From Marrakech: 3-Day Trip to Fes via Merzouga Desert

Top rated
4.8388624 out of 5 stars
4.8
4.8388624 out of 5 stars
422 reviews
From Marrakech: 3-Day Trip to Fes via Merzouga Desert
Top rated
4.8388624 out of 5 stars
4.8
4.8388624 out of 5 stars
422 reviews

Discover the amazing views of the Atlas Mountains on this multi-day trip to Fes from Marrakech. Visit the World Heritage site Ait Benhaddou and enjoy camel trekking in the Sahara Desert of Erg Chebbi.

About this activity

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Duration 3 days
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English, French
Pickup included
Stay in a luxury Camp in Merzouga in the middle of the dunes. Includes an en-suite private bathroom and shower.
Small group
Limited to 17 participants

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

J
Jonna – Sweden

Good family style dinner and breakfast at the hotel as well as the swimming pool Good guides and Enough time on the first and second day. Great tours. On the first tour we kept asking question and the guide kept answering, very kind and didn’t find us annoying The guides took us to certain shops, like how to paint and make rugs, but I did not feel like they were trying to sell it to me, it was easy to walk away without buying Our driver was nice and even stopped when one of us needed an atm There were bathroom breaks sporadically, both on the bus and on the second day tour Lovely music on the bus, great views Amazing opportunity go get to know travelers since you’re together for 3 days Bus together and eat together Our ac worked in the bus

H
Helena – Hong Kong

Desert tour was amazing, we enjoyed the camel ride a lot!

Select participants and date

Highlights

  • Cross the majestic Tizi n'Tichka Pass, known as the highest road in North Africa
  • Visit the splendid Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage
  • Enjoy a Berber dinner and music at night in a Saharan desert camp
  • Have fun in the Sahara desert and spend a night under a starry sky
  • Drive from Merzouga to Fes past the Middle Atlas Mountains and cedar woods

Full description

Dive deep into the Sahara Desert on a 3-day trip from Marrakech to Fes with accommodation included. Immerse yourself in the local culture and scenery as you visit quaint villages, spend a night in the desert, and embark on a camel trek through the dunes.

Day 1: Marrakech - Tizi n'Tichka - Ait Ben haddou - Ouarzazate - Rose Valley - Tinghir

Begin early in the morning with pickup from your Marrakech hotel. Drive east past quaint villages to reach the High Atlas Mountains. As you drive through the mountains, occasionally stop for scenic photos, stretch your legs, and have a quick cup of coffee.

After driving through the famous Tizi n'Tichka , stop at the Berber fortified village, Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. See the filming locations of the Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Kingdom of Heaven as you explore this famous UNESCO site.

Purchase a delicious lunch before continuing to Tinghir, driving past Ouarzazate, Skoura Oasis, Klaa Mgouna, and Dades. Reach your hotel late in the afternoon. Relax and have dinner in Kelaat M'Gouna or Tinghir before retiring for the night.

Day 2: Tinghir - Todra Gorges - Tinjdad - Erfoud - Merzouga Sahara Desert

After breakfast, depart for the Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert in Merzouga. Pass through the many Berber villages scattered along the way, including Todra Gorges, Tenghir, Tinjdad, Jorf, and Erfoud.

Relax in Merzouga, then pack a small overnight bag to take on your camel trek across the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Arrive at a traditional Berber camp, leave the camels, and walk to the highest dunes to watch the sunset. Spend the night in Berber nomad tents under the stars, listening to music in the middle of the Sahara.

Day 3: Camel trek - Sunrise - Errachidia - Medilt - Atlas Mountains - Ifran - Fes

Get up bright and early to see the stunning sunrise over the desert. Enjoy breakfast before hopping back on your camel. Once you reach Merzouga, begin your drive to Fes crossing the Ziz Valley through Errachidia.

Around midday, stop in Midelt to buy lunch. Continue to Fes via Ifran Imouzzar with its Cedar Forests and Berber towns, which are both famous as winter ski resorts for Moroccans. Your driver might spot some Barbary apes on the way and you can seize the opportunity to take some pictures.

Arrive at Fes late in the afternoon and end your tour with a drop-off at your accommodation or the closest accessible location

Arrival in Fes: Expected arrival in Fes is around 7:00 PM (19:00), depending on traffic and weather conditions.

Includes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (at the closest vehicle-accessible meeting point)
  • English or French-speaking driver
  • Private hotel room for the first night
  • Overnight at a desert camp (luxury tents or standard tents, depending on option selected)
  • Private or shared bathrooms in the desert camp (depending on option selected)
  • Towels in the accommodation
  • 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners (vegetarian options available)
  • Sunset and sunrise camel ride (one camel for each person)
  • Sandboarding
  • Entrance fees
  • Gratuities
  • Lunches & soft drinks
  • Any private expenses
  • Local Guide 2€ per person
  • Mineral water (between 1€ and 2€ per 1.5 liter bottle)

Not suitable for

  • Pregnant women
  • People with mobility impairments

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat
  • Comfortable clothes

Not allowed

  • Smoking in the vehicle

Know before you go

  • Please prepare a small backpack or rucksack for the camel ride and overnight in the camp
  • Warm blankets are supplied during the winter, but please bring warm sleeping clothes as temperatures can reach 0°C
  • The final day from Merzouga desert to Fes is approximately 9 hours
  • The drive on day 3 from Erg Chebbi to Fes is quite long so please be prepared
  • If you wish to experience sandboarding in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, there are a few sandboards in the lodge to take with you to the camp; just ask for it and if available, you will be given one
  • Your luggage is welcome on this trip and it will be safely stored in the van while camping in the desert
  • Pick-up & drop-off at any accommodation in town or at the closest meeting point that is accessible by vehicle

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 422 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.8/5
  • Value for money
    4.8/5

Customer photos

+185
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J
Jonna – SwedenJune 8, 2025 – Verified booking
Good family style dinner and breakfast at the hotel as well as the swimming pool Good guides and Enough time on the first and second day. Great tours. On the first tour we kept asking question and the guide kept answering, very kind and didn’t find us annoying The guides took us to certain shops, like how to paint and make rugs, but I did not feel like they were trying to sell it to me, it was easy to walk away without buying Our driver was nice and even stopped when one of us needed an atm There were bathroom breaks sporadically, both on the bus and on the second day tour Lovely music on the bus, great views Amazing opportunity go get to know travelers since you’re together for 3 days Bus together and eat together Our ac worked in the bus
H
Helena – Hong KongJune 2, 2025 – Verified booking
Desert tour was amazing, we enjoyed the camel ride a lot!
K
Kiem – United KingdomMay 24, 2025 – Verified booking
Our guide Ahmed and driver Karim were excellent on the tour. They were both very considerate throughout the journey, with plenty of viewpoint and toilet stops. The best part of the trip was definitely speeding in a 4x4 across the Merzouga desert dunes towards the camp (with Ahmed holding on the outside of the 4x4!)

Product ID: 444838

Activity provider:Manzil Dades

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