Aït Ben Haddou
A fortified clay village on the old trade route, your first major stop.
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3 Days • Private Desert Morocco Tour
Our 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes starts in the red city, spends a night in the Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi and ends at your hotel or riad in Fes.
Duration
3 Days / 2 Nights
Departure
Marrakech
Tour Type
Private tour with driver
Destination
Fes via Merzouga
Transport
Private 4x4 or air-conditioned minivan
Availability
Daily, flexible start date
Overview
The 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes is a one-way crossing for travelers heading north who want the desert on the way. Instead of a train or a flight, you travel with a private English-speaking driver over the High Atlas, along the kasbah road and into the Sahara. The first night is in the Dades Valley, the second at a tent camp among the dunes after a sunset camel ride. On the final day you follow the Ziz Valley and climb through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fes. It works well for couples, families and small groups who want to see a large part of Morocco without backtracking.
Two old imperial cities, linked by a night in the dunes.
What to expect
Cross the High Atlas at Tizi n'Tichka
Climb through the lanes of Aït Ben Haddou
Walk along the stream in Todra Gorge
Sleep in a tent camp below the dunes
Pass cedar forests and Barbary macaques near Azrou
Day by day
1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Approx. distance: 330 km
Pickup from your Marrakech accommodation is around 8:00 am. The road winds up to the Tizi n'Tichka pass and down the southern side of the mountains to Aït Ben Haddou.
Walk through the earthen ksar, cross the riverbed and climb to the top for wide views, then stop for lunch. The afternoon drive passes Ouarzazate and the Skoura oasis before reaching the Dades Valley, where you have dinner and spend the night.
KEY STOPS: Tizi n'Tichka, Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura
STAY: Hotel or kasbah guesthouse in the Dades Valley
MEALS: Dinner
2
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga
Approx. distance: 290 km
After breakfast you drive to Tinghir and walk into Todra Gorge, where the cliffs close in to a gap only a few metres wide. The route then crosses open stony plains to Erfoud and Rissani.
Near Merzouga the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi come into view. You leave the car and ride a camel into the sand for sunset, then settle into camp for dinner and a quiet evening under the stars.
KEY STOPS: Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Rissani, Erg Chebbi
STAY: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
3
Merzouga → Midelt → Fes
Approx. distance: 470 km
Get up early for sunrise on the dunes, then have breakfast before the long drive north. The road follows the palm groves of the Ziz Valley and passes through the Ziz Gorges to Errachidia.
Lunch is usually in Midelt, a town known for its apples. In the afternoon you cross the Middle Atlas, with cedar forests near Azrou and a short stop in the tidy alpine-style town of Ifrane. You reach Fes in the early evening and are dropped at your accommodation.
KEY STOPS: Ziz Valley, Errachidia, Midelt, Azrou, Ifrane
STAY: Drop-off at your Fes accommodation
MEALS: Breakfast
The route
A fortified clay village on the old trade route, your first major stop.
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A deep canyon near Tinghir that you walk through on day two.
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The dunes where you ride a camel and sleep in a tent camp.
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A long ribbon of date palms on the road north to Fes.
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Photography
Practical details
Pickup in Marrakech and drop-off at your Fes hotel or riad
Private vehicle, fuel and English-speaking driver
1 night in a Dades Valley hotel, 1 night in a desert camp
2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi
Lunches and drinks
Optional local guides and the Fes medina tour
Tips and personal expenses
Enquiry
Share your dates and the number of travelers, and we will confirm a driver for you. If you want an extra night in the desert or a guided day in Fes, just ask.
Good to know
Is the 3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes a one-way trip?
Yes. It starts in Marrakech and ends in Fes, so it suits travelers continuing north to Chefchaouen, Tangier or a flight out of Fes.
How much driving is involved?
Expect around six to seven hours on the road each day including stops, with the last day the longest at about eight hours.
Is it private?
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, and the driver adapts the pace and stops to you.
What kind of camp will I stay in?
A tent camp in Erg Chebbi. Standard camps usually have shared bathrooms, and luxury camps offer private bathrooms inside the tent.
Can I do the route the other way?
Yes. We run the same trip from Fes to Marrakech, starting through the Middle Atlas and finishing over the High Atlas.
Can I add a guided tour of Fes?
Yes. We can book a local licensed guide for the Fes medina on the day after you arrive, at extra cost.
What should I bring?
Pack warm layers for the desert night, a scarf, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. A small overnight bag for the camp is helpful.
More journeys
Tell us when you want to travel and we will put the route together with you. We reply quickly on email and WhatsApp.