Fes to Marrakech in 6 days: day-by-day overview
Fes and Marrakech are only a few hours apart by train, but the desert route between them loops south-east to the Sahara and back over the High Atlas, roughly 1,000 km in all. Spreading it over six days turns two very long transfer days into five shorter ones and adds a full day in the dunes with no highway driving at all.
| Day | Route | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt | Middle Atlas, cedar forests, Barbary macaques | Hotel in Midelt |
| 2 | Midelt – Ziz Valley – Erfoud – Merzouga | Tizi n'Talghamt pass, Ziz palm canyon, first view of Erg Chebbi | Hotel at the edge of the dunes |
| 3 | Erg Chebbi by 4x4 and camel | Nomad family visit, Khamlia Gnawa music, sunset camel trek | Desert camp in Erg Chebbi |
| 4 | Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Dadès Valley | Sahara sunrise, Todra walk, rock formations of the Dadès | Kasbah hotel in the Dadès Valley |
| 5 | Dadès – Kelaat M'Gouna – Skoura – Ouarzazate | Valley of Roses, Skoura palm grove, Atlas Film Studios | Hotel in Ouarzazate |
| 6 | Aït Benhaddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech | UNESCO ksar, High Atlas crossing | Drop-off in Marrakech |
Accommodation in Marrakech after day 6 is not part of the package, which makes it easy to continue with your own stay in the city. Our Marrakech travel guide helps you plan those extra days.
6 days in Morocco from Fes or a shorter desert tour?
The classic link between the two cities is a 3 day desert tour, which works but means two days of roughly 8 to 10 hours on the road with one night in the dunes. The six-day version suits travellers who want the Sahara to feel like a destination rather than a stopover: couples on a slower honeymoon pace, families with children who struggle with long drives, photographers, and anyone who wants time at Aït Benhaddou before the day-trip crowds from Marrakech arrive.
- 3 days: fastest route, one desert night. See the 3 day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech.
- 4 or 5 days: a middle ground with an extra night in the gorges; compare the 5 day desert tour from Fes.
- 6 days (this tour): overnight stops in Midelt and Ouarzazate plus two nights at Merzouga.
- 7 days or more: add Chefchaouen or extra time in the south; browse all private tours from Fes.
Because the tour is private, the start can move to Meknes, Chefchaouen or Fes airport, and the finish can be Marrakech airport instead of the medina.
Two nights in the Sahara: the Merzouga days explained
On day two you arrive at Merzouga in the afternoon and sleep in a comfortable hotel at the foot of the dunes. Note that Merzouga itself has comfortable, clean, well-serviced hotels rather than a luxury category, so this night is the same whichever category you book.
Day three belongs to Erg Chebbi. Your driver-guide takes you off-road around the dunes to share tea with a nomad family, then to the village of Khamlia for Gnawa music. In the late afternoon you meet the cameleer for a ride of about an hour and a half to a dune crest for sunset and on to the camp. The camel ride depends on camel availability that day; if none are free, you reach the camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop on the dunes and ride the camels the next morning instead.
In the comfort camp each tent is private, normally for two people, with its own bathroom and toilet; a partner camp with air-conditioned tents is also used, and the luxury category upgrades the camp. Leave your main luggage in the vehicle and take a small overnight bag. Erg Chebbi has many camps, so a fully isolated wild bivouac is not something we organise. Optional extras such as quad biking in the Merzouga dunes or sandboarding can be arranged locally.
Driving times and pacing on the Fes to Marrakech desert tour
- Day 1, Fes to Midelt: about 3 to 4 hours of driving, arriving early afternoon.
- Day 2, Midelt to Merzouga: about 4 to 5 hours through the Ziz Valley, with viewpoint stops.
- Day 3: no transfer, only short 4x4 tracks around the dunes.
- Day 4, Merzouga to the Dadès: about 5 to 6 hours including the Todra Gorge walk.
- Day 5, Dadès to Ouarzazate: about 2 to 3 hours, leaving the afternoon free.
- Day 6, Ouarzazate to Marrakech: about 4 to 5 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m), arriving early evening.
Roads are paved throughout, but the Atlas passes are winding; if anyone suffers from travel sickness, sit in front and take tablets before the mountain sections. Stops for photos, tea and lunch are agreed with your driver-guide day by day.
What's included, seasons and packing tips
The price covers door-to-door transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, your driver-guide, five nights' accommodation with breakfast and dinner, the camel trek and the 4x4 excursion in Erg Chebbi, and luggage space throughout. Lunches, drinks, monument entrance and local guide fees (for example at Aït Benhaddou or the film studios), tips and international flights are not included. Pricing starts from €780 per person for 4 to 6 travellers; solo travellers, couples and groups of three receive a quote adjusted to the private vehicle.
Season by season
- Spring: mild days and the rose harvest around Kelaat M'Gouna in late spring.
- Summer: very hot in the desert; ask about air-conditioned tents.
- Autumn: comfortable temperatures and clear skies.
- Winter: sunny days, near-freezing desert nights, and occasional snow at Ifrane and on the Tizi n'Tichka.
Practical tips
Pack layers, a warm jacket for the desert night, a scarf against sand, sun cream and comfortable shoes for the Todra Gorge. The dirham (MAD) is a closed currency, so withdraw cash in Fes for lunches, entry fees and tips. More detail is in our guide to the best time to visit Morocco.