4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour

After breakfast, you’ll meet your driver-guide and begin your journey across the Saiss plains to Ifran. This town is famous for its unique modern architecture and serves as a winter holiday destination for many locals.

Next, you’ll continue through Cedar forests to the Berber town of Azrou, located in the heart of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Here, you’ll have a chance to see some Barbary Apes and take photos before carrying on to Midelt. Midelt is the area’s major commercial and agricultural center, known for its mining industry and modern apple farms.

You’ll descend into the Ziz Valley early in the afternoon. You’ll see the oasis full of date palm trees and scattered Kasbah villages. From here, you’ll begin to notice a sharp change in scenery as you feel the desert approach. Finally, late in the afternoon, you’ll arrive at Merzouga and check into your lodge at the edge of Erg Chebbi dunes. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

After breakfast and a relaxed morning, it’s time to meet your guide and head out to explore the Merzouga area. First, you’ll drive to Tisserdmine oasis, meeting nomads along the way. Then you’ll hunt for fossils and enjoy some sand bashing with your experienced driver.

In the mid-afternoon, you’ll meet your camel caravan for a once-in-a-lifetime ride over the color-changing dunes. After stopping at the top of one of the sand dunes to watch the sunset, you’ll continue on to Your Sahara desert camp. Dinner will be served under the stars (weather permitting), followed by a Tam Tam drum session entertained by local nomads.

If you’re looking to start your day with a bit of adventure, wake up early to climb one of the nearby sand dunes and watch a spectacular sunrise just before breakfast. Then, ride your camel back to Merzouga and meet your driver. Today’s journey will commence with a visit to the holy town of Rissani, the birthplace of the founder of the dynasty ruling Morocco until today.

While there, be sure to visit the local dates market and learn about the varieties of delicious dates Tafilalet Region is famous for. Next, we’ll continue on to Tinghir, a former military bastion during the French occupation. Finally, we’ll arrive at Berber Village, inhabited by a large Berber Jewish community until the 1660s before they mainly immigrated. Local Berbers inherited silver jewelry craftsmanship from their Jewish predecessors, so visiting their shops is definitely worth it!

Your local guide will take you on a walk through the oasis next to the stream, where you can watch locals herding goats or work in their fields. You’ll end your walk with a stunning view of the Todgha Canyons, a series of 400m high limestone river canyons. In the late afternoon, you’ll continue on to Boumalne Dades for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Just outside Boumalne Dades lies the Valley of the Roses. If you visit during spring, open your car window, and the Damascus Roses smell will strike you! You can seize the opportunity to visit an artisanal rose water distilling facility.

From here, take the road of 1001 Kasbahs to the oasis of Skoura. Walk to Kasbah Amridil, one of the best-preserved Kasbahs in Morocco, which now serves as a private museum. If you are keen to learn about Berber culture, architecture, and amazing irrigation techniques, a guided visit to the Kasbah is worth it. Continue to Ouarzazate for a quick stop before reaching the nearby Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. It is one of the world heritage sites of Morocco and one of the most visited landmarks in the country. Its unique earthen architecture served as a set to various Biblical epics and blockbusters.

Your guide will meet you and then you’ll take a walk across the river to visit the Village. After lunch at a local cafe, you’ll head towards Marrakech, driving through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi Ntichka pass. By late afternoon, you’ll reach Marrakech. Then, your 4-day tour from Fes will end with a drop off at your hotel, riad, or any location you choose.