3 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
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This is our 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, run privately with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan. It works in either direction; here we take it from Fes across the Middle Atlas, down to the big dunes at Merzouga, and back over the High Atlas into Marrakech. Three days is the right amount of time to cross the mountains, sleep in the sand, and see the main valleys of the south.
Trip highlights
- Private trip with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
- Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the mud-brick ksar from the films
- Walk into the Todra gorge, where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres
- Drive the twisting Dades valley past its old kasbahs
- Ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and sleep in a desert camp
- Sunrise over the big dunes at Merzouga
Day 1: Fes to Merzouga
We leave Fes after breakfast and climb into the Middle Atlas, stopping in Ifrane and in the cedar forest near Azrou where you can usually spot the Barbary macaques. The road drops through Midelt and follows the Ziz valley down to the edge of the Sahara. At Merzouga a camel takes you over the first dunes of Erg Chebbi to camp for sunset.
Route: Fes, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Ziz valley, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 2: Merzouga to the Dades valley
Get up for the sunrise over Erg Chebbi, then a camel brings you back to the vehicle. We drive west through Rissani and Tinghir to the Todra gorge, where the cliffs rise close to 300 metres, and stop for lunch by the river. The day ends among the kasbahs of the Dades valley.
Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Tinghir, Todra gorge, Dades valley. Night in a Dades hotel.
Day 3: Dades to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou
After breakfast we head down the valley through Skoura and its palm groves to Ouarzazate, with a look at the Taourirt kasbah. The big stop is Ait Ben Haddou, the earthen ksar above the river that you’ve probably seen in the movies. From there we cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas and reach Marrakech in the evening.
Route: Dades, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.
Included
- Private 4×4 or minivan with air-conditioning and an experienced driver
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, evening and morning
- One night in a desert camp and one night in the Dades valley
- Breakfasts and dinners along the way
Not included
- International flights and airport taxes
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and site entrance fees
- Tips for the driver and guides
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Hotels, standing and route match our operated tour; exact accommodation and the full list of what’s included are confirmed when you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel with just your own group, your own driver and vehicle. Nobody else joins, so the stops and the pace are yours to set.
Where do we sleep along the way?
You spend a night in a desert camp in the dunes, reached by camel, plus nights in kasbah hotels or guesthouses on the road. The standing is the same as our operated tour, and we confirm the exact places when you book.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable. Summer days get very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring layers whatever the season.
Can we change the itinerary or the pick-up point?
Yes. Because it is private, we can add nights, swap stops, or start from a different city or airport. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the plan.
Book the trip
Price on request. Send us a message on WhatsApp for dates and a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.