one Berber tent camp at Erg Chebbi), two breakfasts and two dinners along the way; all application taxes; plus your sunset camel ride into the Sahara before returning by camel at sunrise toward Fez.