2-Day Fes to
Marrakech Desert Tour
Excellent
5.0 | 2390 reviews
- 2 days
- Fez
Travel from Fes to Marrakech in 2 days via the Sahara. Middle Atlas, Erg Chebbi camel trek, luxury desert camp, and Ait Benhaddou. Private tour.
↝ Overview of the Fes to Marrakech desert tour 2 days
2-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour — Erg Chebbi Dunes, Ait Benhaddou and the High Atlas
Traveling from Fes to Marrakech anyway? Our 2-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour turns what would otherwise be a long, forgettable transfer into the best two days of your Morocco trip. Instead of taking the bus or a domestic flight, this route passes through the Middle Atlas Mountains, crosses the Ziz Valley palm oasis, reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes for a sunset camel trek and a night at a luxury desert camp, then continues through Ait Benhaddou and the High Atlas Mountains before dropping you in Marrakech the following afternoon.
It’s worth being honest: this itinerary involves a significant amount of driving—particularly on Day 2. However, the landscapes along the entire route are extraordinary enough that the kilometers pass through genuinely rewarding scenery rather than empty roads. If your schedule allows one more day, our 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour splits the journey more comfortably, adding Todra Gorge and Dades Valley along the way. Either way, this is a fully private desert tour from Fes—your own vehicle, your own driver-guide, and a pace that belongs entirely to your group.
↪ Duration: 2 days / 1 night Start: Fes End: Marrakech Tour Type: 100% Private Desert: Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Included Meals: 1 dinner and 1 breakfast Difficulty: Easy—suitable for all ages
↝ Why Choose This 2-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour?
The most common way to travel from Fes to Marrakech is by CTM bus or domestic flight—both of which skip everything between the two cities entirely. Our 2-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour takes the opposite approach. It places the Sahara at the center of the crossing, turning a journey most travelers consider a logistical necessity into the most memorable part of their Morocco trip.
What makes it work is the route itself. Day 1 travels south through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley to the Erg Chebbi dunes—a drive that passes through five genuinely different landscapes before you even reach the desert. Day 2 travels west from Merzouga through Ait Benhaddou and over the High Atlas to Marrakech—a completely different set of landscapes, so nothing is repeated on the return. Consequently, you arrive in Marrakech having seen a wider range of Morocco than most travelers cover in twice the time.
Furthermore, this is a fully private Fes desert tour, which means the vehicle, the pace, and the stops are yours to adjust. If you’d prefer to customize this Morocco tour by adding an extra stop or extending a day, our local team rebuilds the route accordingly. You can also book this desert tour directly once you have your preferred dates.
↝ Tour Highlights
- Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains through cedar forests near Azrou
- Spotting wild Barbary macaques living freely in the cedar trees
- Watching the Ziz Valley unfold below from a panoramic viewpoint
- Riding camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes at golden sunset hour
- Sleeping in a private luxury tent with an ensuite bathroom and stars
- Watching a peaceful Sahara sunrise from the edge of the dunes
- Stopping at the UNESCO-listed Ait Benhaddou Kasbah for panoramic photographs
↝ Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included :
- Pick up from your hotel or riad in Fes
- Drop off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- Modern A/C 4×4 SUV, van, or minibus, matched to group size
- English-speaking driver or driver and guide (other languages available on request)
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp—private tent with ensuite bathroom
- 1 traditional Moroccan dinner at the desert camp
- 1 breakfast at the desert camp
- Camel trekking experience
- Sandboarding
- Excluded :
- Lunches
- Beverages
- Tips (optional)
↝ 2-Day Morocco Itinerary: Day-by-Day Tour Plan
Day 1: Fes ⇢ Ifrane ⇢ Middle Atlas ⇢ Ziz Valley ⇢ Merzouga
Your 2-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour begins with a pickup from your hotel or riad at around 8:00 am. The route heads south through the Middle Atlas Mountains, with the first stop in Ifrane—an alpine town of sloped-roof buildings and cool mountain air, often called the Switzerland of Morocco. From there, the road continues through the cedar forests near Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live freely among centuries-old trees—one of those unexpected roadside moments that travelers consistently mention when they return home.
Lunch follows at a local restaurant before the route descends into the Ziz Valley—a 300-kilometer palm oasis carved by the Ziz River through the High Atlas, where a panoramic stop reveals the scale of the landscape below. By mid-afternoon, the Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon. Your cameleer leads you across the golden sand as the light shifts to deep orange, pausing atop a high dune for sunset. Afterwards, the trek continues to your luxury desert camp, where your private tent is waiting. Following dinner, the campfire is lit, Berber drumming fills the air, and the desert sky above Merzouga reveals more stars than most people have ever seen in one place.
Day 2: Merzouga ⇢ Ait Benhaddou ⇢ High Atlas ⇢ Marrakech
Wake up before dawn—the Erg Chebbi sunrise is the other essential moment this tour delivers. After breakfast at the camp, a 4×4 takes you back to Merzouga, and the long drive west towards Marrakech begins. The landscape shifts completely as the route leaves the desert and crosses the pre-Saharan plains towards the south.
The main stop of the day is Ait Benhaddou—a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and one of Morocco’s most photographed landmarks, used as a filming location for Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones. You stop at the panoramic viewpoint above the village for photographs before continuing north. The route then climbs the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with sweeping mountain views at each turn, before descending into Marrakech in the late afternoon. Your driver drops you at your hotel or riad, marking the end of your 2-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour. If you’re planning to explore further from here, our Marrakech Desert Tours page has a full range of onward routes.
↝ Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the Sahara desert from Fes and from Marrakech
Merzouga is approximately 500 kilometers from Fes (around 7 to 8 hours) and approximately 560 kilometers from Marrakech (around 9 hours). On this 2-day tour, each city is separated from the desert by one long driving day—which is exactly why the route works as a one-way crossing rather than a round trip.
Is the 2-day version worth it, or should I choose 3 days?
If two days is all you have, this tour delivers the essential Sahara experience—sunset camel trek, luxury camp, and sunrise. However, if you can add one more day, our 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour splits the driving more comfortably and adds Todra Gorge and Dades Valley, making the journey significantly less intense.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Yes. A 4×4 vehicle transfers you to the camp instead, at no extra cost. The rest of the experience—dinner, campfire, Berber music, and the desert sky—remains exactly the same.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot in the desert, though tours still run with early-morning camel treks. Winter brings cold nights in the camp and occasional snow on the High Atlas, which creates dramatic scenery on Day 2.
How do I book this tour?
Contact us directly via our booking page with your preferred dates and group size. A deposit confirms your reservation, and the remaining balance is paid in cash on the day of departure.
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