On these popular 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, our specialist team will take you on an adventure to discover the most incredible destinations of Morocco by driving across the High Atlas Mountains towards Ait Ben haddou kasbah, Hollywood of North Africa – Ouarzazate. Furthermore, enjoy a journey into the Sahara Desert with a medley of palm groves, fertile valleys, barren & rocky landscapes, Grand canyons of Dades & Todra and Rose fields in Kalaat M’gouna. Moreover, Join Merzouga camel trekking and stay overnight in a Desert camp in the Erg chebbi dunes. Visit Cedar Forest, home to the Barbary Macaque. As well as Ifrane, a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort within a 5-day Morocco Sahara Desert trip.
In the morning, you’ll meet your private driver/guide, and then drive for several hours through the winding roads of the High Atlas Mountains. You can take your time as the scenery is magnificent and keen photographers may call for a few photo stops. Marvel at the wonderful Berber villages before you get to the kasbah of Telouat on the former caravan route. It was once the seat of El Glaoui family’s power. Later-on, set off towards Ait Ben haddou, one of Morocco’s most iconic sites and a stunningly well-preserved medieval village which has famously featured in many blockbuster movies, including the one who wants to be the king, Babel, the kingdom of heaven, Prince of Persia, … etc.
It was built by the last Berber chieftain El Glaoui Et-Hami in the late 17th century: it’s now a UNESCO matrimonial historical site. Free time to enjoy your lunch near the kasbah at your convenience, later we hit the road again to Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert, and also served as a backdrop in film and TV shows including «Gladiator» and «Jewel of the Nile». After checking into your hotel, time to relax before dinner.
◈ Overnight: Ouarzazate
◈ Meals: Dinner
This morning, go on a sightseeing tour of Ouarzazate city. Begin with a visit to the Atlas Studio (Optional). Then Taourirt kasbah, a fortified palace that was once the residence of the local rulers, and it’s an amazing example of Berber architecture which was built in the 17th century and housing hundreds of people. Next, make your lovely way into the Sahara with a medley of palm trees, magnificent oases and also rose fields in Kalaat M’gouna. The city is known for its annual Rose Festival, which takes place every year in May to celebrate the harvest of roses grown in the region.
Carrying on, we continue to the Amridil Kasbah in Skoura, a fortified fortress built in the 17th century. Likewise, it is a popular filming location and has been featured in many famous movies from Ali Baba, The Sheltering Sky to Game of Thrones. Free time to enjoy your lunch at your convenience, later we hit the road again to the canyon of Boumalne dades, and upon arrival enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. This area offers up scenery like no other – sprawling green valleys give way to otherworldly rock formations carved out by the wind. Your hotel offers a delightful pool and terrace overlooking the valley, so take some time to sit back and soak in the ethereal views.
◈ Overnight: Boumalne Dades
◈ Meals: Dinner & Breakfast
After breakfast, drive a bit further to Tissadrine to the beautiful panoramic view of the Dades valley, and then the beautiful rocks’ formation called «Monkey fingers». Afterward, depart Boumlane dades and set off on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the gorge of Todra, surrounded by towering vertical limestone cliffs reaching heights of 300 m, it is known as Morocco’s Grand Canyon. Moreover, the charm of Todra lies in its changing colors as the sun slowly moves from east to west. There’ll be time to marvel at this sight before you continue your journey to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. En route, stop for lunch in the town of Tinejdad.
As soon as you arrive at the popular dunes of Erg Chebbi, one of the world’s iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 m in height, ride a camel through the desert towards your campsite. A spectacular camp hidden away in the sand dunes of the Sahara. Here in this magical escape from the modern world, you’ll experience the true essence of desert life. Make sure to catch the sunset in the heart of the desert. In addition to that, enjoy a nice dinner, followed by live Berber music around an open fire and spend an amazing night under the stars, digest the desert in all its beauty that will give you remarkable memories of the desert trip exploring.
