5 Days Fes to Marrakech via the Desert and Dades Valley

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Our 5 days Fes to Marrakech tour runs the length of the south, from the old city of Fes across the Middle Atlas to the dunes at Merzouga and back over the mountains into Marrakech. It’s private, with your own driver and an air-conditioned vehicle, so you set the pace. Five days gives you a full day in the sand and time in the Todra and Dades valleys rather than a rushed transit.

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 the desert at Merzouga

We collect you in Fes and cross the Middle Atlas, stopping in Ifrane and the cedar woods above Azrou for the macaques. After Midelt the land turns dry and the Ziz valley opens up with its long line of palms. We reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, and a camel carries you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for the night.

Route: Fes, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Ziz valley, Merzouga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.

Day 2: A day in the Erg Chebbi dunes

A slower day around Merzouga. We visit the village of Khamlia to hear the Gnaoua music, drive out to the oasis and the old mine workings, and there’s time to rest before another camel ride at sunset. If you’d rather, we can swap the camels for a 4×4 run over the dunes.

Route: Merzouga, Khamlia, Erg Chebbi oasis. Second night in a desert camp.

Day 3: Merzouga to the Dades valley

After sunrise and breakfast we head west through Rissani and Tinghir to the Todra gorge, where you can walk in under the cliffs. The road then follows the Dades valley through the palmeries and old kasbahs to our stop for the night.

Route: Merzouga, Rissani, Tinghir, Todra gorge, Dades valley. Night in a Dades hotel.

Day 4: Dades to Ait Ben Haddou

We drive the road of a thousand kasbahs through Skoura to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s film town, with a look at the Atlas studios and the Taourirt kasbah. In the afternoon we reach Ait Ben Haddou and walk up through the ksar before the light goes.

Route: Dades, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou. Night near Ait Ben Haddou.

Day 5: Over the Atlas to Marrakech

On the last morning we cross the Tizi n’Tichka, the high pass over the High Atlas, with plenty of stops for photos and mint tea. We come down into Marrakech around midday and drop you at your hotel or the airport.

Route: Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.

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 with your dates and group size for a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.