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Desert trip from Marrakech to Fes 4 days – overview:
Are you currently researching a Marrakech to Fes itinerary via the Sahara desert? This trip offers exactly that: the famous dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga en route from one Imperial city to the other – Marrakech to Fes.
Traditional rural Berber life can be witnessed in the High Atlas Mountains with its adobe villages, and in the Skoura oasis with its palm, olive and fruit trees. The Road of a 1000 Kasbahs and the Rose Valley of Damascene roses also passes many Berber homes and gardens. The date palms of the Ziz Valley, famous for its date festival in November, and the Barbary apes in the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas are further picturesque aspects of the trip.
Kasbahs Telouet, Kasbah Aït ben Haddou – one of Morocco’s nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Kasbah Amredhil in Skoura showcase larger dwellings of multi-generational families.
Once in the red Erg Chebbi dunes, that long anticipated camel ride is finally on the timetable. Dining under the starlit sky followed by a party of Berber music and drumming precedes the night’s rest in your own private tent in a luxury desert camp. This magical setting will remain in your mind for ever.
Experience the majesty and wonder of our unique range of Marrakech Desert tours. Discover the tour itinerary below. Your journey starts here!
4-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech to Fes – highlights:
- Taking in the panoramic views in the High Atlas Mountains, the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and Middle Atlas
- Visiting Kasbah Telouet, the UNESCO recognised Kasbah Aït ben Haddou, and Kasbah Amredhil
- Traversing the Rose Valley and the Road of 1000 Kasbahs with their adobe houses and fertile fields
- Walking for a couple of hours in the Dades Valley or the Toudgha Gorges guided by a local man
- Experiencing a slow camel ride in the Erg Chebbi dunes by Merzouga to the luxurious desert camp
- Climbing the nearest dunes to watch the sun slowly set in a final glow beyond the desert horizon
- Spending the night in a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi with an evening of Berber music and drumming
What is included in this desert tour from Marrakech to Fes:
- Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle; 4×4 Toyota Prado TX or deluxe van and fuel
- Pick up from your hotel or riad in Marrakech and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Fes
- Accommodation in air-conditioned rooms/suites with private bathroom
- Overnight in a spacious luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi with private toilet and shower, lamps, traditional Moroccan handcrafted furnishings
- All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner – with vegetarian and vegan options available
- A camel ride with a guide. And if you wish to do some sandboarding, just speak to the camp staff!
- The option to go to and return from the camp by 4×4
- Luggage service to the camp and all accommodation
- Berber drumming and music
- Free time to explore the sites such as Aït ben Haddou, the Ounila Valley, for walks, photos, and tea /coffee
- The opportunity to ask the driver to stop when and where you wish
- Entrance fees and local guide
- Tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert
What is not included:
- Drinks
- Tips
- Extras
Good to know about Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 4 days:
- This Marrakech desert tour can be customised to fit your interests and requirements
- You can always consult your driver about skipping some spots to spend more time elsewhere
- It is possible to do this tour the other way around, starting this desert tour from Fes to Marrakech
- Activities such as a full day’s camel trekking in the Erg Chebbi Dunes can be added to this tour
- You can choose to go to the camp either on camelback or by the 4×4 ( you go for your camel ride from the camp)
- Here is a downloadable packing list to help plan for your Moroccan desert tour
- We require a 30% deposit of the total price to book the car, while the balance is payable to us in the office in Ouarzazate
- We accept payment through PayPal, bank transfers in Europe, by credit card, or cash (USD, Euro, GBP or MAD)
- We offer a 25% discount for children under 12, and one child under 3 per family travels free of charge
- These prices are liable to fluctuation according to the current exchange rate
- Our prices can be subject to an increase over the busy season, and, in particular, the Christmas and New Year’s Eve period
Prices per person
| No Days | Meals |
|---|---|
| All-inclusive | |
| Total price | |
| 2 PERSONS |
|---|
| 595 € * |
| 1190 € * |
| 3 PERSONS |
|---|
| 555 € * |
| 1665 € * |
| 4 PERSONS |
|---|
| 545 € * |
| 2180 € * |
| 5 PERSONS |
|---|
| 495 € * |
| 2475 € * |
| 6 PERSONS |
|---|
| 495 € * |
| 2970 € * |
4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes – itinerary:
1st day: Marrakech – Ouarzazate
Kick-off your desert trip from Marrakech to Fes with a morning departure at 8.30 from your riad.
