Private journey · Any date
4-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
Marrakech · Dades Valley · Merzouga · Midelt · Fes
This 4-day private tour runs one way from Marrakech to Fes, crossing the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou, sleeping in the Dades Gorge and on the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, then climbing north through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. It covers 1,131 km and ends in Fes, from $695 per person. It can also finish at any other airport in Morocco, with the transfer included.
team
Every route on this page was designed in Marrakech by our own team, and is run on the ground by our own Moroccan guides and drivers. Booked and guaranteed by Moratra LLC.
The route
- Dades ValleyDay 1 · 344 km · 7.3 h
- MerzougaDay 2 · 300 km · 6.2 h
- MideltDay 3 · 276 km · 5.6 h
- FesDay 4 · 211 km · 4 h
Day by day
01Over the Tizi n Tichka to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades GorgeDades Valley · 344 km · 7.3 h · Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Leave Marrakech early and climb south into the High Atlas, crossing the Tizi n Tichka pass with its sweeping views over the range. On the far side stands Ait Ben Haddou, the earthen kasbah listed by UNESCO, where you walk among the red towers above the Ounila valley and take lunch. The road then runs on through Ouarzazate, the gateway to the south, and east to the Dades Gorge, arriving as the cliffs turn deep red at sunset.
02Todgha Gorge, then camels into the Erg Chebbi dunesMerzouga · 300 km · 6.2 h · Breakfast and dinner
The road threads out of the Dades canyon in the morning and on to Todgha Gorge, where limestone walls narrow sharply above a cold mountain stream. The afternoon belongs to the desert: the landscape empties, the last towns fall away, and you reach the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga in the late afternoon. Camels carry you over the sand for sunset, and dinner is served under the stars at the camp.
03North through the Ziz Valley to MideltMidelt · 276 km · 5.6 h · Breakfast and dinner
Rise for sunrise over the dunes, then turn north for the first time. The road passes the fossil workshops of Erfoud and the regional town of Errachidia before entering the Ziz Valley, a gorge where palm groves cling to the cliffs above the river. The day ends in Midelt, a quiet mountain town at the foot of the Middle Atlas known for its apple orchards.
04Cedar forests, Ifrane and into FesFes · 211 km · 4 h
A short and beautiful last day. Climb out of Midelt into the cedar-covered slopes of the Middle Atlas, stopping in the forests near Azrou where Barbary macaques come down to the roadside. Pass through Ifrane, the alpine-looking town of stone chalets and pines, and descend into Fes in the afternoon, where the tour ends.
What is included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with English-speaking driver
- All accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Meals as specified per stop
- Camel trek and one night in a desert camp near Merzouga
- Visit to the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, with lunch included
- Scenic stops at Todgha Gorge and the Ziz Valley
- All transfers between cities as per the itinerary
- Tour concludes with drop-off in Fes
- Drop-off at any airport in Morocco at the end of the tour - Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, Tangier or Agadir - included in the price
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Travel and medical insurance
- Lunches unless explicitly listed in the programme
- Drinks during meals
- Entrance fees to monuments, museums and the Atlas Studios
- Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone and souvenirs
- Visa fees if applicable
See it for yourself
Where you sleep
A comfortable hotel set against the red rock of the gorge, chosen for its terrace and the view down the valley at dusk.
An ensuite tented camp on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, with proper beds, private bathrooms, dinner under the stars and a fire circle.
A quiet mountain hotel at the foot of the Middle Atlas, a simple and restful stop between the desert and the cedar forests.
Why this journey
- A one-way route: no day is spent retracing the road you came in on
- The UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, with lunch beneath its walls
- A night in the Dades Gorge and a night in a desert camp on the Erg Chebbi dunes
- The Ziz Valley, a canyon of palm groves cut through bare rock
- Cedar forests and Barbary macaques near Azrou, then Ifrane, before Fes
Is this journey for you?
Yes if
- You are continuing north after the desert rather than returning to Marrakech
- You want to see the Sahara and the Middle Atlas in the same four days
- You would rather travel privately than in a coach group
No if
- You need to end back in Marrakech - take the 4-day loop instead
- You want to linger in each place rather than move every day
- You are looking for the cheapest possible way to reach the dunes
Questions
Does this tour return to Marrakech?
No. This is a one-way journey and it ends with a drop-off in Fes. That is the point of it: you cross the country instead of driving back the way you came. If you need to finish in Marrakech, our 4-day loop covers the same desert and returns by a different southern road.
Where exactly does the tour end?
In Fes, at your hotel or riad. Day four brings you through the cedar forests near Azrou and the alpine town of Ifrane, arriving in Fes in the afternoon. From there you are free to continue north to Chefchaouen and Tangier, or fly out of Fes airport.
Is this tour private or shared?
Private. The vehicle is yours alone. Moroccan tourism licensing caps a 4x4 at four passengers, so parties of five or more travel in a premium minivan. Either way you share it with no one outside your party.
How much do I pay to confirm?
A 50 percent deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due on arrival in Morocco. We confirm your dates first, then send you a secure Stripe payment link.
Are all the hotels four or five star?
No, and we would rather say so. This route passes through places where a five-star hotel simply does not exist and the best bed in town is a family-run kasbah or a camp under the dunes. We promise the best available address in each place you sleep: three to four-star hotels in the Dades Gorge and Midelt, and a premium camp at Merzouga.
How long are the driving days?
Day one is the longest at 344 km, then 300 km to the dunes, 276 km north through the Ziz Valley, and a short 211 km into Fes on the last day. Every day includes photo and rest stops, and the journey gets easier as it goes.
Can the tour end at a different city or airport?
Yes. The route finishes in Fes, but we will drive you on to any airport in Morocco and that transfer is included in the price - Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier or Agadir, or anywhere else you are flying from. Tell us your flight when you book so we can set the departure time: some airports are an hour or two from Fes and others are most of a day on the road, so the earlier we know, the better the last day works.
Other journeys
From
$695 per person
Based on two travellers sharing
50% deposit to confirm · balance on arrival