- Free cancellationFull refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before scheduled departure.
- Duration 3 daysCheck availability to see starting times
- Live tour guideEN, IT, FR, ES
- Pickup includedHotel pickup included. For hotels located more than 8 km radius, a 20 EUR…
- Small groupGroup size
- Starts in MarrakechMarrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades…
The 3 day desert tour from marrakech to fes crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), visits Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades and Todra Gorges, and includes a camel ride and overnight in a desert camp at Merzouga Erg Chebbi. The small-group minibus (maximum 15) covers about 1,000 km in three days, ending in Fes. Suits travellers who want the desert experience without backtracking to Marrakech.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m
- Explore the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou with optional local guide
- Walk the cliffs of Dades Gorges and the narrow Todra Gorges
- Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes and sleep in a desert camp
- Drive the Ziz Valley and cedar forests of Azrou (Barbary macaques possible)
- Finish in Fes, Morocco’s cultural capital
About this tour
You spend three days in a small-group minibus (maximum 15 people) travelling from Marrakech to Fes via the High Atlas, the Dades and Todra Gorges, and the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. Day 1 crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) and stops at the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate’s Kasbah Taourirt before reaching the Dades Gorges. Day 2 continues through the Todra Gorges to Merzouga for a camel trek and night in a desert camp. Day 3 drives the Ziz Valley, passes Midelt and the cedar forests of Azrou, and finishes in Fes. The pace is steady with long driving days (roughly 7–9 hours on the road each day) broken by short walks and photo stops.
Standout moments include early morning light on the dunes at Merzouga, walking the alleys of Ait Ben Haddou before coach parties arrive, and the sheer cliffs of Todra Gorges where the river has cut a 300 m canyon. The camel ride into Erg Chebbi lasts about an hour each way; the camp provides shared or private tents depending on the option booked, with dinner and breakfast included. You also cross the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often appear beside the road.
The main trade-off is distance: you cover nearly 1,000 km in 72 hours, so time at each stop is limited and much of the trip is spent looking out the window. Lunches are not included and the driver chooses roadside restaurants; the optional guide at Ait Ben Haddou costs 3 EUR extra. If you prefer slower travel with more time in the desert, a 4-day version returning to Marrakech exists.
Itinerary
Marrakech to Dades Gorges
High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate • overnight Dades Gorges
Depart Marrakech and climb the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), with views over argan groves and Berber villages. Stop at Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed ksar of earthen buildings used in many films. Continue to Ouarzazate to see the 17th-century Kasbah Taourirt, then follow the Dadès Valley to the gorge where the river has carved dramatic rock formations. Dinner and breakfast included at a hotel in the gorge.
Dades Gorges to Merzouga Erg Chebbi
Todra Gorges, desert camp • overnight Merzouga desert camp
Leave the Dadès Gorges and drive to Tinghir, then walk the palm-lined Todra Gorges where limestone cliffs rise 300 m. The route continues through Erfoud, known for fossil workshops, and Rissani, the historic market town. At Merzouga, swap the minibus for camels and ride about an hour into the Erg Chebbi dunes to a desert camp. Evening dinner around a fire, then sleep in tents under the stars. Breakfast served before sunrise.
Merzouga to Fes
Ziz Valley, Midelt, Azrou cedar forest • tour ends Fes
After breakfast, depart Merzouga and follow the Ziz Valley, a green ribbon of date palms cutting through arid plateaus. Stop for lunch near Zaida or Midelt in the Middle Atlas. The road then climbs through cedar forests near Azrou, where troops of Barbary macaques often forage beside the tarmac. Descend into the Saïss plain and arrive in Fes in the late afternoon, where the tour ends at your hotel or a central drop-off point.
For reference — the operator may change the order of stops.
Includes
- Dinner (2 nights)
- Breakfast (3 mornings)
- Camel ride in the desert
- Professional driver
- Hotel pickup (within 8 km radius)
- Guide fees at Ait Ben Haddou (3 EUR, optional)
- Lunches and snacks
- Hotel pickup surcharge for locations beyond 8 km radius (20 EUR for 1–6 persons)
Meeting point
Pickup: Hotel pickup included. For hotels located more than 8 km radius, a 20 EUR surcharge applies for 1–6 persons.
Ends at: Fes
Important information
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants must sit on an adult’s lap; specialized infant seats available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tour is multilingual: the minibus may have mixed languages, but guides at stops speak your language
- You are free to decline the guide at Ait Ben Haddou and to eat where you choose
- 24/7 contact available for requests or complaints during the tour
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Our take
Is the 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes worth it?
The 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is worth it if you want to see the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, both major gorges and a night in Erg Chebbi without backtracking to Marrakech. You cover roughly 1,000 km in three days, so long driving stints — 7 to 9 hours on days 1 and 3 — are the trade-off.
Highlights such as the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m, the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorges and the camel trek into Erg Chebbi are genuine route anchors. The small-group format (max 15) keeps the minibus manageable, and the tour finishes in <a href=
What you pay extra for on this route
The advertised price covers transport, two dinners, three breakfasts, the camel trek and hotel pickup within 8 km of Marrakech. Everything else is on you, so factor these into the 3 day desert tour from marrakech to fes cost before you book.
- Guide at Ait Ben Haddou — 3 EUR per person, optional
- Lunches and snacks for three days
- Pickup surcharge if your hotel is outside the 8 km radius — 20 EUR for 1–6 people
- Drinks with meals and at the desert camp
- Tips for the driver and any local guides (customary, not obligatory)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Frequently asked questions
01How far is the desert from Marrakech on this tour?
Merzouga Erg Chebbi is about 560 km from Marrakech by road. The tour covers the distance over two days with stops at Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the gorges, so you are not driving it in one go.
02Is the 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes safe?
Yes. The route uses paved main roads (N9, N12, N13) and a professional driver. The tour operator provides 24/7 contact. Standard travel precautions apply.
03Can you do the 3 day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes in September or October?
Both months are excellent — daytime temperatures are warm but not extreme, nights in the desert are comfortable, and the Atlas passes are clear of snow.
04How long is the camel ride in Merzouga?
The camel trek into the dunes to the camp typically lasts 60–90 minutes each way at sunset and sunrise. Exact duration depends on the camp location and group pace.
05Does a guide stay with the group the whole time?
The minibus has a professional driver. A local guide at Ait Ben Haddou is optional (3 EUR). At other stops you explore independently unless you hire a guide separately.
06What accommodation standard is used for the hotel and desert camp?
The partner page does not specify hotel or camp category. Check the current booking page for the exact standard (standard, comfort or luxury) before booking.
07How do I get from Marrakech to Fes if I don't take this tour?
You can fly (1 hr 15 min), take the train (about 7 hours), or drive yourself (about 9 hours direct via the toll highway). This tour trades speed for the desert experience.
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