This 3-day guided tour takes you on an adventure from the imperial city of Fes through the dramatic landscapes of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara Desert. You’ll experience the alpine villages of the Middle Atlas, encounter the famous Barbary apes, and go on a camel trek to a Berber campsite for an overnight in the desert dunes of Merzouga.
Along the way, you’ll visit the fossil capital of Erfoud, and journey through palm oases, rose valleys, and impressive gorges like Todgha and Dades. The tour also includes exploring historic kasbahs like the Hollywood filming location of Ouarzazate with its Atlas Studios, and the UNESCO-listed Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou.
The tour culminates with a scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains via TiziN’Tichka pass before arriving in the vibrant city of Marrakech.
3 Days Tour From Fes To Marrakech
The 3-day tour from Fes to Marrakech starts with an early morning pickup from your hotel or the airport in Fes at 8:00 AM. Our English-speaking driver and guide will welcome you aboard our air-conditioned vehicle and head towards the Middle Atlas Mountains. Along the route, there will be opportunities to pause, capture photographs, and soak in the breathtaking views.
Continuing our journey, we’ll pass through the resort town of Ifrane, often referred to as the “Little Swiss Town of Morocco” due to its alpine-style architecture and snow.
We’ll enjoy a nice drive through the plains of Saiss towards the Cedar forests of the middle Atlas Mountains. Keep an eye out for the famous Barbary apes that inhabit this region. We’ll make a stop along the side road for you to capture photos of these entertaining primates.
After a short stop in Midelt for a delicious lunch break, we’ll carry on crossing the Ziz River and make our way to Erfoud, a town known for its fossil (stones) mining and pottery. We’ll tour the big marble Stones Association in Erfoud, then take a short drive to our final destination for the day – the desert town of Merzouga.
From here we will do 1-1.30h camel trekking to reach our Berber campsite in Merzouga. A stop will be made atop a high dune to watch the magical sunset. If interested, you can try sandboarding and enjoy the views while taking photos.
After these beautiful moments, we’ll continue to the camp where you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea. Get ready to experience the local Sahara Desert culture through rhythmic Tam-Tam drum performances and dancing around the campfire. Enjoy a delicious dinner and overnight camping under the starry sky. That’s the end of the 1st day of our 3-day itinerary from Fes to Marrakech.
Wake up early to witness the breathtaking sunrise during a peaceful camel ride near the camp. After a delicious breakfast at your camp, we offer you the choice to return to Merzouga town either by camel trek or a comfortable 4×4 car ride, where your driver will be waiting.
From here, our journey takes us to Boumalne Dades, passing through Rissani, once a crucial stop along ancient caravan routes. If it’s market day (Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday), we’ll explore the lively weekly market there.
Next is Tinghir where you can stroll alongside the Todgha river, visit Berber villages, and learn about the local people’s way of life. Continue walking to the magnificent Todgha Canyons. Feel free to explore this high red cliff-sided canyon on foot and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Free time to treat yourself to a delicious lunch at a local cafe.
In the afternoon drive along the road to the kasbahs and Dades Valley, going through Boumalne Dades. We will make stops to see the “monkey fingers” rock formation and admire the view of the Dades Valley from a mountaintop viewpoint. For the night, we will have dinner and stay at a cozy boutique guesthouse in the heart of the Dades Valley.
Today marks the conclusion of our Fes to Marrakech desert tour for 3 days. After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive along the valley of roses, heading towards Kalaa Mgouna, also known as the “Rose City.” This charming town is renowned for its annual Rose Festival (held in May). Here, we have the opportunity to visit local rosewater cooperatives and witness the production of rose water and other rose-based products.
Next, We drive through the lush palm groves of Skoura until we reach Ouarzazate, widely known as the “Hollywood of Morocco” due to its thriving film industry. You will have the opportunity to explore Atlas Film Studio, where many famous movies including Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy..etc have been filmed. We’ll also visit the famous Taourirt Kasbah, a palace dating back to the 17th century.
Our next stop is the iconic Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. This remarkable ksar (fortified village) has also been a filming location for numerous Hollywood productions. Free time to have lunch.
Next, we’ll lead you through the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech via Tizi N’tichka pass, Morocco’s highest road passage at 2,260 meters above sea level. Stops will be made a few times along this scenic route for pictures and panoramic views of the Berber villages, valleys and mountains.
After traversing this spectacular mountain range, a 65-mile drive will take us to Marrakech, with an expected late afternoon arrival. We’ll then drop you at the airport or your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech, marking the conclusion of your Fes desert trip adventure.