# 5-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour: Sahara, Kasbahs & the Atlas Five days from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara, one way. - Length: 5 days - Route: Marrakech to Fes - Private tour with your own driver ## Price per person | Group | Price | |---|---| | 1-2 people | €740 | | 3-4 people | €666 | | 5-6 people | €629 | | 7+ people | €607 | Prices are per person. A solo traveller pays the 2-person price. A 30% deposit confirms the booking; children count as full travellers. Book: https://privatedeserttours.com/book-now/?packid=2976 ## Highlights - Private transportation with an English-speaking driver-guide - Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass - Visit the UNESCO-listed kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou - Drive the Dades Gorges and Todra Gorge - Camel trek at sunset in the Erg Chebbi dunes - One night in a desert camp with dinner and Berber music - End the tour in Fes instead of looping back to Marrakech - Flexible stops for photography and short walks along the route ## Itinerary ### Day 1 · Marrakech to Ouarzazate via Ait Ben Haddou, 200 KM | 4–5 Hours Drive After an early pickup from your riad or hotel in Marrakech, we head south over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, one of Morocco's most scenic mountain roads. We stop at the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah of red-earth buildings that has featured in numerous films. After exploring the ksar, we continue a short distance to Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the desert and home to Morocco's major film studios. Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate. Overnight: Hotel or riad in Ouarzazate ### Day 2 · Ouarzazate to the Dades Gorges via Skoura, 130 KM | 2–3 Hours Drive After breakfast, we leave Ouarzazate for the palm groves and kasbahs of Skoura, a peaceful oasis where several well-preserved fortified homes still stand. Continuing east through Kelaa M'Gouna, known for its rose plantations, we reach the Dades Valley and follow the road into the Dades Gorges, where the cliffs fold into striking rock formations sometimes called the 'monkey fingers'. Dinner and overnight in the Dades Gorges. Overnight: Hotel or riad in the Dades Gorges ### Day 3 · Dades Gorges to Merzouga via Todra Gorge & Erfoud, 270 KM | 4–5 Hours Drive After breakfast, we continue through Boumalne Dades toward Tinghir, stopping to walk into the Todra Gorge, where sheer cliffs rise on either side of a narrow river canyon. From there we pass through Tinjdad and Erfoud, stopping in Rissani to see the fossil workshops the region is known for, before crossing the last stretch of road to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. Dinner and overnight near the Erg Chebbi dunes. Overnight: Hotel in Merzouga ### Day 4 · Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi Dunes, Minimal Driving This full day is dedicated to the desert. In the late afternoon, we set off by camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes, riding through the golden sand as the light softens toward sunset. We arrive at a Berber-style desert camp for dinner and an evening of traditional music around the fire under the stars, spending the night in the camp before an early sunrise over the dunes. Overnight: Desert camp at the Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga ### Day 5 · Merzouga to Fes via the Ziz Valley, Midelt & Ifrane, 470 KM | 7–8 Hours Drive After watching the sunrise and having breakfast, we begin the drive north through the Ziz Valley and its palm oasis, through Errachidia and Midelt, climbing into the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. We pass through Azrou and Ifrane, a mountain town often compared to an Alpine village, before descending into Fes by late afternoon, where the tour concludes at your riad or hotel. ## Included - Private air-conditioned transport for the full 5 days - English-speaking driver-guide throughout - Pick-up in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes - Fuel and all transportation costs - 3 nights in hotels or guesthouses (Ouarzazate area, Dades/Todra area, Midelt or Ifrane area) - 1 night in a Sahara desert camp near Merzouga - Camel trek at sunset in the Erg Chebbi dunes - Dinner at the desert camp and Berber music around the fire - Breakfasts each morning - Stops at Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Gorges, Todra Gorge, and the Middle Atlas ## Not included - Lunches - Drinks - Personal expenses and tips - Entrance fees to optional sites (e.g. Ait Benhaddou kasbah interior, Atlas film studios) ## FAQ ### Is this a private tour or a group tour? It is a private tour. Only your own party travels in the vehicle with your driver-guide, there are no fixed departure dates, and no other travelers join along the way. Every tour on this site runs this way. ### How long is this tour, and where does it start and end? It takes 5 days. Pickup on day 1 is at your hotel, riad or the airport in Marrakech. The tour ends in Fes on day 5. Our driver meets you at the pickup point between the departure time and 30 minutes after it. ### How much does this tour cost? The price is per person and depends on the size of your group: EUR 740 for 1 or 2 people, EUR 666 for 3 or 4, EUR 629 for 5 or 6, and EUR 607 for 7 or more. A solo traveller pays the 2-person price and children count as full travellers. A 30% deposit confirms the booking; send us your dates and we confirm within 24 hours. ### What is the cancellation policy? Cancel more than 50 days before the departure date and you get a full refund. Cancellations less than 50 days before departure, and no-shows, are not refunded. Tickets for events or attractions and airport transfers are non-refundable. The full booking terms are on our Terms and Conditions page. ### How fit do I need to be for this tour? Most days are spent in a private vehicle, with stops for short walks in kasbahs, gorges and villages. The camel ride to the desert camp takes about one to two hours; if you would rather not ride, tell us when booking. Tell us about any mobility, dietary or medical needs in writing before you confirm and we plan the days around them. ### Can the itinerary be changed? Yes. The day-by-day plan on this page is a starting point. You can add a night, swap a stop, change the pace or combine it with another route; we confirm the changes and the price in writing before you book. ### What is the route from Marrakech to the Fes desert tour? The route runs Marrakech → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura → Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes) → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes, covering the High Atlas, the desert kasbah route, and the Middle Atlas over 5 days. ### Is Ait Benhaddou included in this tour? Yes, a stop at the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou is included on Day 1, on the way from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. ### Do we get a camel ride and a night in a desert camp? Yes, a sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and one night in a Berber-style desert camp near Merzouga, with dinner and music around the fire, are both included. ### Can the tour end somewhere other than Fes? This itinerary is built to end in Fes, but the route, stops, and overnight locations can be adjusted on request — contact us with your preferred end point and we'll confirm what's possible. ### Is this tour suitable for families or first-time visitors to Morocco? Yes. The private, flexible pace makes it comfortable for families, older travelers, and anyone visiting Morocco for the first time who prefers a guided route over independent driving. ### How much driving is involved each day? Driving is spread across the 5 days with regular stops, so no single day is a non-stop drive — the longest stretches are broken up by kasbah visits, gorge walks, and lunch stops. ### What should we pack for the desert camp night? Bring a light jacket or layer for the cool desert evening, comfortable closed shoes for the dunes, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a small overnight bag — larger luggage can stay in the vehicle. ### What is the best time of year for this tour? Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for both the mountain passes and the desert, though the route runs year-round with appropriate clothing for each season. --- Private Desert Tours · Rue la Marche Vert, Mhamid 47402, Morocco · Phone and WhatsApp +212667897512 · https://privatedeserttours.com/contact-us/