5 ★★★★★ 1906 reviews
4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour to the southeast of Morocco, exploring historical Kasbahs, unique gorges, and the impressive Sahara Desert. This 4-day, 3-night tour from Marrakech is perfect for adventure seekers and culture enthusiasts, offering a glimpse into the diversity and rich culture of Morocco.
During this trip, you will drive through the Atlas Mountains, visiting the ancient Ait-Ben-Haddou Kasbah and Ouarzazate city before arriving at the charming Dades Gorges. Continue towards the magical Merzouga Sahara Desert, riding camels into the heart of the dunes for a night under the stars in a traditional Berber camp. Not to mention exploring the desert area, visiting the nomads, and interacting with the locals.
Here are the tour highlights:
The 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour starts from the airport or your hotel in Marrakech. We will drive across the diverse landscapes of the Atlas Mountains. Our trip begins with a scenic drive through the High Atlas Mountains, taking in the curvy roads of Tichka Pass. We will make some quick stops to enjoy the views of the mountains as we go up to an altitude of 2260m. Stretch a leg, drink some coffee, or just relax and take pictures.
Our first main stop of the day is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou. A still-standing fortress in the middle of the Ounila valley. Here you can hike through the kasbah and its mud houses to discover where they filmed parts of movies like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Not to mention TV series like Game of Thrones. Continuing our drive, we’ll go through Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa. Here, you can go on a visit to the Atlas Studios; it is a place where they also film movies. Later in the evening, we will hit the road again, passing by the Skoura oasis, visiting the Valley of the Roses, and enjoying the numerous Kasbahs along the way. Finally, we end the day in Dades Valley, where you check in at the hotel.
After enjoying a Moroccan breakfast in Dades Valley, we continue our 4-day Marrakech to Fes journey. This time, we are driving deeper into the east of Morocco. Before that, we are going to make some interesting stops. Firstly, not far from Boumalne Dades, we will arrive in Todra Gorges. A magical place where the river has carved a great canyon through the red-yellow High Atlas mountains. You’ll have some free time to wander through the gorges and fully enjoy this attraction.
In the afternoon, we are going to drive through Erfoud, a very famous fossil destination. Here, you can have the chance to visit one of the factories where they extract unique fossils like trilobites and ammonites. Arriving at the Sahara desert of Merzouga, you’ll hop on camels and cross the golden sand dunes. On the way to the camp, we will stop near one of the big dunes in the area. You can climb up the dune to witness the magical sunset from the top.
Later, we’ll continue to our desert camp, where you can enjoy a traditional meal while listening to the rhythmic beats of Berber drums. And maybe dance around the campfire under the vast open sky filled with stars!
On the third day of the 4-day Morocco tour from Marrakech to Fes, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Merzouga at your leisure. To start with, we will discover the original people of the desert, the nomads. These people still live in tents, and they move from one place to another looking for better life conditions.
Afterward, we will go deeper into the desert and visit the Mines of Mifiss. Here, you will see an old factory for extracting the Mascara powder from crashing the big rocks. You can have some free time to hike up for a good panoramic view of the sand dunes. As lunchtime gets closer, we will take to experience the local cuisine. This time, you will taste a different dish, the Berber Pizza, a special desert dish that consists of two layers of bread with the ingredients inside.
After having lunch, we will head to discover another lifestyle, the Gnaoua people. Most of these people live in a village called Khamlia, and they originally came from Sub-Saharan African countries. You will have some free time to relax and enjoy their music.
Finally, we will head to the hotel, feel free to relax, take a dip in the hotel pool, or venture into the desert for optional activities like quad biking or buggy riding (at an additional cost). We’ll spend another night in the hotel, enjoying a delightful dinner amidst the desert atmosphere.
As our adventurous 4-day tour from Marrakech to Fes comes to an end, we recommend waking up for the mesmerizing sunrise over the desert. After breakfast, we ride camels back to the village where we meet our driver (you can take the 4×4 from the camp instead of camels). Our first stop will be in Rissani, a desert city with one of the biggest traditional markets in Morocco. You can take a walk to see where the locals buy goods.
Continuing our drive, we’ll follow the path of the Ziz River. Here, we will make a stop for the amazing view of the Ziz Valley with its thousands of palm trees. Lunch will be somewhere near Midelt (when you feel hungry).
Our route then takes us through the cedar forest, home to the friendly Barbary Macaques. Enjoy feeding these friendly creatures as we wander through the forest. Next, we’ll visit Ifrane, known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its snowy landscapes and alpine-style houses. Finally, we’ll drop you off at Fes airport or your accommodation.
“Morocco Vacations and their staff were amazing. We were very nervous about how the tour would go but it was very organized. I went with 4 of my girlfriends, we felt safe the whole time. Great experience for the price. Hamid was our driver and guide for the whole trip, and he was very patient, knowledgeable, and funny. We visited many amazing places, like the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou and the Merzouga Desert. I highly recommend adding on the ATV ride; it was awesome!”
“What an amazing 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes. I am studying abroad and was recommended this tour by a friend. It was worth every penny and was a great value as well. Hamid, our guide, went above and beyond and made this a trip we will never forget. He knew a lot about Morocco and took good care of us. The accommodations were nice, and the stops along the way broke up a long ride to the desert. The views and scenery were unmatched. I would recommend it to anyone.”
To book this tour, use the contact form above, email, WhatsApp, or our social networks, and provide us with your chosen tour, number of travelers, type of accommodation (standard, luxury, etc.), and your tour date (if known). To confirm your tour, we require a deposit. The rest of the payment is paid in cash when you meet your driver.
The cost of the 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes varies depending on the number of participants and your chosen accommodation type. Generally, larger groups benefit from a more economical price per person. Request a complimentary quote today to determine your personalized rate!
Your money will be refunded only if you cancel the tour 20 days before your arrival. (20-day money-back guarantee). If the tour is postponed, your deposit will still be available for future use.
