Sahara Desert Tour Marrakech to Fes Camel Trekking 4-Day

Trade the highway for dunes, mountains and a night under the stars in the Sahara.

A 4-day private guided tour from Marrakech to Fes that crosses the High Atlas Mountains, visits the ancient kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorges, and ends with camel trekking and an overnight stay in the Merzouga Desert. The route includes three nights' accommodation (two in hotels, one in a desert camp), a professional English-speaking driver, and a private air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey. You choose between a budget-friendly or mid-range option. Most travelers upgrade to the luxury desert camp for added comfort.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Atlas and Ouarzazate

• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Visit Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou
• See Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate
• Lunch at Kasbah of Tourirt
• Continue to Rose Valley and Skoura Oasis
• Visit Kasbah Amerhidil

Day 2: Dades Valley to Erg Chebbi via Todra Gorges

• Breakfast in Dades Valley
• Walk in Dades Gorges
• Drive to Todra Gorges and walk along river
• Drive to Merzouga via Anti Atlas and Tafilalet Oasis
• Camel trek at Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
• Dinner and drum party in luxury bivouac camp

Day 3: Erg Chebbi and Merzouga sightseeing

• Sunrise walk on highest sand dunes
• Breakfast with mint tea
• Camel trek back to hotel in village
• Visit Rissani weekly local market
• Lunch in Rissani
• 4WD tour around Erg Chebbi dunes
• Tea and Gnawa music in Khamlia village

Day 4: Erg Chebbi to Fez via Middle Atlas and Cedar Forest

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive through Ziz Valley oasis and Gorge
• Lunch in Midelt
• Stop at Cedar forests in Azrou
• Coffee and walk in Ifrane
• Drop off in Fez

The experience

You start in Marrakech and drive south through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass and stopping at local villages before reaching Ouarzazate. In the afternoon you visit the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified city built into the hillside. The next stop is the Rose Valley and Skoura Oasis, where you see the Kasbah Amridil beside the Skoura River. You overnight in the Dades Valley.

Day two takes you through the Dades Gorges for a walk along the canyon walls, then onward to the Todra Gorges where you have free time to walk along the river. From there you drive toward Merzouga via the Tafilalet Oasis and the Anti Atlas. In the late afternoon you reach the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, where you mount a camel for a trek across the golden dunes at sunset. You spend the night in a luxury bivouac camp in the middle of the desert, with a local dinner and drum music.

On day three you wake early to climb the highest dunes on camel for sunrise, then return to the village for breakfast and a shower. The afternoon brings a 4WD excursion around the dunes to see the black volcanic rock plains and panoramic views of the shifting sands. You stop in Khamlia village for tea and live Gnawa music with local people, then overnight at a kasbah hotel on the edge of the dunes.

The final day is a long drive north through the Ziz Valley and Gorge to Midelt for lunch, then onward through the Middle Atlas to the Cedar Forest, where Barbary apes live wild. You stop in Ifran for coffee and a walk before the driver drops you in Fez.

What’s included

• Camel trekking at sunset and sunrise in the Merzouga Desert.
• pickup in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes.
• three nights' accommodation (two in hotels, one in a luxury desert camp).
• professional English-speaking driver.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for four days.
• free stops for photos and panoramic views throughout the route.

Options for this experience

2 options

Option-2 (Budget-friendly)Up to 14 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · No fixed timeAccommodation includes standard riads or hotels and a standard desert camp with a shared bathroom. Activities include camel trekking and watching the sunset and sunrise in the Sahara. The tour lasts 4 days. Breakfast is included, and dinner is provided in the desert and in Dades. Pickup is included.

Option 1: Mid-range (Luxury)Up to 15 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00Accommodation features high-quality riads or hotels and a luxury desert camp with a private bathroom. Camel trekking is included. The tour runs for 4 days. Breakfast and dinner are both included. The package offers a 4x4 desert experience, and pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 4d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 758 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate10 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and ArabicOther languages ›

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.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 80 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6)

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 effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Camel Safaries - Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Marrakech and need to reach Fes overland: the 4-day route turns a transfer into a journey through the High Atlas, ancient kasbahs, gorges and the Sahara, with camel trekking and a night in the desert built in. The private vehicle and fixed itinerary mean you don't negotiate stops or timing at each site. The driver handles the route while you move through it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6).

What's included in the 4-day tour price?

The tour includes camel trekking at sunset and sunrise, pickup in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes, three nights' accommodation (two in hotels in the Dades Valley and Merzouga, one in a desert camp), a professional English-speaking driver, and a private air-conditioned vehicle for all four days. Free stops for photos and panoramic views are built into the route.

Do I need to book meals separately?

Breakfast is included at the hotels and in the desert camp. Lunch and beverages are not included, so you'll arrange and pay for meals along the way. If you need a vegetarian option, let the operator know at the time of booking.

What's the difference between the budget and mid-range options?

The tour operates on both a budget-friendly and mid-range (luxury) basis. Most travelers choose the upgraded mid-range option for added comfort, particularly in the desert camp accommodation.

How long is the camel trek in the Merzouga Desert?

You ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset on day two, then again at sunrise on day three before returning to the village. The exact duration of each trek depends on the camp's schedule, but both are built into the overnight desert experience.

Can I bring luggage on the tour?

All luggage travels with you in the vehicle. For the overnight camel trek, bring a small backpack with essentials. The bulk of your luggage stays secured at a hotel bordering the desert and is waiting when you return.