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Gnawa musicians playing drums and iron castanets in the village of Khamlia near Merzouga Small group

5 Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour: Rose Valley and Two Nights in Merzouga

The most complete way from Marrakech to Fes: Rose Valley, Dades and Todra gorges, a desert camp and a free day in Merzouga. Small group, €290 per person.

  • 5 days
  • Marrakech → Fes
  • Small group
  • From US$ 326 (€290) per person
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Overview

If the Sahara is the reason you booked Morocco, choose the 5 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour. It combines the gentler pace of our longer trips with two nights in Merzouga, so you get both the camel trek and camp experience and a full, unhurried day around the dunes.

The first two days take in the High Atlas and Aït Benhaddou, then the oasis of Skoura, the Rose Valley and the Dades Gorge. On day three you walk in the Todra Gorge and ride into Erg Chebbi for a night in a Berber camp. Day four stays local: Gnawa musicians in Khamlia, the market town of Rissani and a free afternoon to swim, sandboard or just sit on a dune. You finish by crossing the Middle Atlas to Fes via the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane.

It runs daily as a shared small-group tour, maximum 17 travelers, at a fixed €290 per person. Arriving in Fes after five days on the road? Treat yourself to a guided tour of the Fes medina, or see all our small-group desert tours to compare routes.

Highlights

  • Two nights in Merzouga: one in a Berber camp, one at the foot of the dunes
  • Skoura oasis and the Rose Valley of Kelaat M'Gouna
  • Dades Gorge hairpins and a walk in the Todra Gorge
  • Gnawa music in Khamlia and the souk of Rissani
  • Free afternoon in the dunes of Erg Chebbi
  • Middle Atlas crossing via Midelt and Ifrane to Fes

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate

    We collect you from your riad or hotel in Marrakech and drive into the High Atlas, stopping for views of terraced valleys and Berber villages on the climb to the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m. Then it is on to Aït Benhaddou, the earthen ksar on the old caravan route, protected by UNESCO and famous as a film set. Explore the lanes and climb to the top before lunch (not included). In the afternoon, continue to Ouarzazate, where you check in early and can visit the Taourirt kasbah or a film studio on your own (entrance not included).

    Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Ouarzazate – Skoura – Rose Valley – Dades

    After breakfast, drive to the oasis of Skoura, where palm trees surround crumbling kasbahs, and stop for photos. Continue to Kelaat M'Gouna and the Rose Valley, the heart of Morocco's rosewater production; in late April and May the hedges are in bloom and the town holds a rose festival. Take a short walk through fields and villages, then follow the Dades Valley into the gorge, past the rippled rocks called Monkey Fingers, to the famous hairpin road. Spend the late afternoon exploring on foot before dinner at your hotel.

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

  3. Day 3 Dades – Todra Gorge – Merzouga, camel trek and desert camp

    A short morning drive takes you through Tinghir to the Todra Gorge. Walk the narrowest part, where sheer cliffs rise up to 300 m on either side of a clear stream. Continue east through Tinejdad and Erfoud, where the land flattens into desert, and arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon. Your camels are waiting for the ride into Erg Chebbi, about an hour across the dunes. Watch the sun set from a high crest, then head to the Berber camp for dinner, drums and stargazing. It is a night most travelers remember for years.

    Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  4. Day 4 Merzouga: Khamlia, Rissani and free time in the dunes

    Wake for sunrise and ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. Today you stay around the desert. Visit Khamlia, a village whose families keep Gnawa music alive; you will hear the iron castanets and drums over a glass of tea. Then drive to Rissani, the historic heart of the Tafilalet, to see its arched gate, its souk and its stalls piled with dates. The afternoon is yours: swim at the hotel, try sandboarding, book a quad or 4x4 ride, or walk back into the dunes for a second sunset. Overnight in Merzouga.

    Overnight: Hotel or camp in Merzouga Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  5. Day 5 Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

    After breakfast, start the drive north, around 8 hours with stops. The road runs through Erfoud and Errachidia, then into the Ziz Valley, a gorge full of palm trees and earthen villages, with a viewpoint stop over the oasis. Climb onto the high plateau to Midelt for lunch (not included), with the snowy Jebel Ayachi in view in winter. Cross the Middle Atlas through cedar and oak forest to Ifrane, a mountain town that looks more Alpine than African, and then descend to Fes. Drop-off at your hotel or riad in the evening.

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

Prices

US$ 326 (€290) 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 Marrakech and drop-off in Fes (hotel, riad or nearest accessible point)
  • Shared air-conditioned minibus (max 17 travelers) with an English-speaking driver
  • 4 nights: hotels in Ouarzazate, Dades and Merzouga, plus 1 night in a Berber desert camp
  • 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Camel trek at sunset and sunrise
  • Visit to Khamlia with Gnawa music (tips for musicians appreciated)

Not included

  • Flights and onward travel from Fes
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Optional activities (quad, 4x4, sandboarding)
  • Entrance fees and local guides
  • Single supplement (on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Planning your 5 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour

Pickup: around 7:30 a.m. from your accommodation in Marrakech, or the nearest square if your riad is in a car-free lane. Drop-off: Fes, in the evening of day 5.

Pace: days 1 to 4 have moderate driving with plenty of stops; day 5 is the long one. Easy walks only, no special fitness needed beyond getting on and off a camel.

What to bring: one suitcase per person, which stays in the minibus, and a day pack for the camp. Add a warm jacket from October to April, swimwear from April to October, sunglasses, a scarf and dirhams for lunches, tips and optional activities.

Who it suits: desert lovers, photographers chasing two sunsets and travelers flying into Marrakech and out of Fes.

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

How big are the groups?

A maximum of 17 travelers in a shared air-conditioned minibus. Everyone follows the same itinerary and shares meals and the camp experience.

What does the fixed price cover?

€290 per person (about US$326 as of October 2026) includes transport, 4 nights with breakfast and dinner, the camel trek and the Khamlia visit. It stays the same whatever the group size.

Why spend two nights in Merzouga?

The first night is the classic camp experience. The second gives you a full day with no long drive, a proper bed and shower, and a second chance for sunset photos.

Is there a single supplement?

Yes, available on request for a private room and tent. Otherwise solo travelers share a twin room with another traveler of the same gender where possible.

Do I need to book in advance?

We depart daily, but seats fill quickly around Easter, in October and over the year-end holidays. Booking a week or two ahead is wise in those periods.

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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