Fes to Marrakech desert tour in 4 days: route overview
The 4 day version follows the same direction as the classic 3 day crossing but adds a whole day in the Sahara. Instead of arriving at the dunes after a long drive and leaving at dawn, you have time to explore Erg Chebbi properly.
| Day | Route | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga | Cedar forest and macaques, Ziz palm grove | Hotel at the edge of the dunes |
| 2 | Merzouga and Erg Chebbi (no highway driving) | Nomad family, Gnawa music in Khamlia, sunset camel trek | Desert camp |
| 3 | Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Tinghir – Dadès Valley | Sunrise, Todra canyon walk | Kasbah-style hotel in the Dadès Valley |
| 4 | Dadès – Kelaat M'Gouna – Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech | Valley of the Roses, UNESCO ksar, High Atlas pass | Drop-off in Marrakech (not included) |
Day 1 and day 4 are the long drives, roughly 8 to 9 hours each including stops. Day 3 is around 5 to 6 hours, and day 2 is spent entirely around the dunes.
3 or 4 days from Fes to Marrakech: which should you choose?
Both routes cover the same landmarks. The difference is time in the desert and how tired you feel at the end.
- 3 day desert tour from Fes: you reach the dunes in the late afternoon of day 1, ride straight to camp and leave after sunrise. Ideal if your schedule is tight.
- 4 day desert tour (this trip): a restful first night in a hotel by the dunes, then a full day for nomads, Khamlia, optional activities and the camel trek. Better for families, photographers and anyone who wants the Sahara to be more than a single evening.
- 5 day desert tour from Fes: adds further time along the kasbah route for an even slower pace.
Starting in Marrakech instead? The 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes runs in the opposite direction.
Two nights in Merzouga: the full desert day
On day 2 there is no highway driving. A 4x4 takes you into the area around Erg Chebbi to visit a nomad family for mint tea, then to Khamlia, a village with roots in sub-Saharan Africa, to hear Gnawa music. The middle of the day is free to rest at the hotel or add an activity such as a 1 to 2 hour quad bike ride in the dunes or sandboarding.
In the late afternoon you ride camels for about an hour and a half into the dunes for sunset and continue to camp. The camel ride depends on camel availability that day. If none are free, you go to camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop on the dunes and ride the camels the next morning instead. The comfort camp has private tents, normally for two, each with its own bathroom and toilet, and a partner camp with air-conditioned tents is also used. Tours can be booked in comfort or luxury categories: the Merzouga hotel night is the same in both, as only comfort-category hotels exist there, while the upgrade applies at the camp and in the Dadès Valley. More ideas are on our Sahara desert activities page.
Best time for this Sahara tour from Fes
- Spring (March to May): pleasant everywhere on the route, with roses in Kelaat M'Gouna in late spring.
- Summer (June to August): cool in the Middle Atlas, very hot in the desert. The free midday on day 2 lets you rest at the hotel by the pool or in the shade, and air-conditioned tents are worth requesting.
- Autumn (September to November): warm days and comfortable desert nights; arguably the best season.
- Winter (December to February): sunny but cold, with possible snow around Ifrane and on the Tizi n'Tichka pass and near-freezing nights in the dunes.
Packing, money and practical tips
- Packing: warm layers for the Atlas and desert night, long loose trousers for the camel, a scarf against sun and sand, sunglasses, high-factor sun cream and a small overnight bag for the camp.
- Money: the dirham (MAD) is a closed currency, so obtain it in Morocco. Carry cash for lunches, drinks, entrance or local guide fees and tips, which are not included.
- Etiquette: ask before photographing people, especially when visiting the nomad family, and dress modestly in villages.
- Connectivity: signal is good in Merzouga and towns, patchy in the gorges and on mountain passes.
Included: door-to-door transfer from Fes to Marrakech, private air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide, three nights with breakfast and dinner, the 4x4 desert excursion and the camel trek. Accommodation in Marrakech and international flights are not included. All our routes from the city are listed on private tours from Fes.