Camel Ride Trips5-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
Cross Morocco from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara at an easy pace. Visit the Kasbah of Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou, the Skoura oasis and the Valley of Roses, the Dades and Todra gorges, then spend two nights around the Erg Chebbi dunes with a sunset camel trek and a full desert day before driving north through the Ziz Valley and Ifrane to Fes. Planned by our local team from Rissani, near Merzouga.
What is the 5-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour?
It is a private, one-way desert tour by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts at your hotel or riad in Marrakech and ends in Fes after 5 days and 4 nights. The route crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visits the Kasbah of Telouet through the Ounila Valley, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, then the Skoura oasis, the Amridil Kasbah, Kalaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge. You spend two nights in Merzouga, one in a desert camp after a sunset camel trek and one near the dunes after a 4x4 day to Khamlia, M'Fis and nomad families, before driving north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane to Fes.
- 1 night Ouarzazate
- 1 night Dades Valley
- 1 night Sahara desert camp
- 1 night near the Merzouga dunes
How long does it take to go from Marrakech to Fes through the desert?
The route from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga is about 1,150 km. This 5-day tour keeps the first days short, with nights in Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, and gives you a full day in the desert before the final drive north to Fes. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Telouet → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate | about 230 km | 5–6 hours with visits |
| Day 2 | Ouarzazate → Skoura → Kalaat M'Gouna → Dades Valley | about 120 km | 2–3 hours, relaxed day |
| Day 3 | Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga | about 260 km | 5 hours with stops |
| Day 4 | Merzouga: Khamlia, M'Fis, nomads, oases | about 80 km | Short drives by 4x4 |
| Day 5 | Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes | about 470 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
⛺ Two nights in Merzouga
A desert camp in Erg Chebbi and a full day exploring by 4x4.
🏰 Kasbah route
Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Taourirt and Amridil kasbahs.
🚙 Private 4x4
Air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own driver-guide.
5-Day Marrakech to Fes Itinerary
- Day 1
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Telouet → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate
Leave Marrakech early and cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, stopping at viewpoints over the peaks and Berber villages. Follow the Ounila Valley to the Kasbah of Telouet, once a stronghold of the Glaoui family.
Explore Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco's best-known fortified village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site seen in many films. After lunch, continue to Ouarzazate, with an optional visit to the Atlas Film Studios.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate, dinner included
- Day 2
Ouarzazate → Skoura → Valley of Roses → Dades Valley
Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, then drive through the Skoura oasis and its palm groves to the Amridil Kasbah, one of the finest earthen kasbahs in the south.
Continue to Kalaat M'Gouna in the Valley of Roses, with its rose water and cosmetics cooperatives, then follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs into the Dades Valley to see the Monkey Fingers rock formations and the valley viewpoints.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 3
Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga
Walk through the Todra Gorge, where limestone cliffs rise above a clear stream, then visit a fossil workshop in Erfoud.
In Merzouga, ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset to your desert camp. Settle into your tent, enjoy dinner and Berber music by the fire under the stars.
🛏 Overnight: Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 4
Merzouga, Khamlia, M'Fis and nomad families
After sunrise and breakfast at camp, explore the area by 4x4: Gnawa music in Khamlia, the old M'Fis mines and tea with a nomad family.
See fossil fields, quiet oases and, when there is water, the seasonal lake, then watch the sunset over Erg Chebbi from your accommodation near the dunes.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel near the Merzouga dunes, dinner included
- Day 5
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes
Drive north through the Ziz Valley and its viewpoints over one of Morocco's largest oases, then past Midelt into the Middle Atlas cedar forest, where Barbary macaques live.
Stop in Ifrane, the 'Switzerland of Morocco', and arrive in Fes in the late afternoon, where your driver takes you to your riad or hotel.
🏁 Tour ends at your riad or hotel in Fes
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 4 nights in hotels and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley and Merzouga
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- 4x4 desert excursion in Merzouga
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Pickup in Marrakech and drop-off in Fes
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Dinners not listed above
- Entrance fees to kasbahs and monuments
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Questions About the Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
How many days do you need to go from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara?
At least 3 days, but 5 days is far more comfortable. You get shorter driving days, a night in the Dades Valley, two nights in Merzouga and a full day to explore the desert before the final drive to Fes.
What is the difference between this tour and the 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour?
Both have two nights in Merzouga. This tour is one way and ends in Fes, while the Marrakech to Merzouga tour is a round trip that returns to Marrakech through Agdez.
How long is the drive from Merzouga to Fes?
About 470 km, or 7 to 8 hours with stops in the Ziz Valley, Midelt, the cedar forest and Ifrane.
Does the tour visit Telouet?
Yes. On day 1 we take the Ounila Valley road to the Kasbah of Telouet before Ait Ben Haddou, a quieter and more scenic route than the main road.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley, the desert camp and Merzouga. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
Can I do this tour in reverse, from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. See our 5-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour, which follows a similar route in the other direction.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
Related tours: 5-day Fes to Marrakech (reverse route), 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga round trip and 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.