◈ Overnight: Merzouga Desert
◈ Meals: Dinner & Breakfast
Spend the day exploring Merzouga and its tiny villages. After a truly stunning sunrise, freshen up and breakfast in your camp. Begin with the traditional Saharan village of Khamlia, known for a distinctive style of music and dance. Along the way you might see some wild animals such as Fennec fox, …etc. Furthermore, set off for a breathtaking panoramic view of Erg Chebbi Dunes from the Galb Nass Mountains. From Here, you’ll also start to see your first glimpse of Morocco’s nomadic Berbers – travelling across the desert and often staying in make shift tents as they head to their next destination.
Stopping en route to share a cup of tea with some welcoming Berber families in their handwoven tent while enjoying the silence of the Sahara Desert. After that, drive back to Khamlia village, where you’ll enjoy your lunch in a local restaurant, you may like to try Medfouna (also called “Berber pizza”), traditional stuffed bread prepared with meat, herbs and spices by the nomadic people.
The tour ends in the Oasis of Merzouga, a small patch of vegetation surrounded by desert, then return to your beautifully decorated riad. This afternoon why not walk to Erg chebbi dunes to witness sunset again or try out Quad Bike Tour or even Dune Buggy Ride, it is a wonderful experience that you should not miss out!
◈ Overnight: Merzouga Village
◈ Meals: Dinner & Breakfast
◊ Activities in Merzouga Desert:
In the morning, the desert adventure from Marrakech to Fes continues toward the north, inland through a variety of spectacular scenery: fertile Ziz valley, cedar and pine forests and also barren, rocky landscapes to the small town of Midelt. After a leisurely lunch, then drive across the Middle Atlas Mountains and Cedar Forest, home to the Barbary Macaque. Next stop in Ifrane, a beautiful town often likened to a Swiss Alpine resort, and also highlighted for its low temperatures and varied outdoor activities such as snowboarding which attract visitors from all over the kingdom. Perhaps get into Fes in the early evening. Drop you off at your preferred location in the city, then your 5-days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes with us ends right here and hope you enjoy it.
⟐ Meals: Breakfast
Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to explore Fez. Find out things you can do during your stay in Fes.
If the above proposed Itinerary: 5 days from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara Desert Tours does not match what you’re looking for, then contact us. We provide customized desert trips starting in Marrakech according to your duration of stay and your preferences. You can come with your family, relatives, friends or all of them. Just let us know your duration, what you wish to do in the state, and leave the rest to us, we’ll create a unique itinerary to suit your tastes and budget. Besides, our Expert Team at Morocco Tabiarte Tours is at your service to reply all your questions, give you detailed quotes about our Morocco Private tours, and tips about the best time and places to visit. Whether you’re thinking about leading a tour or making a request, we’re here to help.
➢ How to book a Tour with Us:
To get your booking confirmed for the 5 days Morocco desert tour, a deposit is required and can be done easily and securely over PayPal. Regardless of the balance, it is in cash to your driver once you meet each other at the airport or accommodation. Besides, the currency EURO, USD, CAD, GBP and MAD are both acceptable.
➢ Is it possible to pay the total amount with credit card or PayPal?
Please be notified that we don’t accept payments with credit cards due to many fees and hold security risks. Although we ask for the balance in cash because PayPal also has too many transaction fees and operational delays as it’s an international institution. In addition to that, we can accept it in some cases via PayPal, but a 5% fee will be added to cover the extra transaction charges. If you’re thinking of this method, it is better to arrange the payment before your trip to Morocco.
➢ Cancellation process:
More than a month before the start date of the tour, deposit is non-refundable, but no worries since we’re going to hold any deposit towards a trip with Morocco Tabiarte Tours at any later date you select.
202 Reviews ★★★★★ Authentic & Genuine Reviews from our Travellers
Short tour of Morocco to see the Sahara Desert, however it was the holiday of a lifetime. Starting in Marrakech, travelling all the road of a thousand kasbahs, Great views of the Atlas Mountains, Dades Valley to the dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga for a Camel ride and overnight stay in the desert camp, and then across into Africa Hollywood and finishing up at Jemaa El Fna square in Marrakech. It was superbly organized and a seamless experience from booking to the tour itself, nice guides and lots of wonderful sights. We learned the history of the country and a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Local people. Definitely recommend MTT, and we plan to do another tour with them again.
