6-Day Desert tour from
Marrakech to Fes
Excellent
4.9 | 130 reviews
- 6 days
- Marrakech
The most complete 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes. Erg Chebbi dunes, Todra Gorge, Rissani, and a full guided day exploring the Fes medina.
↝ Overview Of The Marrakech to Fes desert tour
6-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes — Erg Chebbi Dunes, Rissani, Ifrane and a Full Fes City Tour
Want to see all of southern Morocco and still finish your trip with a proper introduction to Fes itself? Our 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is built exactly for that. Over six days, you cross the High Atlas Mountains, explore the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, wind through Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, and spend a full day discovering the Merzouga region—nomads, Khamlia’s Gnawa music, and the flamingo-filled lake near Erg Chebbi. Moreover, on Day 4 you continue north through Rissani, Erfoud, the Ziz Valley, and the cedar forests of Ifrane before arriving in Fes.
Unlike shorter itineraries that simply drop you off in Fes, this tour includes a full guided day exploring the Fes medina — the Royal Palace, the Mellah, the Al Attarine Madrasa, the ancient University of Al Quaraouiyine, and the Chouara Tanneries — with a knowledgeable local guide. As a result, you don’t just pass through Fes; you actually experience it. Furthermore, this is a completely private Morocco tour, so every stop and pace can be tailored to your interests.
↪ Duration: 6 days / 5 nights Start: Marrakech End: Fes (with airport transfer) Tour Type: 100% Private Desert: Erg Chebbi, Merzouga — full day included Included Meals: 3 dinners and daily breakfasts Difficulty: Easy — suitable for all ages
↝ Why Choose a 6-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes?
Most desert tours end the moment you arrive in Fes, leaving you to explore the medina alone and unprepared. Our 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is different — it includes a full guided city tour of Fes itself, covering the Royal Palace, the Mellah, and a walking tour through the ancient medina with a knowledgeable local guide. Consequently, you arrive home having genuinely understood Morocco’s cultural capital, not just glimpsed its gates.
Furthermore, this private desert tour from Marrakech dedicates an entire day to the Merzouga region alone—visiting nomads, an old eyeliner mine, Khamlia’s Gnawa music, and the seasonal flamingo lake near Erg Chebbi. In addition, Day 4 adds stops most itineraries skip entirely, including the historic Rissani souk and Erfoud’s fossil workshops. As a result, this is the most complete route between Marrakech and Fes that we offer.
↝ Tour Highlights
- Crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass
- Exploring the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah and its history
- Discovering the impressive landscapes of Dades Valley and Todra Gorge
- Riding camels through Erg Chebbi’s towering golden Sahara desert dunes
- Spending a full day exploring nomads, Khamlia, and Merzouga’s flamingo lake
- Browsing the historic Rissani souk and Erfoud’s fossil workshops
- Spotting wild Barbary macaques in the cedar forests near Ifrane
- Touring the UNESCO-listed Fes medina with a knowledgeable local guide
↝ Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included :
- 6 days private transportation in a 4×4 or minivan, A/C and fuel included
- Private English-speaking driver
- Knowledgeable local guide in Fes
- Nights in excellent hotels and riads
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathroom
- Camel ride, or 4×4 transfer as an alternative
- Sandboards available at the camp
- 4×4 desert excursion in Merzouga
- 3 dinners (Merzouga riad, camp, and Boumalne Dades)
- Daily breakfasts
- Excluded :
- Lunches
- Beverages
- Entrance fees, when needed
- Tips (optional)
↝ Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech ⇢ High Atlas Mountains ⇢ Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah ⇢ Rose Valley ⇢ Dades Valley
Your 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes begins with an early pickup from your accommodation or the airport. The road climbs through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with stops for panoramic views along the way. At Ait Ben Haddou, you explore the UNESCO-listed Kasbah, a filming location for Gladiator, Alexander, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones.
Afterwards, the route continues to Ouarzazate — the gateway to the desert — with free time for lunch. You then pass through the palm groves of Skoura on the way to the Rose Valley before arriving in the Dades Valley for the night.
Day 2: Dades Valley ⇢ Todra Gorge ⇢ Merzouga Dunes ⇢ Camel Trekking
After breakfast, you stop for sweeping views over Dades Gorge before continuing to Todra Gorge, where the Todra River has carved a dramatic red-cliffed canyon through the mountains. Free time for lunch follows as you drive through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad.
By afternoon, you reach the Erg Chebbi dunes, switching to camels for a trek across the sand and a stop atop a high dune for sunset. The evening continues at your luxury desert camp with Berber drumming, dancing, and dinner beneath a sky full of stars.
Day 3: Exploring the Merzouga Region — Nomads, Khamlia, and the Flamingo Lake
An early sunrise from the dunes is well worth the wake-up call. After breakfast, you return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4 and dedicate the full day to exploring the region. You drive off-road to an old iron ore mine, then visit local nomads in their handmade tent for Berber tea.
Afterwards, Khamlia Village welcomes you with Gnawa music and dance performances from a community with roots in Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Following lunch, you stroll through a palm grove before visiting the seasonal flamingo lake near Merzouga, then settle into your hotel for the night.
Day 4: Merzouga ⇢ Rissani ⇢ Erfoud ⇢ Ziz Valley ⇢ Ifrane ⇢ Fes
After breakfast, you leave the desert for Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet, with a lively souk on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. From there, you continue to Erfoud to visit a fossilized marble workshop before driving along the Ziz River with a stop at a panoramic viewpoint over the Ziz Valley.
Following lunch in Midelt, the route continues through the cedar forest where Barbary macaques roam freely and then through Ifrane—often called the Switzerland of Morocco for its alpine houses and cool climate. You arrive in Fes by evening with free time in the medina.
Day 5: Guided Sightseeing Tour of Fes
After breakfast, your local guide leads a driving tour past the Royal Palace Gate, through the historic Mellah (Jewish Quarter), and to the Borj Sud fortress for sweeping views over the ancient medina, followed by a stop at the Ceramic Village and School.
The tour continues on foot into the UNESCO-listed Fes medina—one of the best-preserved historic towns in the Arab world. Highlights include the Al Attarine Madrasa, the University of Al Quaraouiyine (recognized as the oldest existing university in the world), and the Chouara Tanneries, where leather has been dyed by hand for centuries.
Day 6: Transfer to Fes Airport
Depending on your flight time, you are picked up from your riad and transferred to Fes Airport, bringing your 6-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes to a close.
↝ Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour private or shared?
This is a 100% private tour — your vehicle, driver, and schedule belong exclusively to your group.
Does the desert camp tent have a private shower?
Yes, our luxury desert camps include private tents with private bathrooms.
What is the alternative to the camel ride?
A comfortable 4×4 transfer is available at no extra cost if you prefer not to ride.
What happens to my luggage during the camel ride?
Is this tour suitable for all ages?
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