6-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga

Day 1: Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley

Your driver meets you at your riad or hotel in Marrakech in the morning. First, you climb into the High Atlas and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 meters, with photo stops over terraced valleys and Berber villages. Next, you explore the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, crossing the river and climbing to the old granary for the classic view. After lunch, you pass Ouarzazate, the Skoura palm grove and the Rose Valley, where cooperatives sell rose water all year. You reach your hotel in the Dades Valley for dinner. About 7 hours of driving.

Day 2: Todra Gorge and the Merzouga Desert Camp

After breakfast, you drive to Tinghir and walk along the river in Todra Gorge, where limestone cliffs rise about 300 meters on both sides. Then, you continue east through the palm groves of Tinjdad and the town of Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops. In the late afternoon, you reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. You leave your main luggage in the vehicle and ride a camel for about an hour to your camp, stopping on a dune to watch the sunset. Dinner, Berber drums around the fire and a sky full of stars end the day. About 4.5 hours of driving.

Day 3: A Full Desert Day with Nomads and Khamlia

Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, then return by camel or 4×4 for breakfast. Today is dedicated to the desert around Merzouga. A 4×4 takes you across the rocky plains to a former mine in the hills and to a nomad family, who welcome you in their tent for Berber tea and explain their way of life. Next, you visit Khamlia, a village known for Gnaoua music, where musicians play traditional rhythms. After lunch, you walk in the palm groves and see the seasonal lake, which holds water only after rain. You spend the night in a hotel facing the dunes. About 2 to 3 hours of off-road driving.

Day 4: Rissani, the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the Cedar Forest and Fes

After breakfast, you visit Rissani, an old caravan town whose souk is busiest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Then, you follow the Ziz Valley north, where thousands of date palms fill the canyon, with a panoramic stop above the oasis. After lunch in Midelt, you cross the Tizi n’Talghemt pass at 1,907 meters and the cedar forest of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live; watch them from a distance and do not feed them. Finally, you pass Ifrane, often called the Switzerland of Morocco, and reach your riad in Fes by early evening. About 8 hours of driving.

Day 5: A Guided Day in Fes

Today a licensed local guide shows you Fes, the spiritual and cultural heart of Morocco. In the morning, you stop at the golden gates of the Royal Palace, walk through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and enjoy a panoramic view over the medina from the Borj Sud fortress. Then, you enter Fes el-Bali, the UNESCO-listed medina, a car-free maze of souks and workshops. Highlights include the Al Attarine Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain, the outside of the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and the Chouara tanneries, seen from a terrace above the dye pits. The evening is free.

Day 6: Fes and Fes-Saïss Airport

Enjoy a free morning in Fes. You can take a last walk in the souks of Fes el-Bali, visit the Borj Sud fortress for a panoramic view over the medina, or see the Jnan Sbil garden near Bab Boujloud. You might also buy a piece of Fes pottery or a leather bag after comparing prices the day before. Then, your driver takes you to Fes-Saïss Airport, about 30 minutes away, or to the train station or your next hotel. If you fly the same day, an afternoon flight gives you a relaxed last morning in this extraordinary city.