Experience the best of Morocco’s imperial medinas and the enchanting Sahara desert with our 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour. Starting at 08:00 AM from Marrakech, you’ll journey through the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains, home to charming Berber villages and historic Kasbahs. Upon arriving at the Sahara desert, you’ll be mesmerized by its towering sand dunes, serene oases, and picturesque canyons. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy the warm hospitality of the nomad tribes and indulge in their delectable cuisine. Over the course of the 3-day tour, you’ll spend your first night at a cozy Dades Valley lodge and your second night at a stunning Sahara desert camp in Merzouga.
Your desert tour from Marrakech to Fes will commence at 8:00 AM from your hotel or riad. You will begin by crossing the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi N’Tichka pass, which stands at an impressive height of 2260 meters. Along the way, you’ll witness the beautiful scenery of mud-brick Berber villages and shepherds tending to their flocks in green plateaus with snow-capped peaks in the distance. The journey will have multiple stops to allow for photo opportunities, leg stretches, and coffee breaks.
By noon, you’ll arrive at the UNESCO world heritage site, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, which has served as a set for numerous Hollywood blockbusters such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. After a guided visit to the mud-brick village, you’ll continue to Ouarzazate, also known as the Hollywood of Africa, which is home to the largest film studios in the continent.
After lunch at your leisure, you’ll visit the Skoura oasis and one of the best-preserved Kasbahs in Morocco, Amridil. From there, you’ll head to Kalaa Mgouna through the Valley of the Roses before reaching your boutique guest house in the Dades Valley for dinner and an overnight stay.
On the second day of your Marrakech to Fes Sahara desert tour, you’ll begin by traveling along the road of 1001 Kasbahs to reach the Tinghir oasis. As you make your way, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the remarkable scenery of the fortified villages that once hosted caravan roads until the early 20th century.
Upon reaching Tinghir, which was once a military post during the French occupation, you’ll take a secondary road to reach the oasis. You can explore the area and observe the locals farming and herding their cattle next to the stream. The walk will culminate in one of the most breathtaking views of your tour – the Todgha Gorges.
After enjoying a leisurely lunch at one of the local cafes, you’ll proceed to Rissani, one of the holiest towns in Morocco. The founder of the ruling dynasty, “The Alaouites,” hails from here and is buried locally. Rissani is also renowned as the starting point of the ancient caravan roads that traversed the Sahara desert to Tombouctou.
In the afternoon, you’ll travel across some rocky terrain to reach Merzouga, where your camel caravan will be waiting for you. Before arriving at your Sahara desert camp, you’ll embark on a camel ride over the Erg Chebbi dunes to witness a spectacular sunset.
You’ll have dinner under the stars while your local nomad hosts entertain you with drumming all night long. Then, you’ll spend the night at your Sahara desert camp.
After an early morning wake-up, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking sunrise camel trek over the dunes of Erg Chebbi. After the trek, you’ll head to the camp operator’s lodge in Merzouga for breakfast and shower. If you upgrade to the luxury camp, breakfast will be served at the camp, and showers are available in your tent.
You’ll then meet your driver/guide and embark on a picturesque drive to Fes, passing through the Ziz Valley via Errachidia, the capital of the Tafilalt region. Afterward, you’ll continue on to Midelt, where you’ll have leisure time for lunch. From there, you’ll traverse the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing through Cedar Forests and Berber towns like Imouzzar and Ifran, both famous as winter ski resorts for Moroccans.
During your journey, your driver might spot some Barbary apes and stop for photo opportunities. Late that afternoon, you’ll arrive in Fez, and your desert tour will conclude with a drop-off at your hotel or riad.
