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Large sand dune of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, Sahara desert, Morocco

Photo: Siem / Unsplash

4 Days from Marrakech to Fez via the Desert

Cross Morocco from Marrakech to Fez with two nights in the Merzouga dunes, Gnawa music, Todra Gorges and the cedar forest.

  • Duration4 days · 3 nights
  • StartMarrakech
  • EndFez
  • Trip typePrivate tour

Overview

This Marrakech to Fez desert tour is the easiest way to see the Sahara without going back the same way. In four days you cross the High Atlas, sleep in the Dades Valley, spend two nights in Merzouga and finish in Fez. With a full day in the desert, you have time to rest, meet local families and enjoy Gnawa music in Khamlia, our home village.

From Fez you can continue to Chefchaouen with our Chefchaouen day trip, or take the train to Casablanca. See more desert tours.

Highlights

  • Aït Ben Haddou and the High Atlas road
  • Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley
  • Two nights in Merzouga, at the Erg Chebbi dunes
  • Gnawa music in Khamlia and the market of Rissani
  • Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar forest of Ifrane

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Day 1: Marrakech – Tichka – Aït Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades

    Your driver picks you up at your riad in Marrakech around 08:00. You climb into the High Atlas and cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with wide mountain views. You then visit Aït Ben Haddou, an old earth village protected by UNESCO. After lunch you pass Ouarzazate and continue along the road of the kasbahs to the Dades Valley. Dinner and night in a kasbah-style hotel.

    Overnight: Dades Valley

  2. 2

    Day 2

    Day 2: Todra Gorges – Merzouga, camel ride and camp

    You drive to Tinghir and walk in the Todra Gorges, a narrow canyon with very high walls. Then you continue east across the desert plain to Merzouga. In the late afternoon you ride camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. Dinner is served in the camp, and you can sit by the fire to listen to drums and look at the stars. Night in the desert camp.

    Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

  3. 3

    Day 3

    Day 3: Merzouga: Khamlia, Rissani and nomad families

    Watch the sunrise from the dunes. After breakfast you explore the area. In Khamlia, local musicians play Gnawa music, a spiritual music with deep drums and iron castanets. In Rissani you walk in the busy market, where people sell dates, spices and donkeys. You may visit a nomad family and drink tea in their tent. Second night in the camp or in a hotel at the edge of the dunes.

    Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

  4. 4

    Day 4

    Day 4: Merzouga – Ziz valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fez

    Today you drive north. You follow the Ziz valley, a long green line of palm trees in a deep canyon. After lunch in Midelt, you cross the Middle Atlas and stop in the cedar forest near Ifrane to see Barbary macaques. Ifrane is a clean mountain town with sloping roofs. You arrive in Fez in the early evening, and your driver takes you to your riad.

Route map

Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka pass → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley → Todra Gorges (Tinghir) → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) → Rissani → Midelt → Ifrane → Fez

What's included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minivan) with fuel
  • Private English-speaking driver
  • 1 night in the Dades Valley and 2 nights in Merzouga (camp or hotel)
  • Dinner and breakfast every night
  • Camel ride and desert camp night in Erg Chebbi
  • Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off at your riad in Fez
  • Bottled water in the vehicle

Not included

  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance tickets and local guides
  • Optional quad bike, sandboarding or 4x4 desert tour
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips and personal expenses

Accommodation by category

Choose your hotel category. The final hotel names are confirmed when you book, depending on availability.

NightLocationStandardSuperiorLuxury
1Dades ValleyFamily-run kasbah hotelBoutique kasbah with poolLuxury kasbah lodge
2Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)Desert camp, tent with private bathroomComfort camp, tent with private bathroomLuxury camp, large tent with private bathroom
3Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)Desert camp, tent with private bathroomComfort camp, tent with private bathroomLuxury camp, large tent with private bathroom

Photo gallery

Frequently asked questions

Where do I sleep the second night in Merzouga?

You can choose: a second night in the desert camp or a hotel at the edge of the dunes with a pool. Tell us when you book.

Can I do this tour from Fez to Marrakech?

Yes. See our 4 days from Fez to Marrakech via the desert.

Is the camel ride hard?

No. It lasts about one hour, at a slow pace. Hold on when the camel stands up and sits down.

Want to change this itinerary?

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