A slower private route from Marrakech to Fes with the Sahara, valleys and Middle Atlas included in one itinerary.
Tour overview
Take our 5-day desert trip from Marrakech to Fes and take in the enticing sights of the country's top tourist destinations. Generally speaking, we go via the High Atlas Mountains and Ait Benhaddou on the first day before arriving in Ouarzazate, where we will spend the night. Second, we will take you to the desert on the second day, which is the highlight of any vacation to Morocco. The third day will be dedicated to learning more about the Nomad Berbers and the desert regions. On the fourth day, we'll go to Midelt via a different route. On the last day, we'll take you to Meknes before continuing on to Fes, where the journey comes to a conclusion.
This 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes gives the desert crossing more time than the shorter routes. It keeps the main southern stops while adding space around Merzouga and the journey north toward Fes.
The tour is useful for travellers who want to connect Marrakech and Fes without missing Erg Chebbi, Ait Ben Haddou and the oasis valleys.
Day by day
Day 1
You will be picked up from our meeting location in Marrakech to start the first day of your 5-day tour from Marrakech to Fes. The Tizi Ntichka pass, which is 2260 meters high and 200 kilometers long, will be our first stop. We'll stop by the cooperative argan oil and take some time to unwind and see how they make argan oil for beauty uses. Afterwards, as we go to the kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, we'll pass by a lot of other kasbahs, like Telouet. Ait Benhaddou, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is well-known globally and has used as a filming location for both visitors and filmmakers. In the next leg of the journey, we will visit Morocco's Ouallywood and the Atlas Studios, where movies are filmed and the equipment is rented. The popular television series Game of Thrones and the prison break movie have both been filmed nearby Ouarzazate. We will continue on our trip to Dades Gorges, where we will spend the night, after eating lunch in this city.
Day 2
This will be the first day of our five-day tour from Marrakech to Fes. Before reaching the Todra Gorges, our first stop, we will first travel through a number of stunning valleys along the road. We would pause in this later place for a time to explore the surroundings and take a stroll down the renowned Todra canyons. With its canyons that reach a height of roughly 300 meters, it is generally regarded as one of Morocco's greatest tourist sites for climbers and photographers. We'll continue to go by the little Berber towns before stopping for lunch in Tinghir or Tinjedad. We will depart for our final destination once the lunch has been enjoyed. The Merzouga Desert is often regarded as the high point of any vacation to Morocco. Typically, the desert excursion will begin with a camel ride across the golden dunes. We will, however, pause along the route to take in the scenery and see the sunset. Ultimately, we shall arrive at our desert-based Nomadic camp. The evening will begin with a typical Moroccan feast. Afterwards, beneath the bright sky, our group will create fire and perform the drums.
Day 3
Our 5-day tour from Marrakech to Fes will begin with a trek into the desert on the third day. The Nomads, the country's indigenous inhabitants, are often the first stop on desert trips. You will learn about the true Moroccan way of life through interacting with these individuals. That is to say, the traditional customs and culture of the nation are still upheld by the Berber Nomads. After spending some time with the Nomads, we go to Glb Nass, also known as "the people's heart," where we pause to admire the panoramic views and the splendor of the Saharan dune fields. The next stop is the kohl mine in M'Ifiss, which was formerly a property of the French colonial empire and was exploited by it. We will next go to Khamlia to see the Gnawa tribe and have lunch there. They are mostly immigrants from countries like Mali and Gabon. They made Morocco their home and established themselves in several locations, including the hamlet we are now visiting. You will be able to enjoy their music and observe their unique dance routines. The remainder of the day will be spent touring further locations, including the Oases of Hassi Labied.
Day 4
Following breakfast at your desert lodging, we will depart in direction of Midelt. The first stop on our journey will be Rissani, where we will explore one of the largest traditional marketplaces in southeast Morocco. Second, we'll make a pit stop at Erfoud, where we'll participate in various seminars for fossils. You will get the opportunity to see a wide variety of fossils that are present there. The largest source of dates in Morocco, Ziz Valley, will be our next stop after that. The hundreds of palm palms in the Ziz valley can be seen from the top of one of Morocco's most panoramic locations as we continue driving across the Ait Chakr Pass. After then, we'll keep going till we reach Midelt. The dam of Errachidia is the next stop. a location designated by the government to provide local residents with national water. After spending the night there, we will complete the fourth day of your five-day desert vacation from Marrakech to Fes.
