Marrakech, MoroccoWe answer Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00 Morocco time

Sahara · 3 days

3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga

South from Fes to the dunes, then west through the gorges to Marrakech

Private tour 3 days 2–6 travellers Fes · Merzouga · Marrakech Moderate

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Any date, private. We confirm by email within 24 hours. No deposit to get a quote.

Duration

3 days

Group size

2–6 travellers

Difficulty

Moderate

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Arabic

Departs

Any date, private

Private trips, operated by Serenity Morocco Tours

We confirm by email within 24 hours.

Riad or hotel pickup included

WhatsApp support during your trip

Overview

A private one-way 3-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech: the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley to a camel ride and night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, then the Todra and Dades gorges, Ouarzazate and Aït Ben Haddou on the way to Marrakech.

This is the reverse of the Marrakech-to-Fes route, and the longest drive comes first: about 460 km from Fes to Merzouga through Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley, roughly 8–9 hours with stops. You arrive in time for a sunset camel ride to the camp.

Day two is shorter and slower — Rissani, the Todra Gorge walk and the Dades Valley, about 250 km. Day three takes the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and Ouarzazate to Aït Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech, about 310 km. Ending with the Atlas crossing means you arrive in Marrakech by early evening.

Trip highlights

One-way route from Fes ending in Marrakech
Middle Atlas cedar forest and the Ziz Valley
Camel ride and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Todra Gorge walk and a night in the Dades Valley
Skoura, Ouarzazate and the UNESCO ksar of Aït Ben Haddou
Tizi n'Tichka pass into Marrakech

Private · any date

Price on request

Your fixed price, in writing.

We confirm by email within 24 hours. No deposit to get a quote.

Duration: 3 days
Group: 2–6 travellers
Level: Moderate
Guide: English, French, Spanish, Arabic

How quoting works

Send your date and group size
This trip is filled in for you. Add the day you'd like and where you're staying.
Get a fixed price in writing
We send a written itinerary and a fixed price. We confirm by email within 24 hours.
A 30% deposit confirms
Cancellation and refunds follow Serenity Morocco Tours' booking terms.

Get my written quote Ask on WhatsApp

Riad or hotel pickup included
WhatsApp support during your trip
Private trips, operated by Serenity Morocco Tours

Photo gallery

Inside the trip.

Day-by-day itinerary

Fes → Marrakech

1
Day 1 · Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga
Ifrane · Azrou · Ziz Valley
07:00 pickup in Fes. Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest, lunch in Midelt and the Ziz gorges. Reach Merzouga in the late afternoon and ride camels to camp.
Private tent, desert camp in Erg Chebbi D
2
Day 2 · Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Rissani · Tinghir · Todra
Sunrise over the dunes, then Rissani and west to Tinghir. Walk in the Todra Gorge, then continue to the Dades Valley.
Kasbah hotel, Dades Valley B · D
3
Day 3 · Dades – Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Skoura · Ouarzazate · Tizi n'Tichka
Skoura oasis and Ouarzazate, a guided walk in Aït Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. Arrive in Marrakech around 18:30.
B

Cities & regions on this trip

You'll experience 7 destinations.

Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.

Imperial city · Central Morocco

Marrakech

The red city and Morocco's best base for day trips — Atlas, Agafay and the Atlantic all within reach.

Open guide

Imperial city · Northern Morocco

Fes

The world's largest car-free medieval city — and the launch point for Volubilis, Meknes and the Middle Atlas.

Open guide

Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco

Sahara & Merzouga

The real Sahara: 150m dunes and camps under the stars — honestly, not a day trip from anywhere.

Open guide

Pre-Sahara · Southern Morocco

Ouarzazate & Aït Ben Haddou

Kasbahs, film studios and the gateway to the dunes — an overnight stop, not a comfortable day trip.

Open guide

Pre-Sahara · Kasbah road

Dadès & Todra Gorges

Towering red canyons and the famous switchback road — a highlight of the multi-day desert route, not a day trip.

Open guide

Middle Atlas · Ifrane Province

Ifrane

Morocco's 'Little Switzerland' — an easy cedar-forest day trip from Fes, with wild Barbary macaques en route.

Open guide

Middle Atlas · High Atlas crossroads

Midelt

The apple-country crossroads between the two Atlas ranges — the overnight that breaks the long Fes–Sahara drive.

Open guide

The route

Map of 3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga

8 stops across Sahara. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.

1
Fes
Start
2
Ifrane
Middle Atlas
3
Midelt
Lunch
4
Merzouga
Night 1 · camp
5
Todra Gorge
Gorge walk
6
Boumalne Dades
Night 2
7
Aït Ben Haddou
UNESCO ksar
8
Marrakech
Finish

What's included

Private English-speaking driver-guide and air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan throughout
Fuel, tolls and parking
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
Breakfast and dinner as noted (B · D)
Hotel or riad pickup and drop-off
Bottled water on board and WhatsApp support during the trip
Camel ride to and from the desert camp (about 1–1.5 hours each way)
Night in a private tent at a desert camp with bedding and bathroom facilities

Not included

Lunches and drinks (budget about MAD 100–150 per lunch)
Entrance fees and local guides at monuments unless noted
Travel insurance
Tips for the driver, guides and camp staff
Local guide at Aït Ben Haddou (about MAD 100–150 per group)

What to bring

Pack light, pack smart.

A small overnight bag — main luggage stays in the vehicle at the camel station
Warm layers: desert nights drop close to freezing from December to February
Scarf or cheche to cover your face against wind-blown sand
Head torch, sunglasses and SPF 30+
Closed shoes or sandals you don't mind filling with sand
Cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and tips

Frequently asked

Questions about this tour.

How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?

About 460 km, which is 7–8 hours of driving and around 9 hours with stops. It is the longest day of this trip.

Is 3 days enough to go from Fes to Marrakech through the desert?

Yes — it's the standard length. You get one night in the dunes and one in the Dades Valley. A 4-day version adds a night in Aït Ben Haddou or Skoura for a slower pace.

Can we finish at Marrakech airport?

Yes, as long as your flight leaves after about 21:00 on day three. Otherwise we recommend a night in Marrakech first.