Home > Tours > From Marrakech>Marrakech to Fes 3 days desert trip
Marrakech to Fes 3 days desert trip
| Tour Ref : | 3DMMD |
| Duration : | 3 DAYS – 2 NIGHTS |
| Tour type : | Private Tour, Family, Desert, Sahara |
| Tour start : | Marrakech |
| Tour end : | Fes |
| Highlights : | High Atlas Mountains, Southern Valleys, Kasbahs, gorges and Oasis |
| Price : | Prices according to number of people travelling in vehicle and season |
Overview
This 3-day desert trip from Marrakech to Fes is a one-way route across Morocco: you start in Marrakech, spend a night in the Sahara at Merzouga, and finish in Fes rather than doubling back. That makes it the most efficient way to combine both imperial cities with the desert if you are travelling between them anyway, saving a full day compared with a return tour.
Day one crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then continues past Ouarzazate and the Skoura oasis to the Dades gorges. Day two runs through the Todra gorges and the Ziz valley to Erg Chebbi for a camel trek and a night in a desert camp. Day three heads north through Errachidia, the Middle Atlas cedar forests around Midelt and Ifrane, arriving in Fes. If you would rather return to Marrakech, see our 3-day Merzouga round trip.
Day to Day tour itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley (315 Km)
Morning departure from Marrakech to the Dades gorges and driving across the High-Atlas mountains. At panoramic viewpoints, there will be opportunities to stop and take photos. After the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260m), you leave the main road and take a side road to the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, which you can visit after lunch (a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also well-known as being the backdrop to many Hollywood blockbusters). The road past Ouarzazate and to the oasis of Skoura where we stop to visit the kasbah of Amridil. From here, the route goes through Kela’a M’gouna, the valley of the roses and the road of one thousand Kasbahs. You stop in the Dades gorges in a hotel there for dinner and night.
Day 2: Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (Night in Desert Camp) (255 km)
After breakfast, there is time to walk by the Boumalne Dades valley before continuing to the dunes of Merzouga via the Todra gorges where you can take a walk before having lunch. In the afternoon, our trip continues along the Ziz valley and the Tafilalte valley to the dunes of Merzouga for an hour camel ride to reach the dunes of Erg Chebbi (250m). From the top of the dunes the sunset is spectacular. Here, at Erg Chebbi dunes, we will have dinner and spend the night in a desert camp.
Day 3: Merzouga – Errachida – Midelt Atlas Mountains – Ifran – Fes (471 Km)
If you wake up early enough, you can watch the spectacle of the sunrise. After you having breakfast then return on camel back, departure for Erfoud. From there the road leads north to Errachidia and the Ziz valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees. Lunch is in Midelt, which is called “the apple capital”, in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. We cross the Tizi-n-Talremt pass, ravelling along a beautiful road bordered by green oaks and cedar trees to reach Azrou, where you can see Barbary apes looking out for tidbits. We reach Fes at the end of the afternoon.
Trip Highlights
- One-way route between two imperial cities, so no day is spent retracing the same road.
- Night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi after a one-hour camel trek into the dunes, with sunset and sunrise over the sand.
- Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen kasbah used as a location in many international films.
- Todra gorges and the Dades valley, on the road of a thousand kasbahs.
- Ziz valley palm groves and the Tafilalet, the historic caravan gateway to the Sahara.
- Middle Atlas cedar forests around Midelt and Ifrane, with Barbary macaques, on the final drive into Fes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tour end in Fes or return to Marrakech?
It ends in Fes. You are dropped at your hotel or riad in Fes on the evening of day three, which suits travellers continuing north or flying out of Fes. The same route can also be run in reverse from Fes to Marrakech on request.
Can I do this tour in the opposite direction?
Yes. We run the identical itinerary from Fes to Marrakech. See our tours from Fes for departures in that direction.
Is the third day a long drive?
Yes, day three is the longest at roughly 470 km from Merzouga to Fes, broken up with stops in the Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar forests near Ifrane. Departure is early to allow time for sunrise over the dunes first.
When is the best time for this tour?
The best time to visit the Sahara desert is from September to May. Note that the Middle Atlas around Ifrane and Midelt can see snow in winter, which is scenic but occasionally slows the drive. See the best time to visit Morocco guide for details.
What is included in the desert camp?
A nomad tent, dinner and breakfast, a sunset climb of the dunes and a one-hour camel trek to reach the camp at Erg Chebbi.
BOOK TOUR
Departure & Return Location :
- Pick-up; drop off at/from your Hotel
- Or at your accommodation : Raid, Airport
What's Not Included:
- Private Transport with A/C
- (4x4 or Minibus for Groups) with professional drive
- Driver/Guide-speaking tour assistant
- Car Fuel
What's Not Included:
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Flight Tickets
Have Any Question?
- Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
- +212671735677
- contact@gatetravelmorocco.com