3 days tour from marrakech to fes
3 Days Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour — Overview
This 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour takes you south through the High Atlas Mountains, east into the Sahara, and north through the Middle Atlas to Fes in one clean direction. Three days, two nights, no backtracking.
The journey from Marrakech to Fes begins in the red city of Marrakech and moves through four completely different landscapes. Day one crosses Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, stops at Ait Ben Haddou for a full walk through the ksar, and continues east to the Dades Valley. Day two heads through Todra Gorge to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes for the sunset camel trek and a night at a luxury desert camp inside the Sahara. Day three is the long drive north — Ziz Valley, cedar forests, Ifrane, and into Fes by evening.
If you fly into Marrakech and out of Fes, this is the most natural way to travel between them. One direction, the best of the southern route, and no repeated roads.
3-Day Sahara Desert Tour Marrakech to Fes — Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres on day one
- Walk through Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah — a UNESCO World Heritage Site used in Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones — led by your driver-guide
- Drive through the Valley of Roses and the Dades canyon on the way east
- Walk the base of Todra Gorge — 300-metre limestone walls and dramatic rock formations along a cold river
- Ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and spend the night at a luxury desert camp inside the Sahara
- Watch the sunrise over the dunes on day three before heading north
- Pass through the Ziz Valley palm tree oasis and the Middle Atlas Mountains cedar forests before arriving in Fes
Itinerary of the 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
The route covers three distinct landscapes. The High Atlas on day one, the Sahara desert on day two, and the Middle Atlas mountains valleys on day three heading towards Fes.
Day 1Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley (5 hours)
The journey starts early. The road climbs south into the High Atlas Mountains, reaching Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres — the air cools fast up here and the views back across the Haouz plain are clear on a good day.
The descent brings you into the pre-Saharan south. Red rock replaces the green of the Atlas. The first stop is Ait Ben Haddou — packed earth towers above a dry riverbed and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your driver-guide leads the full circuit through the ksar, past the old Berber houses, up to the granary at the top, and back down. Allow about an hour.
The road continues through Ouarzazate and east along the Dades River into the canyon. You can stop and enjoy a coffee in Ouarzazate before the final stretch. You arrive at your hotel in the Dades Valley in the late afternoon. Dinner and breakfast included.
Day 2Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi (4 hours)
After breakfast, we drive to Todra Gorge and walk the base of the canyon — 300-metre limestone walls pressing in above a cold river that runs year-round. Ten minutes on foot is enough to feel the scale of it.
From Tinghir the road opens into hammada, the flat pre-desert plain, as we continue toward Erfoud and Rissani. This is the least-visited stretch of the crossing and one of the most rewarding — genuine desert towns with none of the tourist infrastructure of the cities.
Erg Chebbi appears on the horizon before Merzouga. We arrive at the edge of the dunes in the afternoon and set out on the camel trek at sunset — roughly an hour into the dunes on camelback. Dinner at the luxury desert camp, Gnawa music by the fire, and a night under the clearest sky in Morocco.
Day 3Merzouga → Erfoud → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Middle Atlas → Fes (9 hours)
Wake before sunrise for the view over the dunes from camp — the best light of the entire trip. Breakfast, then the long drive north begins.
The Ziz Valley runs north from Erfoud through one of Morocco’s great date palm oases, hemmed by red cliffs. We stop at viewpoints along the gorge before crossing the Middle Atlas at Midelt.
The final stretch passes through Ifrane and the cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques move through the trees. We arrive in Fes in the evening and drop you at your riad or hotel.
Route Summary — 3 Days Tour From Marrakech To Fes Via Merzouga
| Day | Route | Covered Destinations | Distance | Drive Time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marrakech → Dades Valley | Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Rose Valley | approx. 320 km | approx. 5 hrs | Dades Valley |
| Day 2 | Dades Valley → Erg Chebbi | Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Merzouga | approx. 220 km | approx. 4 hrs | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi |
| Day 3 | Merzouga → Fes | Ziz Valley, Erfoud, Midelt, Middle Atlas, Ifrane | approx. 490 km | approx. 9 hrs | Fes |
What is Included in this 3-Day Desert Tour From Marrakech To Fes
- ✔Pick up from your accommodation in Marrakech and drop off at your accommodation in Fes
- ✔Private A/C vehicle for all 3 days — 4×4 for 2–3 people, minivan for 4–8, minibus for larger groups
- ✔English-speaking driver-guide for all 3 days (French, Spanish, and Arabic on request)
- ✔1 night in the Dades Valley with dinner and breakfast
- ✔1 night at a luxury desert camp at Erg Chebbi with dinner and breakfast
- ✔Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- ✔Sandboarding at Erg Chebbi
- ✔Driver-guide walk through Ait Ben Haddou — no entry fee
- ✘Lunches on all 3 days
- ✘Beverages
- ✘Tips (optional)
- ✘Travel insurance
- ✘Personal expenses
Accommodation
Two nights across two different settings. Night one is in the Dades Valley — a riad or hotel in the canyon with views over the gorge walls. Night two is at a luxury desert camp inside the Erg Chebbi dunes — a camp with a private en-suite bathroom, hot water, and air conditioning.
