5 days from Fes to the desert, ending in Marrakech: overview
This is the most relaxed of our Fes to Marrakech desert routes. Compared with the 3-day crossing it adds two things: a full day around the Erg Chebbi dunes, and an overnight near Ouarzazate that splits the long final drive in two.
| Day | Route | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga | Cedar forest, macaques, Ziz palm grove | Hotel at the edge of the dunes |
| 2 | Merzouga and Erg Chebbi | 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 – Skoura – Ouarzazate | Valley of the Roses, Kasbah Amridil, optional film studios or Kasbah Taourirt | Hotel or riad in the Ouarzazate area |
| 5 | Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech | Early visit to the UNESCO ksar, High Atlas pass | Drop-off in Marrakech (not included) |
Only day 1 is a really long drive, roughly 8 to 9 hours with stops. Days 3, 4 and 5 are around 3 to 6 hours each, and day 2 has no highway driving at all.
3, 4 or 5 days from Fes to Marrakech: how to choose
All three routes follow the same direction and pass the same landmarks; the difference is how much time you have at each.
- 3 days: one night in the dunes and two long driving days. Best if you are short of time.
- 4 days: adds a full day in the Sahara, but the last day from the Dadès Valley to Marrakech is still long.
- 5 days (this tour): adds both the desert day and the night near Ouarzazate, so you reach Aït Benhaddou early, before most day visitors from Marrakech, and arrive in Marrakech rested.
The 5 day route suits families, older travellers, photographers and anyone who dislikes long hours in the car. Travelling in the opposite direction? See the 5 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes. All our routes from the city are on private tours from Fes.
Two nights at Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi camel trek
Your first desert night is in a hotel at the edge of the dunes, so day 2 starts fresh. A 4x4 takes you to visit a nomad family for mint tea and to Khamlia, a village with sub-Saharan roots, for Gnawa music. The middle of the day is free for rest or an optional activity such as a quad bike ride in the Merzouga dunes or sandboarding.
In the late afternoon you ride camels for about an hour and a half into Erg Chebbi, watch the sunset from a dune and continue to camp. The camel ride depends on camel availability that day; if none are free, you go to the camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop and ride the camels the next morning. In the comfort camp each tent is private, normally for two, with its own bathroom and toilet; a partner camp with air-conditioned tents is also used. If you book the luxury category, the upgrade applies at the camp, in the Dadès Valley and near Ouarzazate, while the Merzouga hotel stays in the comfort category, the only one available there.
Ouarzazate, Skoura and an unhurried Aït Benhaddou
Day 4 is the gentle heart of this itinerary. Leaving the Dadès Valley, you pass Kelaat M'Gouna in the Valley of the Roses, then the palm groves of the Skoura oasis and Kasbah Amridil, one of the best-known kasbahs of the south. You reach Ouarzazate in the early afternoon with time to visit the Atlas Film Studios or Kasbah Taourirt (entrance fees are extra), or simply relax.
On day 5 you drive the short distance to Aït Benhaddou, the fortified earthen village on the old caravan route that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a familiar film location. Arriving early means quieter lanes and soft light for photographs on the climb to the granary. You then cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at about 2,260 m, and descend to Marrakech by early evening. For ideas on your stay there, see our Marrakech travel guide.
Season, packing and practical tips
- Best seasons: spring and autumn. Late spring brings the rose harvest around Kelaat M'Gouna. In summer the desert is very hot in the afternoon, so the free midday on day 2 helps; in winter expect cold desert nights and possible snow in the Middle Atlas and on the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
- Packing: layers, long loose trousers for the camel, a scarf, sunglasses, sun cream and a small overnight bag for the camp.
- Money: the dirham (MAD) is a closed currency; carry cash for lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips, which are not included.
- Etiquette: ask before photographing people, and dress modestly in villages.
Included: door-to-door transfer from Fes to Marrakech, private air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide, four nights with breakfast and dinner, the 4x4 desert excursion and the camel trek. Accommodation in Marrakech and international flights are not part of the package.