- Free cancellationFull refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before scheduled departure.
- Duration 3 daysCheck availability to see starting times
- Live tour guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Italian, French
- Pickup includedPickup from Marrakech accommodations; if in Medina, meeting point within walking distance. Requires WhatsApp…
- Small group shared tour (max 18)Group size
- Starts in MarrakechMarrakech → High Atlas Mountains (Tizi n'Tichka Pass) → Ait Ben Haddou…
The marrakech to fes desert camp tour is a 3-day shared small-group excursion crossing the High Atlas to Erg Chebbi dunes, with a camel trek and overnight in a Berber camp. It suits travellers who want the desert experience without hiring a private driver, and who are comfortable with long driving days (about 9–10 hours each way) and basic camp facilities. Maximum 18 people.
Highlights
- Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 m) to UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou
- Explore Todra Gorge with canyon walls over 300 m high
- Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes to a Berber-style desert camp
- Overnight in shared camp tents with dinner, campfire music and sunrise over dunes
- Return via Ziz Valley, cedar forests near Azrou (possible monkey sightings) and Ifrane
- Small group of maximum 18 with English/Spanish-speaking driver-guide
About this tour
You leave Marrakech early and cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m, stopping at Ait Ben Haddou before reaching the Dades Valley for the first night. Day two takes you through Todra Gorge to Merzouga, where you switch to camels for the hour-long ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset. The final day starts with an optional sunrise, then a long drive north through the Ziz Valley, cedar forests near Azrou, and Ifrane to Fes. If this is your first trip to Morocco, our guide on <a href=
Standout moments include the ksar at Ait Ben Haddou, the sheer walls of Todra Gorge, and the quiet of the dunes after the day-trippers leave. The camel trek is slow and scenic, not a thrill ride, and the camp evening usually involves mint tea, a simple tagine dinner, and Berber music around a fire.
The trade-off is the sheer amount of time in the minibus — roughly 1,000 km over three days — so you see a lot of landscape but spend limited time at each stop. Lunches and drinks aren’t included, and the standard camp has shared bathrooms; a Deluxe option with private en suite tents is sometimes available for an extra fee.
Itinerary
Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou
Full day drive, Tizi n'Tichka pass 2,260 m, overnight Dades Valley
Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) with photo stops. Visit the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then pass Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses along the Road of 1000 Kasbahs. Lunch is not included. Arrive late afternoon at a hotel or riad in the Dades Valley (Boumalne Dades or Tinghir area) for dinner and overnight.
Dades Valley to Merzouga and Erg Chebbi desert camp
Todra Gorge, camel trek at sunset, overnight desert camp
Morning photo stops in the Dades Valley before driving to Todra Gorge, where canyon walls rise over 300 m. Continue through palm groves to Merzouga. Lunch stop in Tinejdad (not included). In late afternoon, ride camels about one hour into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Reach the Berber-style camp for mint tea, dinner, campfire music, and overnight in shared tents with basic bedding and shared bathrooms.
Merzouga to Fes via Middle Atlas
Sunrise option, Ziz Valley, cedar forests, drop-off Fes
Optional early wake-up for sunrise over the dunes, then breakfast at camp. Return to the minibus by camel or 4×4 (extra fee). Drive through the Ziz Valley with photo stops, lunch in Midelt (not included), then cross the Middle Atlas via cedar forests near Azrou where Barbary macaques are often seen. Brief stop in Ifrane before continuing to Fes, where drop-off is at your accommodation (Medina accessible only on foot).
For reference — the operator may change the order of stops.
Includes
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Camel ride in the dunes of Erg Chebbi
- Guide (English and Spanish)
- Sandboards available in the camp
- Transport in shared vehicle
- Lunches
- Drinks and beverages (including water)
- Guide in Ait Ben Haddou (can be hired on arrival for about 20 MAD per person)
- Tips and gratuities for driver/guides
- 4×4 transfer from camp to minibus (additional fee)
Not suitable for
- Infants must sit on an adult’s lap
Meeting point
Pickup: Pickup available from Marrakech accommodations; if in Medina, meeting point within walking distance. WhatsApp required for coordination.