After the Tichka pass at the peak of the High Atlas Mountains, you turn off towards Kasbah Telouet This Kasbah, comprised of three main buildings, belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family. Each addition to the building was built in different eras and they are all now standing in ruins. Two parts have been so battered by the wind and rain that they are too dangerous to enter. However, there is an unexpected surprise as you reach the farthest end of the most intact building.
Regrettably, the entire Kasbah is now closed because of the damage caused by the earthquake in Morocco in September 2023. However, it’s well worthwhile looking at the outside with a local guide to learn about its interesting history.
The beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley offers more surprises in the shape of the rock and soil, all its many small Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs. Lunch awaits at Aït ben Haddou, before visiting the iconic Kasbah.
Another 45 minutes later you will reach the largest town after the mountains, namely Ouarzazate. The night is spent in a riad/guest house in or near the town.
2nd day: Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges
After breakfast, the journey continues east following the High Atlas to your left. In Skoura, sadly,there are many abandoned Kasbahs as life in the oasis has became too hard and its inhabitants have left for Europe. However the recently restored Kasbah Amredhil highlights the ancient Berber multi-generational family dwellings of the south.
Further east from here lies Kela’a M’gouna in the Valley of Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May. For rose-product enthusiasts, the cosmetic articles locally made from the valley’s abundant flowers are simply lovely. They are well-known everywhere in Morocco and are of the highest quality.
An off-road route leads to nomad caves where you will have a glass of tea with them before continuing to the Dades Gorge for lunch. Now you have time after lunch in the Dades Valley to relax or to stroll near the fields and gardens. You spend the night in a guest house.
3rd day: Dades gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast, the trip continues a short distance to Tinghir and the higher Toudgha gorges. A walk through them allows you to appreciate the steep sides to the gorge and the narrow vista of the sky above.
The road to the Chebbi dunes goes via Tinjdad and the Tafilalet oasis near Erfoud. Between Tinjdad and Erfoud, you can walk down into the underground water channels. They are no longer in use but were the most ingenious way of preventing evaporation of precious water. It is fascinating to climb down to experience the coolness below ground and to wonder at the ancient engineering involved.
Erfoud is a small desert town, famous country-wide for its date festival as well as the billions of fossils found in the surrounding area. Next is Rissani, the seat of the Alaouite family of the present king of Morocco. At the edge of the desert, your driver will drop you to be met by camels. They provide your transport to the luxury camp where you will spend the night.
You have dinner and spend the night here with your own private bathroom, king-sized beds, beautiful Moroccan furnishings and lamps all tastefully underlining the silence and beauty of the dunes.
4th day: Merzouga – Fes
After breakfast, you return to Rissani and Erfoud, where there will be a stop to see how the locally found fossils are worked into furniture and artefacts. The unbelievable numbers and beauty of these fossils are breathtaking and prove wonderful souvenirs for those inclined to buy.
Northwards you will arrive in Er Rachidia and the Ziz Valley, which is remarkable for the extent of its palm trees and the volume of dates it produces each year. Lunch is in Midelt, 1508M, known as “the apple capital”, lying in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. This town is an important agricultural centre as well as being one of Morocco’s principal cities of several minerals; fluorite, vanadinite, quartz, and cerussite.
Having passed over Tizi-n-Talremt pass, known as the “she-camel” pass and reaching Azrou, you can stop to watch Barbary apes in the cedar forests eager for tidbits.
We reach Fez at the end of the afternoon. Your private Marrakech to Fes desert tour 4 days comes to an end as your driver escort you to your riad.
