2-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Day 1: Fes to Ifrane, Cedar Forest, Midelt, Ziz Valley, and Merzouga Desert Camp

Your premium 2-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech begins early in the morning when your professional English-speaking driver greets you warmly at your accommodation. Leaving the spiritual capital behind, your comfortable air-conditioned vehicle travels south through Imouzzer to reach Ifrane, famously celebrated as the Switzerland of Morocco due to its tidy alpine architecture, clean streets, and cool mountain climate. Next, your scenic route leads deep into the protected cedar forests of Azrou, where you will have the delightful opportunity to see and feed the friendly resident wild Barbary macaques playing in the trees. After a relaxing lunch break in the mid-mountain town of Midelt, your cross-country expedition continues across the High Atlas peaks via the Tizi N-Tilghmt Pass. You will drive along the winding paths of the Ziz River canyon, stopping at a spectacular panoramic overlook to ensure you capture perfect photographs of the massive green palm oases stretching out below.

In the afternoon, your unforgettable route makes its final approach toward the majestic Sahara Desert of Merzouga. Upon arriving at the edge of the striking Erg Chebbi dunes, you will switch to your gentle camel to begin an authentic trek across the vast shifting sands. Your guide will lead you to the peak of a massive golden dune to witness a magical desert sunset casting deep orange hues over the endless wilderness horizon. Afterward, you will arrive at your exclusive boutique luxury desert camp, where you can ride sandboards down the slopes or simply relax. The night concludes with a multi-course Moroccan dinner and live traditional Berber drum music around a crackling campfire under an open sky of brilliant stars.

Day 2: Merzouga Desert to Todra Gorges, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, and Marrakech

Waking up early in the morning is a rewarding highlight in order to contemplate a truly breathtaking Sahara sunrise in the middle of the dunes. After savoring a warm breakfast at the camp, you will return via camel or premium 4×4 to Merzouga to meet your driver and travel directly west across the desert highways. Your private vehicle tracks past the beautiful palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the magnificent Todra Gorges. Here, the flowing, running river has carved a massive, red limestone canyon stretching 300 meters high through the mountain range. Feel free to wander along the cool riverbed, breathe the crisp mountain air, and take stunning photographs before driving past the historic city of Ouarzazate for a delicious lunch break.

Following lunch, your exceptional cross-country expedition continues northward to visit the world-renowned Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a beautifully preserved fortified village recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will enjoy a brief walking tour through the ancient earthen corridors that famously served as dramatic backdrops for blockbuster Hollywood epics, including Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Game of Thrones. Finally, your spectacular journey climbs back up the winding mountain roads of the High Atlas, crossing the majestic Tizi N’Tichka pass once more to ensure you catch perfect late afternoon photographs. Your driver navigates smoothly back into the red city, dropping you off safely directly at your hotel, Riad, or the airport in Marrakech by late evening.