Both cities work as a starting point for the Sahara, and the better choice usually comes down to your flights and how many days you have rather than the scenery.
Starting in Marrakech
From Marrakech the road south crosses the High Atlas at Tizi n'Tichka, then follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge before reaching the dunes at Merzouga.
It is the more dramatic drive of the two and the most popular. Three days is the realistic minimum for a round trip, and four days makes it comfortable rather than rushed.
Starting in Fes
From Fes the route runs through the Middle Atlas cedar forests, past Ifrane and Midelt, then down the Ziz Valley to Merzouga. It is a quieter, gentler landscape and a slightly shorter drive to the dunes.
Fes suits travellers who want the medina first and the desert second, and it works especially well as a one-way trip ending in Marrakech.
One-way beats a round trip when you have the days
The strongest itinerary for most visitors is one-way: Marrakech to Fes, or Fes to Marrakech, through Merzouga. You see the kasbah road, the Sahara and the Middle Atlas without repeating a single stretch of road, and you finish in a different city from the one you arrived in.
Round trips exist because of flights, not because of the scenery. If both of your flights use the same airport, a round trip from that city is the sensible answer.
How your days decide it
A rough guide, based on the routes we drive most:
- 2 days: only realistic from Errachidia, close to the dunes
- 3 days: Marrakech round trip, or one-way between Marrakech and Fes
- 4 days: the same routes at a comfortable pace, with more time in the desert
- 5 to 8 days: add Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Tangier or a second desert night
Still not sure?
Tell us the airport you arrive at, the airport you leave from and the number of nights you have. That is usually enough to recommend one route over the other — and you can also try the trip planner on this site, which suggests itineraries from your dates and interests.
