Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga: the 3 days at a glance
| Day | Route | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Skoura – Dadès Valley | High Atlas pass, UNESCO kasbah, Valley of Roses; about 7 hours driving plus stops | Hotel or guesthouse, Dadès Valley |
| 2 | Dadès – Todra Gorge – Tinghir – Erfoud – Merzouga | Walk in the gorge, sunset camel trek of about an hour | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi |
| 3 | Merzouga – Erfoud – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes | Sunrise on the dunes, palm groves, cedar forest; about 8 hours driving plus stops | Drop-off in Fes |
The great advantage of this route is that it never doubles back. You see the kasbahs and gorges of the south on the way to the desert, then a completely different Morocco on the way north: the Ziz palm groves, the apple orchards around Midelt, the Middle Atlas cedar forest where Barbary macaques live and the Alpine-style town of Ifrane. You arrive in Fes ready to explore the Fes el-Bali medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Who the shared desert tour suits, and when to go private
A shared departure is designed for travellers who want the classic Sahara crossing at a lower cost and are happy to follow a fixed schedule. It works especially well for:
- Solo travellers and couples who enjoy meeting people from other countries.
- Backpackers and students travelling on a budget between Morocco's two best-known cities.
- Anyone short of planning time: transport, two nights and the camel trek are arranged in one booking.
It suits you less if you want to stop wherever you like, choose your own hotels, travel at a slower pace or need a guide who speaks French, Spanish or Italian. In that case the private 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes covers the same direction with more time and your own vehicle and driver-guide. Families or friends travelling together can also look at private group tours in Morocco, and you can upgrade from shared to private at any time before departure.
Fes or back to Marrakech?
If your flight leaves from Marrakech, the shared 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga and back follows the same first two days and returns south through the Drâa Valley. Ending in Fes is the better choice if you want to continue to Chefchaouen, Meknes or Tangier.
Life on the road: pacing, stops and the night in the desert
Expect early starts and full days. Day 1 and day 3 are long drives broken up by photo stops, a lunch break and short visits; day 2 is shorter, with time to walk between the cliffs of the Todra Gorge before you reach Merzouga in the afternoon.
In Merzouga you leave your large luggage in the vehicle and take a small overnight bag on the camel. The trek of about an hour is timed so you reach the dunes for sunset. The camel ride depends on camel availability that day; if none are free, the group drives to camp by 4x4 with a sunset stop and rides camels the next morning instead. At camp you have dinner, music by the fire and a dark sky full of stars, and each tent is private for your own party. After sunrise you return to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower before the drive north.
Curious about the dunes themselves? Our Merzouga and Sahara desert travel guide explains Erg Chebbi, the camps and what else there is to do.
What to pack and budget for the 3 day desert tour
- Overnight bag: toiletries, a change of clothes, a torch and any medication for the camp night.
- Layers: the Tizi n'Tichka pass and the desert are cold in the evening for much of the year, and the Middle Atlas around Ifrane can be cold or snowy in winter.
- Sun and sand: a hat, sunglasses, sun cream and a scarf to wrap around your face on the camel.
- Cash in dirhams (MAD): lunches, drinks, entrance fees such as Aït Benhaddou, optional activities and tips are not included. Card payment is rare along the route, and the dirham is a closed currency, so change money or use an ATM in Marrakech.
- Patience with connectivity: mobile signal drops in the mountains and gorges.
Best season
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable months. Summer is very hot in the desert, often above 40 °C in the afternoon, and winter nights in the dunes can approach freezing, so pack accordingly.