Thinking about a 5 day tour from Marrakech? Five days is the slow, comfortable way to see southern Morocco. You have time for the Telouet kasbah, the palm groves, Todra Gorge and a full day in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and most driving days are short. However, our two 5-day routes take different roads and end in different cities. This guide compares them so you can pick the right one.
Quick answer: if you can end in Fes, book the 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes. It follows the classic kasbah road at an easy pace. If you return to Marrakech, book the 5-day Merzouga desert private tour from Marrakech. It goes out through the Draa Valley and comes back through Todra and the Dades, so you never repeat the same road.
5 Day Tour from Marrakech: The Two Routes Compared
| Book | Marrakech to Fes | Merzouga loop |
|---|---|---|
| Start and end | Marrakech → Fes | Marrakech → Marrakech |
| Night 1 | Ouarzazate | Ouarzazate |
| Night 2 | Dades Valley | Desert camp |
| Night 3 | Desert camp | Hotel facing the dunes |
| Night 4 | Hotel facing the dunes | Dades Valley |
| Longest day | Day 5, about 7.5 to 8 hours | Day 2, about 6 hours |
| Best for | Travelers continuing north | Return flights from Marrakech |
Both routes include Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and a full desert day with nomads and Khamlia. The Fes route adds Skoura and the Rose Valley at a slow pace, while the loop adds the Draa Valley and Nkob. With only four days, read our guide to the 4 day tour from Marrakech.
Route A: Day by Day from Marrakech to Fes
Day 1: Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
First, you cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 meters. Then, you follow the Ounila Valley past the Glaoui kasbah of Telouet to the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. You sleep in Ouarzazate. About 4.5 hours of driving.
Day 2: Skoura, Kasbah Amridil, the Rose Valley and the Dades Valley
This is a gentle day. You visit Kasbah Amridil in the Skoura palm grove, drive through the Rose Valley and reach the Dades Valley in the afternoon. About 2.5 hours of driving.
Day 3: Todra Gorge, Erfoud and the Merzouga camp
Next, you walk through Todra Gorge, then continue through Tinjdad and Erfoud to Merzouga, where a camel takes you to your camp for sunset. About 4 to 4.5 hours of driving.
Day 4: A full desert day with nomads and Khamlia
After sunrise, a 4×4 takes you to a nomad family for Berber tea and to Khamlia for Gnaoua music. You sleep in a hotel facing the dunes.
Day 5: The Ziz Valley, Midelt, the cedar forest and Fes
Finally, you follow the Ziz Valley north, cross the Middle Atlas and the cedar forest of Azrou, home to wild Barbary macaques, and reach Fes. About 7.5 to 8 hours of driving. Read about this road in our guide from Fes to Merzouga.
Route B: Day by Day on the Merzouga Loop
Day 1: Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
The first day matches Route A: the High Atlas, the Ounila Valley, Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou, with a night in Ouarzazate.
Day 2: The Draa Valley, Nkob and the Merzouga camp
Then, you cross into the Draa Valley, a long ribbon of palm groves, and drive east through Nkob and Alnif. In the late afternoon, you ride a camel to your camp. About 6 hours of driving.
Day 3: A full desert day with nomads and Khamlia
After sunrise, you explore the desert by 4×4, visit a nomad family and Khamlia, and sleep in a hotel facing the dunes.
Day 4: Rissani, Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley
Next, you visit Rissani, walk through Todra Gorge and drive up the Dades Valley for the night. About 4.5 hours of driving.
Day 5: The Rose Valley, Skoura and Marrakech
Lastly, you pass the Rose Valley, Skoura and Ouarzazate and cross the High Atlas back to Marrakech. About 6.5 hours of driving.
Which 5 Day Tour Should You Choose?
- Continuing north? The route to Fes saves a long return and leaves you close to Chefchaouen and Tangier.
- Flying home from Marrakech? The loop returns you to your riad and shows you two different roads.
- Want the shortest driving days? The Fes route has a very easy day 2, but a longer last day. The loop is more even.
- Traveling with children? Both routes work well. Read our tips for Morocco with kids.
Why Five Days?
With five days, you stop rushing. You sleep in Ouarzazate on the first night instead of driving all the way to the Dades, and you spend a full day in the desert. As a result, the trip feels like a holiday rather than a long drive. Compare five days with other lengths in our 3 day tour from Marrakech guide or our overview of 5 day Morocco tours.
Five Days or More?
If you want to add Fes and Chefchaouen, the 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes or the 8-day tour from Marrakech to Tangier give you more time in the north. Read also 7 days in Morocco for a full week. Starting in Fes instead? See our 4 day tour from Fes guide.
What Is Included in Our 5 Day Tours
All our tours are private. They include your own air-conditioned vehicle and driver, four nights of accommodation (hotels and a desert camp), the camel trek, the 4×4 desert excursion, and dinner and breakfast each night. Lunches, drinks and entrance fees are not included. You can upgrade to the luxury desert camp in Merzouga, a favorite for a honeymoon in Morocco.
Merzouga or Zagora?
Both 5-day tours go to Merzouga, whose Erg Chebbi dunes are much higher than those near Zagora. Compare both in Merzouga vs Zagora.
Best Time for a 5 Day Tour from Marrakech
Spring and autumn are ideal. In winter, days are sunny but desert nights are cold, and snow can briefly close the High Atlas passes. In summer, the camel trek takes place late in the day. Read our guides to Morocco in winter and the best time to visit Morocco, or the official Merzouga guide.
What to Pack
- A small overnight bag for the camp
- A warm layer for desert nights
- A scarf and sunglasses
- Comfortable shoes for kasbahs, gorges and dunes
- Cash for lunches and tips
See our list of what to pack for the Morocco desert.
After Your 5 Day Tour
If you end in Fes, add a day for the medina. Read our Fes medina guided tour guide. If you return to Marrakech, the coast is close: read our guide from Marrakech to Essaouira. Or browse all our tours from Marrakech.
5 Day Tour from Marrakech FAQ
Is 5 days too long for a desert tour from Marrakech?
No. Five days gives you short driving days and a full day in the desert, so it is the most relaxed option.
Can I end a 5 day tour from Marrakech in Fes?
Yes. The one-way route ends at your riad in Fes on the evening of day 5.
How many nights are spent in the desert?
Both routes include one night in a desert camp and one night in a hotel facing the dunes.
Which route has the shortest drives?
The loop has the most even days, with no day longer than about 6.5 hours.
Is the tour private?
Yes. You travel only with your group, in your own vehicle with a professional driver.
Book Your 5 Day Tour from Marrakech
In short, a 5 day tour from Marrakech is the relaxed way to see the Sahara and the kasbah road. Choose the route to Fes if you continue north, or the loop if you return to Marrakech. Tell us your dates and we will plan the rest.
Plan this trip: ask for a free quote, write to us on WhatsApp, or see all our tours from Marrakech.
