4 Days Trip From Fes to Marrakech via the Desert

DAY 1: FES – IFRANE – CEDAR FOREST – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – MERZOUGA SAHARA (7 hours drive)

The 4 days Fes to Marrakech desert tour starts with an early pick-up from the airport or your accommodation in Fes. Then you drive south through Imouzzer to visit Ifrane, famous for its low temperatures, snow, and alpine-style houses — no wonder it’s called the Switzerland of Morocco. Then you continue to the cedar forest, home to the Barbary macaques; feel free to feed them as you wander among the trees. Later, you continue to Midelt, where lunch is served. Then you head to the Sahara desert, driving through the Tizi-n-Tilghmt Pass and along the Ziz River.

In the afternoon you reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga, where you switch to camels and cross the sandy desert. A stop is made for you to enjoy the magical sunset atop a high dune. Then you continue to the luxury desert camp, where you can enjoy Berber drum music while dancing around the campfire beneath a vast open sky of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.

DAY 2: EXPLORE THE MERZOUGA REGION – NOMADS – KHAMLIA – MERZOUGA LAKE – ERG CHEBBI – PALM GROVE (2 hours drive)

Waking early is a must, to contemplate the beautiful sunrise in the middle of the desert. Free time for breakfast. Then you return on camels or by 4×4 to Merzouga, where the driver awaits. You dedicate the day to exploring the region of Merzouga, which has so many incredible sites — from sand dunes, a wild lake, mines, and fossil areas to fabulous oases — ideal places for many outdoor activities.

Firstly, you start your journey in Merzouga by driving off-road to visit an ancient eyeliner (kohl) mine. Then you pay the nomads a visit in their handmade woven tent, learning how they live over a Berber tea. Your next destination is the Khamlia village, where you enjoy Gnawa music and dancing performances; its inhabitants originate from sub-Saharan countries such as Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Free time for lunch in a restaurant. After that, you take a stroll in a palm-tree grove, then drive a few kilometres to see the wild lake of Merzouga, also called the flamingos lake. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.

DAY 3: MERZOUGA SAHARA – RISSANI – ERFOUD – TODRA GORGES – DADES VALLEY (5 hours drive)

After breakfast, you leave the desert to visit Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet and still a major trading centre in the region, with a large souk that’s lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

After a stroll through the Rissani souk, you continue to Erfoud, where you visit one of the fossilised-marble workshops. Then you drive through the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves to reach the Todra Gorges, where the course of the Todra River has carved a grand canyon through the mountains, forming a high red cliff-sided canyon — an ideal place for rock climbers. Feel free to wander the gorge and take in the beauty of the landscape. Free time for lunch in a restaurant. Then you continue to the Dades Valley via Boumalne Dades, with the inevitable stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formation and at a spot atop a mountain overlooking the Dades Valley. Finally, dinner and overnight in a hotel.

DAY 4: DADES VALLEY – ROSE VALLEY – PALM GROVES OF SKOURA – OUARZAZATE – AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS – MARRAKECH (6 hours drive)

On the last day of your 4 day desert tour from Fes, you continue your trip to Kalaat M’Gouna to visit the Rose Valley, where a Rose Festival is held annually in May and locals offer their rose products, from perfumes, rose water, and oil to cosmetics. You then drive through the palm groves of Skoura. Later, you reach Ouarzazate, also known as the gate of the desert, where you visit the studios in which famous movies were shot.

You depart to visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has appeared in many films including Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, and TV series including Game of Thrones. Then you continue to Marrakech, driving through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass and the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. Stops are made for lunch and to take pictures at interesting spots. Finally, you reach Marrakech, and we drop you off at the airport or your accommodation. End of the tour.

This tour ends in Marrakech. If you wish to travel back to Fes, you can consider: 4 Days From Fes to Merzouga. You can also do the tour in reverse: 4 Days From Marrakech to Fes.

4 DAYS MARRAKESH TO FES DESERT TOUR INFO:

IMPORTANT! Bear in mind that this is just a suggested tour itinerary. If it doesn’t match what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll organise a different itinerary based on your preferences and the length of your stay. We offer customised and tailor-made tours and trips all around Morocco.

THE PRICE varies according to the number of people: the more people joining the tour, the lower the price becomes. Since the transportation cost is fixed, the price is divided according to the number of people. The price also depends on the quality of the accommodation. Contact us for an exact price.

You can make the tour longer if you wish:
– 5 Days From Fes to Marrakech: + night in Ouarzazate
– 7 Days Tour From Fes
– 10 Days Tour From Fes

Or consider shorter tours:
– 3 Days From Fes to Marrakech (skip the 2nd night in the desert)
– 2 Days From Fes to Marrakech (7h & 9h drive)

What type of vehicles are used?
The vehicle will be either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both with A/C.
Vehicle details:
– 4×4: Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 pax)
– Minivans: Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo Van, or similar (up to 8 pax)
For groups larger than 8, a minibus seating up to 18 pax can be provided.

Dietary preferences
Please share any dietary preferences you have, and we’ll make sure your needs are met. Kindly let us know in advance so we can arrange lunch stops accordingly and notify the riad/camp, as dinners are included in the package.

Tour age suitability
This tour is suitable for all ages. Please note, though, that it involves roughly 3 to 7 hours of driving each day, plus off-roading during the desert excursion. Our vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops, but if you’re not used to this level of travel you may prefer a longer tour, such as our 5 Days tour, to reduce the amount of daily driving — or let us know your preferences and we’ll plan an itinerary accordingly.

Pick-up and drop-off details
The meeting point for the tour is at 8:30 a.m. at any location within Fes. If your riad is accessible by car, we pick you up directly from there; if not, we pick you up from the nearest accessible road point, arranged on confirmation of your booking. At the end of the tour, we drop you off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech, or the closest available parking area. The tour usually finishes between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Marrakech, though the exact timing can vary depending on how long is spent at each stop.

Expenses
Currency exchange: Euros or USD can be exchanged for Moroccan dirham (MAD) at many locations across Morocco, including banks and exchange bureaus, and ATMs are widely available for cash withdrawals. While credit cards and foreign currencies (euros/USD) are generally accepted, it’s wise to carry local currency (MAD) for convenience.
Meal costs: Meals typically range from €5 to €20 per person, though prices vary by establishment.
Haggling / price negotiation: Haggling is an accepted and expected practice in Morocco; even locals take part in it.

BOOKING PROCESS:

1. Get in touch with us through the contact forms, email, WhatsApp, or our social networks, and tell us the number of travellers, the type of accommodation (excellent, luxury, etc.), your tour date (if available), and your chosen tour or some details so we can plan a new itinerary for you.

2. Booking: We ask for a small deposit to confirm the booking (preferably via our PayPal account). The rest is paid in cash to your driver/guide once you arrive, or through PayPal, which carries a 5% transaction fee. If you don’t have PayPal, we can send an online invoice you can pay by card. A bank/wire transfer is another option; it takes up to 12 days to appear in our system, and we can confirm the tour with a transaction receipt until the payment arrives.

WHY PRIVATE MOROCCO TOURS?

A private tour is an itinerary run exclusively according to your preferences. On a private trip you travel only with the people you choose. Private tours are more flexible when it comes to group size, travel dates, and what your trip includes. On top of that, you’ll have your own tour guide and driver at your disposal.