Nancy 〉 5 out of 5 ★★★★★ 〉 Group Traveller 〉 May 16th, 2023
We were fortunate enough to have Hami as our private driver as we embarked on our trip itinerary through the Sahara Desert. additionally, He was very friendly and gave us information about each stop in route. He was also very attentive to our needs regarding what time we wanted to eat and stay at each location. Moreover, we learned a lot about the culture and met some locals along the way to try non-tourist food. Besides, upgrading to the luxury camp in the desert was well worth it. thanks, hami for making these a memorable 5 days from Marrakech and for ensuring we felt safe at all times.
Alex 〉 5 out of 5 ★★★★★ 〉 Family Traveller 〉 April 13th, 2023
An unforgettable experience, we would do it once again for sure: all the spots from Marrakech to Fes were so fantastic and worth visiting, I meant it. Especially the fascinating sunset and sunrise in Merzouga dunes, the camel ride experience and the night in the camp. Sooo exciting! Our driver/guide was so kind and friendly, we really enjoyed the time with him. Read More Morocco tour’s reviews
Adrian 〉 5 out of 5 ★★★★★ 〉 Couple Traveller 〉 April 2nd, 2023
◈ Marrakech to Fes Desert Excursion • Travelling to Morocco‘s FAQ
It takes around 9–10 hours drive to get to Merzouga desert from Marrakech, approximately 563 kilometers (350 miles). But it’s possible to break up this long journey with overnight stops, either in Ouarzazate or Dades Gorge along the way.
Booking a private tour offers a unique and personalized experience tailored to your interests. You enjoy privacy, comfort, and the freedom to customize the itinerary and pace. With exclusive access and an expert guide dedicated to your group, you gain a deeper understanding of the destinations. While private tours can be more expensive, the benefits outweigh the cost for those seeking an exceptional and unforgettable travel experience.
The camel trek is about an hour, with a break in the heart of the desert in order to witness the sunset. If you prefer to walk, then you can walk alongside our camel caravan, but bear in mind that walking in the sand can be tiring.
Whether you choose to embrace the adventure of a camel ride or opt for the convenience of a 4×4 transfer, the choice is yours. Erg Chebbi’s enchanting desert camp awaits, promising an unforgettable getaway amidst the breathtaking dunes.
You don’t need a sleeping bag since there’re well-equipped Desert camps provides all the bedding you need including pillows, blankets and even a private bathroom in the tent if you need to take a shower (Luxury camp).
To fully experience Fes, it is recommended to spend at least two to three days in the city. Begin with a guided tour of the Medina, exploring its hidden treasures and iconic sites like the Karaouine Mosque, Al-Attarine Madrasa & Chouara Tannery. Take a day to navigate the Medina’s souks and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere. If time allows, consider a day trip to the blue city of Chefchaouen, located approximately 200 kilometers away. This picturesque town offers stunning views and a charming ambiance. While two days are sufficient for a basic visit, extending your stay allows for a more immersive and leisurely exploration of Fes.
The majestic Merzouga Desert lies at a distance of around 463 kilometers (287 miles) from the vibrant city of Fes. Embarking on this enchanting journey from Fes to the mesmerizing Merzouga sand dunes unveils a tapestry of awe-inspiring sceneries and captivating stops, creating an unforgettable adventure for travelers. Prepare to be enthralled as you traverse this remarkable distance, immersing yourself in the beauty of the landscapes that unfold before your eyes.
Wi-Fi availability in the desert camps can vary depending on the specific camp you choose. Some desert camps may offer Wi-Fi access to their guests, while others may not have this facility available.
It’s recommended to pack comfortable clothing suitable for warm weather during the day and cooler temperatures at night. Essentials include sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a scarf for protection from the desert wind, comfortable shoes for walking, and a small backpack for personal items. It’s also advisable to bring a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and memorable moments.
The number of days you need in Marrakech is at least 2 days to fully explore and experience the city’s rich culture, history, and attractions. Discover 10 best things to do in Marrakech