Meeting point: Marrakech accommodations or Medina meeting point
Ends at: Fes
Important information
Know before you go
- Pickup in Marrakech Medina at meeting point due to narrow roads
- Drop-off in Fes Medina not directly accessible by vehicle; accommodation must meet you
- WhatsApp required for driver coordination on departure morning
- Desert camp has shared bathroom facilities; private en suite available with Deluxe option
- Camel ride approximately 1 hour each way
- Lunches not included; budget for roadside restaurants
- Guide at Ait Ben Haddou not included; can hire locally for ~20 MAD per person
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Our take
Is the Marrakech to Fes desert camp worth it?
For a marrakech to fes desert camp that covers the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and a night in Erg Chebbi, the value is solid if you accept the trade-offs. You get transport, a driver-guide, camel trek, dinner and breakfast for a fraction of a private tour price. The camp is Berber-style with shared bathrooms (private en-suite only on a Deluxe upgrade) and the night is short — you arrive at sunset, leave after sunrise.
The shared minibus means fixed stops and up to 18 people; you cannot linger at Ait Ben Haddou or skip the carpet shop. Lunches and drinks are extra, and the 4×4 return from camp costs more. If you want flexibility, a private vehicle or longer itinerary makes more sense.
Who this shared tour suits and who should skip it
This shared desert tour morocco works for solo travellers, couples and small friend groups who want the Sahara experience without hiring a private driver. You meet people, split the cost and still hit the main sights: Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge, <a href=
Skip it if you need private bathrooms, a flexible pace, luxury camping, or have mobility issues — the camel trek and shared facilities are basic. Families with young children may find the long drives (about nine hours on day one) and early starts draining. Photographers wanting golden-hour time at each stop will feel rushed.
Best time of year and what to pack
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) give the most comfortable temperatures for the 3 day marrakech to fes desert tour best time. Summer pushes 45 °C in Erg Chebbi; winter nights drop near freezing at the camp and over the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m). The drive from Marrakech covers roughly 560 km — <a href=
Pack layers: thermals, fleece, wind-proof jacket, beanie and gloves for the night in camp; light shirts, sun hat and high-SPF cream for daytime. A headtorch is essential — camp paths are unlit. Sturdy closed shoes handle the dunes and gorge rocks better than sandals. Bring a small daypack for water, snacks and camera gear on the camel.
What you pay extra: lunches, drinks, tips, optional 4×4 return
The tour price covers transport, the driver-guide, two dinners, two breakfasts, the <a href=
Frequently asked questions
01How far is the desert from Marrakech?
Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga are about 560 km from Marrakech by road — roughly 9–10 hours of driving split over two days with stops at Ait Ben Haddou and Todra Gorge.
02Is the 3 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour worth it?
Yes, if you want to cover the Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and a Sahara night in one efficient trip. The shared format keeps cost down but means fixed stops and shared camp facilities.
03Is the 3 day Marrakech to Fes desert tour safe?
The route is well-travelled and the operator uses experienced drivers. Standard precautions apply: secure valuables, stay hydrated, and follow the guide’s advice in the dunes and gorges.
04Can you do the Marrakech to Fes desert tour by train?
No. There is no train to Merzouga or the desert camp. The only rail option is a direct Marrakech–Fes train (about 7 hours), which skips the Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Todra Gorge and the Sahara entirely.
05How to get to Fes from Marrakech otherwise?
You can take the direct train (7 hours), a CTM/Supratours bus (8–9 hours), a private transfer (about 5.5 hours via the toll highway), or fly (1 hour 15 minutes). None include the desert stops.
06What's the difference between shared and private desert tours?
Shared tours have fixed itineraries, max 18 people, shared camp tents and bathrooms, and lower price. Private tours let you set the pace, choose stops, upgrade to luxury camp en-suite, and cost significantly more.
07Is 3 days in Marrakech enough before or after this tour?
Three days covers the medina highlights (Jemaa el-Fna, Bahia Palace, Majorelle Garden) and a day trip. If you want a cooking class, hammam or Atlas hike, allow four to five days.
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