All camp tents have private en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. Dinner and breakfast included at both overnight stops.
Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour Price
The best Marrakech to Fes desert tour starts from €149 per person. The final price depends on your group size and travel dates.
| Participants | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | €895 |
| 2–3 people | €397 |
| 4–6 people | €289 |
| 7–9 people | €239 |
| 10–15 people | €199 |
| 16+ people | €149 |
Prices include all transport, driver-guide, two nights accommodation, all dinners and breakfasts. Lunches are not included.
Fill in the form below for a full quote for your group size and travel dates. We respond within a few hours.
Why Private Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour?
Most tours on this route run as shared group departures. Looking for a shared Marrakech to Fes desert tour? They exist — but over three days with strangers on a fixed schedule the limitations show quickly.
A private 3 days tour from Marrakech means one vehicle, one group, your itinerary. If you want more time at Ait Ben Haddou, you take it. If you want to leave the red city of Marrakech at 7am, you leave at 7am. Nothing is cut short because another group is ready to move.
The driver-guide is a different resource on a private desert adventure. Over three days you have the same person for every stop. They know the best lunch stop on the day three road north and which part of Ait Ben Haddou is worth the climb. These are among the best tours available on this one-way route precisely because of that consistency.
For two people the per-person cost is close to a reputable shared tour. For three or more it is consistently cheaper.
Optional Activities
Before the Tour — Day Trips From Marrakech
During the Tour
After the Tour — Things to Do in Fes
Essential Packing List
For the desert camp night
- Small daypack — leave your main bag in the vehicle
- Sunscreen SPF 50 minimum
- Sunglasses
- Light scarf or shemagh — for the camel trek and sandboarding
- Power bank — no charging points at the camp
- One change of clothes for the camp night
- Flip flops for inside the tent and the camp area
- Small torch or headlamp — the camp is dark at night
Clothing
- Light, breathable layers for daytime driving
- One warm layer for desert evenings — temperatures drop sharply after sunset
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Modest clothing for the ksar and medinas — shoulders and knees covered
Documents and money
- Passport — required at camp check-in
- Cash in Moroccan dirhams — the camp and rural stops are cash only
Optional but useful
- Camera or phone fully charged before day two
- Basic medication and any prescriptions
- Refillable water bottle
Good to Know Before You Go
The camel trek
The sunset camel trek on day two takes about 1 hour each way into the dunes. If you prefer not to ride, a 4×4 transfer to the camp is available at no extra cost. Let us know before day two or on arrival in Merzouga.
The desert camp
All tiers include a private en-suite tent with hot water and air conditioning. You do not share bathroom facilities with other guests. Dinner and Gnawa music by the fire are included on arrival.
Best time of year
October through April gives the most comfortable desert temperatures for the camel trek and the gorge walks. Summer at Erg Chebbi regularly exceeds 40°C. Spring brings the Rose Valley into bloom on day one.
FAQ — 3 Days Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
Is this tour private or shared?
Fully private. Your own vehicle and driver-guide for all three days. No other passengers. A 4×4 for 2 to 3 people, a minivan for 4 to 8, and a minibus for larger groups. If you are looking for a shared departure, contact us and we will let you know if one is available on your dates.
What does the 3-day Marrakech to Fes itinerary include?
Private transport for all three days, an English-speaking driver-guide, two nights of accommodation with dinner and breakfast included, the sunset camel trek at Erg Chebbi, sandboarding, and a guided walk through Ait Ben Haddou with no entry fee.
Can we do the tour in reverse — Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. The same route runs in reverse: Fes to Merzouga on day one via the Ziz Valley, the camel trek and desert camp on night one, Todra Gorge and Dades Valley on day two, and Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas crossing into Marrakech on day three.
How far in advance should I book?
Two to three weeks for spring and autumn travel. Outside peak season, one week is usually enough. Contact us as early as possible and we confirm availability the same day.