October 2026
A very good experience. A superb, very well organised outing with our guide Youssef! Very good communication with Mohamed! Toubkal in one day! Mission accomplished! I recommend it
Translated from French
3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
A one-way desert journey: from Marrakesh over the High Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes, then north through the Ziz valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fes.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Level
- Easy
- Highest point
- 2,260 m
- Starts
- Marrakesh, ends in Fes
- Price per person
- Price on request
The tour
Many travellers visit both Marrakesh and Fes, and the Sahara sits conveniently between them. This one-way tour takes you from Marrakesh over the High Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi, and then north through the Ziz valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes, so you see the desert without driving back the way you came.
The first two days follow the classic desert route: the Tizi n'Tichka pass, the ksar of Aït Benhaddou, the Dadès valley, the Todra gorge and a camel ride into the dunes for a night at camp. The third day is completely different: the palm groves of the Ziz gorges, the high plateau of Midelt below the snowy Jbel Ayachi, and the cedar forests around Azrou and Ifrane before you drop down to Fes.
You travel privately with your own driver from Marrakesh to the door of your riad in Fes.
Is this tour for you?
This tour suits travellers on a Marrakesh to Fes itinerary who want to include the desert: couples, families and friends who are happy with long road days. There is no hiking.
If you need to return to Marrakesh, choose the 3‑day or 4‑day Merzouga tour instead. The reverse route, from Fes to Marrakesh, is also possible; just ask.
Day by day
A sample itinerary for the 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga. Your driver adapts it to the weather, the season and the group.
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Day 1 Marrakesh, Aït Benhaddou and the Dadès valley
Early pickup in Marrakesh and the drive into the High Atlas, over the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m. Visit the ksar of Aït Benhaddou, then continue through Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Valley of Roses to the Dadès valley for dinner and the night.
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Day 2 Todra gorge and the Sahara
A morning walk in the Todra gorge near Tinghir, then the drive east across the plains via Erfoud to Merzouga. In the late afternoon you ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes, climb a dune for sunset and spend the night at a desert camp.
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Day 3 Ziz valley, the Middle Atlas and Fes
Sunrise from the dunes and breakfast at camp. The road north follows the Ziz valley, where date palms fill the bottom of a deep canyon, to Er-Rachidia and Midelt on its high plateau. You then cross the Middle Atlas through cedar forests, where Barbary macaques live, and pass the alpine-style town of Ifrane before reaching Fes in the evening.
When to go
October to April is the best time, with mild days in the desert. In winter the Middle Atlas around Ifrane and Midelt can be snowy, and the High Atlas pass occasionally closes for a few hours after heavy snow; we adapt the timing to the forecast.
June to August is very hot in the desert at midday. We start early and time the camel ride for the evening.
- Jan: best conditions
- Feb: best conditions
- Mar: best conditions
- Apr: best conditions
- May: best conditions
- Jun: summer, very hot at midday
- Jul: summer, very hot at midday
- Aug: summer, very hot at midday
- Sep: best conditions
- Oct: best conditions
- Nov: best conditions
- Dec: best conditions
Weather in Merzouga right now
Live forecast
Loading the live forecast…
Forecast data from MET Norway / yr.no, CC BY 4.0. Forecasts are model estimates; conditions on the day can differ.
Where you sleep and what you eat
One night in a hotel in the Dadès valley and one night at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, both with dinner and breakfast. Tell us your preferred camp level when you ask for a quote.
Lunches are not included, so you can choose where to stop. Dinners are Moroccan home cooking with mint tea.
Pickup and getting there
We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakesh on the first morning and drop you at your riad or hotel in Fes at the end of the third day.
Your luggage travels with you in the vehicle, so there is no need to leave anything behind in Marrakesh.
Travel tips and safety
Bring sun protection, a scarf for wind and sand, and a warm layer for the night in the desert and the cooler Middle Atlas. Drink plenty of water on the long road days.
Carry cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips. Please do not feed the macaques in the cedar forest; it makes them aggressive and is bad for their health.
Tips and money
Tipping is customary in Morocco. Drivers, camp teams and local guides appreciate a tip at the end of the trip if you were happy with the service; give what feels right. Bring dirhams in small notes, as card payments are rare outside the cities.
What to pack for this tour
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What's included
- Pickup in Marrakesh and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Fes
- Private driver and air-conditioned vehicle
- 1 night in a hotel in the Dadès valley, with dinner and breakfast
- 1 night at a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, with dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride to the camp and back
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Local guides and entrance fees at the sites
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your driver and the camp team
Before you go
Read the answers to common questions and the booking terms. Your quote lists exactly what your price includes.
What travellers say about our team
This tour has no reviews of its own yet. These are from guests on our Toubkal treks.
October 2026
We climbed Toubkal after completing the 10‑day grand tour of Toubkal. Nothing to fault in the organisation, from the pickup in Marrakesh to the return. Everything was perfect and just as we hoped. A special mention for the excellent cooking
Translated from French
September 2026
A superb experience for a first 4,000 m peak, full of traditions and landscapes. Our guide Yassine was great and looked after us all the way up! I recommend it!
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August 2026
My father and I have just come back from an extraordinary trekking experience in the Atlas Mountains, including the ascent of Mount Toubkal. I can’t recommend Saeed Rashid and the whole Toubkal Hiking Experts team highly enough… Read the full review on Google
Translated from French
April 2026
Climbing Toubkal with Hassan as my guide was a wonderful experience. He is incredibly strong and experienced, and always made me feel confident, even on the most demanding sections… Read the full review on Google
Translated from French
April 2026
My four-day trek in the Atlas Mountains was unforgettable thanks to Yassin! Very friendly, he introduced me to Berber culture, its villages and its people, and showed me breathtaking landscapes, all while looking after my wellbeing and my meals. I couldn’t have done it without him! A big thank you!
Translated from French
Questions about the 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
More answers on our FAQ page, or ask us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within a few hours.
Can we do the tour from Fes to Marrakesh instead?
Yes, the same route works in reverse. Tell us your direction and dates when you ask for a quote.
How long is the last day?
Merzouga to Fes is around 470 km, usually 8 to 9 hours with stops.
Can we bring all our luggage?
Yes. You travel one way, so your luggage stays in the vehicle for the whole tour.
Will we see monkeys?
Barbary macaques often come to the roadside in the cedar forests near Azrou, but they are wild animals, so sightings are not guaranteed.
Is the tour private?
Yes, with your own driver and vehicle from Marrakesh to Fes.
Book the 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
Tell us when you'd like to go and who's coming. We reply with availability and a clear quote, usually within a day.
Price on request
