This 4 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes takes you all the way to the imperial city of Fes, passing through the High Atlas and Middle Atlas Mountains and the great Sahara Desert. Along the way you cross the south of Morocco — the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorges, Erfoud and Merzouga — with a full day to discover the dunes of Erg Chebbi and the life of the desert nomads before finishing in Fes.
Our 4 days from Marrakech to Fes tour starts after we pick you up in the morning from your accommodation and begin driving through the High Atlas Mountains. We get many chances to stop along the way and enjoy the scenic views over the small, scattered Berber villages of the area, as well as the many kasbahs and traditional forms of architecture unique to the south of Morocco.
We cross the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass, 2,260 metres high, which offers an amazing panoramic view over the mountains. After this we arrive at one of the most important historical kasbahs in Morocco: the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. On top of being a UNESCO World Heritage site, it has drawn many international movie producers, with films such as Gladiator, The Mummy and Lawrence of Arabia shot here, while keeping its Berber character. Once we finish exploring, we visit nearby Ouarzazate, nicknamed “the Hollywood of Morocco”, then drive on past Kalaat M’Gouna and Skoura to reach the Dades Valley, where we spend the night.
Today we have a big day of desert exploration ahead, so we wake up early and head towards the Erg Chebbi desert. After a while we reach the famous Todra Gorges, where we also have lunch — a site known for its 300-metre-high walls that attract visitors from all over the world. We can hike around the valley or simply walk along the Todra River.
Later we continue towards Merzouga, stopping at Erfoud for a local delicacy on the way. Once at Merzouga we are welcomed with traditional mint tea and rest at our hotel. Then our camel caravan takes us through the sunset to the desert camp, where we spend the night around a campfire under the starry sky, followed by dinner before sleeping in a comfortable tent.
We wake up in time to admire the sunrise casting its colours over the desert dunes — a once-in-a-lifetime view, so have your camera ready. After a traditional Moroccan breakfast back at our Merzouga hotel, we head to the nearby village of Khamlia, known for its rich history and the genuine Gnaoua music played by its masters.
We then roam freely through the endless dunes, meeting nomad families and spending time with them to learn about their way of life. We continue exploring what the desert has to offer — such as Dayet Srji Lake, Yasmina Lake and the village of Hassi Labied — before returning to our Merzouga hotel for dinner and the night.
After one more desert sunrise we ride our camels back to Merzouga, where we can shower and have breakfast at the hotel before setting off for our final destination: Fes. We first cross the magnificent Ziz Valley and admire its gorges, then enter the Middle Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Talghemt pass.
We continue towards Fes with stops to enjoy special views, including the wild Barbary macaques of the Azrou cedar forest and the alpine town of Ifrane, nicknamed the “Switzerland of Morocco”. On arrival in Fes we drop you off at your accommodation, where the tour ends.
Why should I choose the 4-day tour over the 2-day tour?
The 4-day tour is significantly less rushed. It allows more time at key sites like Ait Ben Haddou and the Todra Gorges, and gives you a full extra day to immerse yourself in the desert, explore local villages like Khamlia and meet nomad families.
How long is the camel ride on the final morning?
On the last morning the camel trek from the camp back to the Merzouga hotel is short, usually about 45 minutes to an hour, timed to catch the morning light and sunrise.
Where exactly do we have lunch on Day 2 and Day 3?
Lunch on Day 2 is often near the Todra Gorges or the town of Erfoud. On Day 3, your exploration day, lunch is typically a traditional “Berber pizza” at a local home or a stop in the desert.
Will we have Wi-Fi or cell service in the desert?
You will usually have decent service in Merzouga village, but deep in the Erg Chebbi dunes at the desert camp service is intermittent or non-existent — a great chance to unplug and enjoy the night sky.
