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Travelers walking through the narrow Todra Gorge near Tinghir on the way from Fes to Marrakech Small group

3 Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour via Merzouga

Fes to Marrakech the scenic way: Middle Atlas, a night in a Sahara camp, the Todra and Dades gorges and Aït Benhaddou. Daily departures, €165 per person.

  • 3 days
  • Fes → Marrakech
  • Small group
  • From US$ 186 (€165) per person
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Overview

Our 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour is the most popular way to connect Morocco’s two great imperial cities. Rather than a long train ride, you travel south through the Middle Atlas, ride a camel into the Sahara, cross the gorges of the south and arrive in Marrakech over the High Atlas. Three days, two very different mountain ranges and one unforgettable night in the dunes.

Because Fes is closer to the desert, you reach Merzouga on the very first evening, just in time for a camel trek at sunset and a night in a Berber camp in Erg Chebbi. Day two takes you west to the Todra Gorge and on to the Dades Valley. On day three you pass Ouarzazate, explore the earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.

It is a shared small-group tour: up to 17 travelers, an air-conditioned minibus, daily departures and a fixed €165 per person. Starting in Marrakech instead? Book the 3 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour, the same idea in reverse.

Highlights

  • One-way route from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara
  • Camel trek and a Berber camp night on day one
  • Ifrane, Azrou cedars and Midelt in the Middle Atlas
  • Walk in the Todra Gorge, night in the Dades Valley
  • Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar
  • High Atlas crossing on the Tizi n'Tichka pass

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Merzouga, camel trek and desert camp

    We pick you up in Fes early in the morning. Climb into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, an orderly mountain town with gardens and sloping roofs, then into the cedar forest near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques. Cross the high plateaus to Midelt for lunch (not included), then follow the Ziz Valley through its canyon of palms to Errachidia and Erfoud. You reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, where camels are waiting to carry you about an hour into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Sunset from a crest, then dinner, drums and stars at the Berber camp.

    Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades

    Start with sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. Drive west through Erfoud and Tinejdad, past rows of khettara, the ancient underground water channels of the oases. Arrive in Tinghir and continue into the Todra Gorge, where you walk the narrowest section between cliffs up to 300 m high. After lunch (not included), continue to Boumalne and up into the Dades Gorge, with its rock formations known as Monkey Fingers. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon for dinner and a well-earned rest.

    Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Gorge Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  3. Day 3 Dades – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech

    After breakfast, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs west through Kelaat M'Gouna, the town of roses, and the palm oasis of Skoura to Ouarzazate. A short drive on brings you to Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar of earthen houses on the old caravan route, famous as a film location. Walk through its lanes up to the granary for the view. After lunch (not included), cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m and descend through Berber villages to Marrakech, arriving in the early evening at or near your accommodation.

    Overnight: — (tour ends in Marrakech) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

US$ 186 (€165) per person

Fixed price per person in a small group (max 17 people).

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech (hotel, riad or nearest accessible point)
  • Shared air-conditioned minibus (max 17 travelers) with an English-speaking driver
  • 1 night in a Berber desert camp in Erg Chebbi
  • 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Gorge
  • 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • Camel trek at sunset and sunrise

Not included

  • Flights and onward travel from Marrakech
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides in Aït Benhaddou and entrance fees
  • Single supplement (on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Planning your 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour

Pickup: around 7:00 a.m. in Fes; for riads inside Fes el-Bali we meet you at the nearest medina gate. Drop-off: Marrakech, early evening on day 3. In the Marrakech medina, the last few meters may be on foot.

Pace: day 1 is long (about 9 hours with stops), days 2 and 3 are around 6 to 8 hours. Expect plenty of photo stops.

What to bring: your suitcase stays in the minibus; pack a small bag for the camp. Bring a warm jacket from October to April, sunglasses, a scarf, sunscreen and dirhams. Not sure when to go? Our guide to the best time to visit Morocco covers desert weather month by month.

Who it suits: travelers arriving in Fes and flying home from Marrakech, budget and solo travelers.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

What does a shared group tour mean?

You travel with other guests, maximum 17, in an air-conditioned minibus. Everyone follows the same route and stays in the same hotel and camp, which is how we keep the price low.

Is the price per person fixed?

Yes, €165 per person (about US$185 as of October 2026), regardless of group size. Pay a deposit online with PayPal and the balance on arrival.

Can I take my luggage on a one-way tour?

Yes. One standard suitcase per person rides in the minibus from Fes to Marrakech.

Is there a single supplement?

Yes, on request. Without it, solo travelers share a twin room with another traveler of the same gender where possible.

When does the tour leave?

Every day of the year from Fes. Book at least one day ahead, or one to two weeks ahead around Easter, October and the year-end holidays.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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