Day 5
The last day of our five-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is distinct from the previous days. We're going to one of Morocco's royal cities today. But first, we'll make another trip into the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the cedar forest where we'll make our first halt. We will have arrived at Meknes in a little time. Initially, we'll transport you to the city's Sahrij Souani lake for a visit. After that, we'll go on with our exploration of Meknes. This time, we're going to explore Bab Mansour and Lhdim Square. After that, we will depart the city in search of Volubilis, also known as the Roman ruins, which was formerly the capital of the Mauritanian monarchy. The service will then terminate there, thus we will travel right there.
The route
An overview of the main stops on this journey. Exact stops and timings are adapted to your dates and pace.
When to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route: warm days, cool desert nights and clear light over the dunes. Summer brings very hot afternoons in the south, so days start early and rest hours fall in the middle of the day. Winter is quiet and bright, with cold nights in the desert and possible snow on the High Atlas passes.
Read the seasons guideGallery
Private travel
This tour runs privately for your group only. You travel in your own vehicle with a local driver who knows the roads, the villages and the seasons, so the itinerary can shift during the trip if you would rather stay longer somewhere or set off earlier.
Families, couples and small groups all travel the same way, with accommodation chosen to match the comfort level you ask for — from simple guesthouses to more comfortable hotels and desert camps.
To book this private 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, send us your travel date, number of travellers, pick-up location in Marrakech and preferred accommodation category through the request form.
Please mention any special requirements, including child seats, dietary needs, a private 4×4 transfer to the desert camp or optional activities such as quad biking and dune buggy rides.
After receiving your request we confirm availability and send you the final itinerary, accommodation details and total price. Your reservation is confirmed once the required deposit has been received.
To secure your reservation, a deposit of €100–€200 is required. The exact amount is stated in your final quotation and depends on the total booking value and the services you choose.
The deposit can be paid securely through PayPal. The remaining balance is normally paid in cash directly to your driver at the start of the tour.
Card payment can also be arranged. A 5% processing fee applies to payments made by card.
Your booking is fully confirmed once the deposit has been received and written confirmation has been sent with the final itinerary, desert camp details and payment summary.
We share pick-up times, accommodation details and packing suggestions for the desert once your dates are confirmed.
Good to know
What travellers say
74 reviews from travellers who booked with us. Figures checked September 2026.
“Our recent tour through Morocco was nothing short of spectacular, but what truly made the experience stand out was the exceptional service we received. A special shoutout goes to our driver, Omar, who was the highlight of our trip. What we appreciated most was how he catered to our specific interests, often suggesting stops and experiences that perfectly matched what we were looking for.”
“We just finished a 14 days tour of Morocco. The travel agency designed a travel plan for us that brings us from the modern Casablanca to the exotic Chefchaouen, Fes and Sahara. We were all well looked after by our driver Omar, who is courteous, gentle and humourous. He seems to know everyone wherever we visit.”
“We just returned from an unforgettable 10-day trip to Morocco with my wife and our three children, and I can't recommend this travel agency enough. They planned a perfectly balanced itinerary covering Marrakesh, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca, giving us a wonderful mix of culture, history, and relaxation.”
Other routes
2 daysThe quickest way to reach Erg Chebbi from Marrakech, with one night in a desert camp.
3 daysCross the High Atlas and Road of a Thousand Kasbahs before reaching the dunes of Merzouga.
3 daysA rewarding one-way route linking two imperial cities through valleys, kasbahs and the Sahara.
4 daysTravel at a more relaxed pace with extra time for the landscapes and communities of southern Morocco.
Your Morocco journey starts here
Tell us your dates, group size and the comfort level you have in mind, and we will come back with the full plan and price.