4 Day Morocco Desert Tour – Fes to Marrakech via Sahara

Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Ziz Valley – Sahara Desert of Merzouga

After breakfast, begin your journey from Fes to the Sahara Desert, traveling through Midelt and the Ziz Valley. The first stop will be Ifrane, a beautiful mountain town often called the “Switzerland of Morocco.”

As you drive, you will pass through the Middle Atlas and High Atlas Mountains, with a stop at the famous Cedar Forest — the largest in Morocco, where you might spot Barbary apes.

Continue towards Midelt, a town nestled in the Atlas Mountains. After lunch, travel through the breathtaking Tiz Ntalghamt Pass and the stunning Ziz Gorge, soaking in the views of the High Atlas plateau. As you approach the southeast province of Errachidia, the landscape gradually begins to reveal signs of the desert.

Afterward, make your way through the Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views as you pass through Erfoud and Rissani. In the afternoon, arrive in Merzouga, where you’ll embark on a camel ride across the dunes of the Sahara Desert of Merzouga to your desert camp.

Overnight: Spend the night at a desert camp inside the Sahara Desert Sand Dunes.

Sahara Desert of Merzouga – Sahara Desert of Merzouga

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Your journey will take you to the village of Khamlia, a Berber village, where you will experience a performance of traditional Gnawa Music. Visit the Oasis of Merzouga, which preserves an ancient irrigation system, and then head towards Rissani to explore its ancient Ksours and Kasbahs.

After a traditional local lunch, return to the hotel around 16:00. Then, swap your vehicle for camels to embark on a camel trek to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Berber music performance before spending a peaceful night under a nomadic tent made from camel hair, and marvel at the starry sky.

Overnight: Stay at a bivouac camp in the desert.

Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

Wake up early to witness what might be the most magnificent sunrise of your life over the Erg Chebbi dunes. After the sunrise, enjoy a delicious breakfast before returning to the Merzouga village on camelback. The Erg Chebbi sand dunes change colors as the day progresses, offering a unique beauty during your ride.

Once in Merzouga, meet your driver again to continue your journey to Dades Valley. On the way, there is an optional stop at Rissani to visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Chref, the founder of the Alaouite dynasty. Then, head to Arfoud to visit a fossilized marble factory before continuing to the Todra Valley, where you’ll enjoy lunch.

After lunch, take a half-hour walk to explore the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco. These majestic cliffs, carved by the Todra River, are a climber’s paradise and a site of breathtaking beauty.

In the evening, drive through the Dades Valley, famous for its sand castles and the stunning “monkey toes” rock formations. Spend the night in a comfortable guest house overlooking the Dades Valley.

Overnight: Stay in a guest house with views of the Dades Valley.

Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

After breakfast, begin your journey from Dades Valley towards Ouarzazate, and then continue to Marrakech.

The road through Dades Valley, known as the Way of the Thousand Kasbahs, offers countless opportunities for stunning photographs. Stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, the heart of Rose Valley, where you can visit a local cooperative to purchase rosewater and other rose products that will leave a lasting scent on your linens long after your trip.

Continue your journey to Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most famous Kasbahs in Morocco. Built by Et Hami El Glaoui, a 19th-century Berber chieftain, Ait Benhaddou is still inhabited by the Glaoui family.

As you travel through the majestic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260 m), the highest point of the High Atlas Mountains, stop to explore the traditional process of Argan oil production by local Berber women in their cooperatives.

Finally, your tour concludes with your arrival in Marrakech.

End of tour: Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech.