Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane and Azrou forest.
To kick off your 3-day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour, we’ll arrange for pickup from your hotel/riad and begin driving southwards towards Ifrane and Azrou, passing through the beautiful Middle Atlas Mountains.
During the journey, we’ll make a stop at the cedar forests where you can observe the Barbary macaques in their natural habitat. Continuing through the Tizi Ntalghamt pass to Midelt, you’ll have the opportunity to admire the stunning views of the Middle-Atlas plateau, as well as the striking Ziz Gorges carved out of volcanic rock. As you approach Errachidia, the landscape will change to reveal glimpses of the desert.
After lunch, our journey will continue through the Ziz Valley to Erfoud, Rissani, and finally Merzouga. Here, we’ll enjoy a glass of refreshing mint tea before leaving our belongings in a secure location and embarking on a 1 hour and 30-minute camel ride to reach a Berber campsite located in the middle of the Erg Chebbi Sad Dunes, which are the tallest in North Africa.
The Berber tents we’ll be staying in are thoughtfully equipped with comfortable mattresses, blankets, and cushions. Once we’ve settled in, we’ll savor a delicious dinner and gather around the campfire to listen to the enchanting sound of traditional Berber drums under the starry sky. This marks the end of day one on our Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour.
Day 2: Merzouga to Dades.
On the second day of our Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour, we’ll witness a breathtaking sunrise over the sea of sand dunes. After enjoying a delicious breakfast and a refreshing shower at the campsite, we’ll head back to Merzouga either by camel or 4WD, depending on your preference.
From there, we’ll depart from the Sahara desert and make our way towards Tinghir, also known as the “city of the mountain” in Tamazight. This charming Berber village is surrounded by palm trees and boasts unique-colored houses, offering a delightful contrast for visitors. Throughout the journey, we’ll witness the stunning contrasts of the landscape.
Next, we’ll explore the Todra Gorges, which are characterized by towering rock walls that reach over 200 meters in height. After taking in the awe-inspiring scenery, we’ll proceed towards the Dades Valley, a Berber village renowned for its high gorges and magnificent views of the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.
To cap off an exciting day, we’ll spend the second night of our Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour in a charming riad.
Day 3: Dades to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou.
We will drive via the Valley of the Dades and Valley of the Roses until we reach Ouarzazate, where we will see the Kasbah of Taourirt on the third day of our three-day journey from Fes to Marrakech across the desert. After around 25 kilometers, we will reach the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for serving as the background for Oscar-winning films such as “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Sheltering Sky,” and “Babel.”
Our drive will continue across the Tizi N-Tichka pass and the scenic High Atlas Mountains until we reach the “Red City” of Marrakech, where we will say goodbye to our guide.
