4-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Day 1: Fes, Ifrane, the Cedar Forest, Midelt and the Merzouga Desert Camp

Your driver meets you at your riad in Fes around 8 a.m. First, you pass Ifrane and its alpine houses, then stop in the cedar forest of Azrou to watch wild Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt, you cross the Tizi n’Talghemt pass at 1,907 meters and follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley.

In the late afternoon, you reach the Erg Chebbi dunes, ride a camel for about an hour and watch the sunset from a high dune. Dinner and Berber drums at the camp end the day. About 7.5 hours of driving.

Day 2: A Full Desert Day with Nomads and Khamlia

Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, then return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. Next, your driver takes you off-road to a former mine in the hills and to a nomad family, where you share a cup of Berber tea in their tent.

After that, you visit Khamlia, a village known for Gnaoua music, and listen to a short performance. In the afternoon, you stroll through a palm grove and see the seasonal lake, which holds water only after rain. The night is in a hotel facing the dunes. About 2 to 3 hours of off-road driving.

Day 3: Rissani, Erfoud, Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley

After breakfast, you visit Rissani, whose souk is busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and a fossil workshop in Erfoud. Then, you walk along the river in Todra Gorge, between towering limestone cliffs.

In the afternoon, you drive up the Dades Valley to see the “monkey fingers” rocks and check in to your hotel for dinner. About 4.5 hours of driving.

Day 4: Rose Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech

After breakfast, you drive through the Rose Valley and the Skoura palm grove to Ouarzazate. Next, you explore the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and walk up to the old granary for the view.

Finally, you cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 meters and reach Marrakech by early evening. About 7 hours of driving.