This 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga is one of the most popular desert journeys in Morocco. It takes you across the High Atlas Mountains, through ancient kasbahs, dramatic valleys, and into the heart of the Sahara Desert. Experience a camel trek over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Spend a magical night in a desert camp. And discover authentic Berber culture before arriving in the imperial city of Fes.
Tour Highlights: 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Explore the Valley of Roses, Dades Valley, and Todgha Gorge
- Camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
- Overnight stay in a Sahara desert camp under the stars
- Sunrise over the dunes of Merzouga
- Scenic drive through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas Mountains
- Stop in cedar forests to see Barbary macaques
- Arrival in Fes, the cultural capital of Morocco
Itinerary: 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley
After breakfast, you leave Marrakech and begin your journey south toward the High Atlas Mountains. Crossing the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest road pass in Morocco. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of dramatic mountain scenery, deep valleys, and traditional Berber villages built into the hillsides. Several stops are made to take photos and admire the changing landscapes. You then arrive at the legendary Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. A UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its well-preserved earthen architecture and its role as a filming location for many international movies and TV series.
After exploring the kasbah, the journey continues to Ouarzazate. Often called the “Gateway to the Sahara,” before driving through the fragrant Valley of Roses. Famous for its rose fields and local cooperatives. In the late afternoon, you reach the scenic Dades Valley, where you settle into a charming hotel or traditional riad, enjoy a delicious dinner, and relax overnight surrounded by impressive rock formations and lush valleys.
Day 2: Dades Valley – Todgha Gorge – Merzouga Desert
After breakfast, depart the Dades Valley and travel toward the spectacular Todgha Gorge. A natural wonder famous for its dramatic limestone canyon walls rising up to 300 meters high and a refreshing river oasis flowing through the palm groves. Take time to walk through the gorge, admire the impressive rock formations. And enjoy the unique atmosphere of this popular climbing and hiking area. The journey then continues through authentic Berber villages and desert towns such as Tinjdad and Erfoud, known for their date palms and fossil workshops, as the landscape gradually transforms into vast desert scenery.
In the late afternoon, arrive in Merzouga, at the edge of the Sahara Desert, where you prepare for a memorable camel trek across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. Ride your camel at sunset, watching the colors of the dunes change as the sun dips below the horizon, before reaching your desert camp nestled among the dunes. There, you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, listen to Berber music around the campfire, and spend an unforgettable night under a sky filled with stars.
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Middle Atlas – Fes
Wake up early to witness the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a magical moment as the first light of day paints the sand in shades of gold and orange. After enjoying this unforgettable view, return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4, where breakfast awaits. The journey then continues north through the lush Ziz Valley, renowned for its vast palm groves, traditional ksour, and panoramic viewpoints overlooking one of Morocco’s largest oasis systems. As you travel onward, the landscape gradually changes while crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains, with scenic stops along the way, including a visit to the cedar forests near Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques. You then pass through Ifrane, a charming alpine-style town often referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco” for its clean streets and European architecture, before arriving in Fes in the late afternoon, marking the end of your desert journey.
Tour Includes
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver/guide
- Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes
- 1 night in Dades Valley (dinner & breakfast)
- 1 night in a desert camp in Merzouga (dinner & breakfast)
- Camel trek in the Sahara Desert
- Sandboarding (available at the camp)
- Fuel and all transportation costs
Tour Excludes
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments (if applicable)
- Tips and personal expenses
