Camel Ride Trips7-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara
Fly into Marrakech and out of Fes, with the Sahara in between. Spend a guided day in the Red City, cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, walk the Todra Gorge, then enjoy two nights around the Erg Chebbi dunes with a sunset camel trek and a full desert day, before a guided day in Fes. Planned by our local team from Rissani, near Merzouga.
What is the 7-Day Morocco Tour from Marrakech to Fes?
It is a private, one-way tour by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts at Marrakech airport and ends in Fes after 7 days and 6 nights. It includes a guided day in Marrakech, the High Atlas crossing over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley, the Todra Gorge and Erfoud, two nights in Merzouga (a desert camp after a sunset camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes, then a hotel by the dunes after a 4x4 day to nomad families, Khamlia and M'Fis), the drive north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane, and a guided day in Fes.
- 2 nights Marrakech
- 1 night Dades Valley
- 1 night Sahara desert camp
- 1 night Merzouga hotel
- 1 night Fes
How much driving is on the 7-day Marrakech to Fes tour?
The road from Marrakech to Fes through the Sahara is about 1,150 km. On this tour, three of the seven days have little or no driving: a guided day in Marrakech, a desert day in Merzouga and a guided day in Fes. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Marrakech airport, guided day in Marrakech | — | Short transfers only |
| Day 3 | Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley | about 320 km | 7–8 hours with visits |
| Day 4 | Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga | about 260 km | 5 hours with stops |
| Day 5 | Merzouga: nomads, Khamlia, M'Fis, oases | about 80 km | Short drives by 4x4 |
| Day 6 | Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes | about 470 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
| Day 7 | Guided day in Fes, transfer | — | No long drive |
🧭 Two guided cities
Licensed local guides in Marrakech and Fes.
⛺ Two nights in Merzouga
A desert camp in Erg Chebbi and a hotel facing the dunes.
✈ Airport to airport
Pickup at Marrakech airport, transfer in Fes at the end.
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
7-Day Marrakech to Fes Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Marrakech
Your driver meets you at Marrakech airport and takes you to your riad in the old medina. Take a first walk through the lanes, enjoy mint tea or browse the nearby souks.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
- Day 2
Guided tour of Marrakech
With a licensed local guide, visit the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the old medina, where artisans still work in traditional ways.
End at Jemaa el-Fna Square, with its storytellers, musicians and food stalls.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
- Day 3
Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with views over Berber villages, then explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified village seen in many films.
Pass Ouarzazate, the 'Gateway to the Sahara', and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 4
Dades → Todra Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga
Walk inside the Todra Gorge between its limestone cliffs, then drive through Erfoud to Merzouga.
Swap the car for a camel and ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset to your desert camp. Enjoy dinner and Berber music by the fire, and sleep in a private tent.
🛏 Overnight: Private tent in a Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 5
Merzouga desert exploration
After sunrise and breakfast, explore the area by 4x4: tea with a nomad family, Gnawa music in Khamlia, the old M'Fis mines and palm oases.
Relax in the afternoon with views over Erg Chebbi.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel by the Merzouga dunes, dinner included
- Day 6
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes
Drive north through the Ziz Valley, one of Morocco's largest palm oases, with stops at the viewpoints. Pass Midelt and enter the Middle Atlas cedar forest, home to Barbary macaques.
Stop in Ifrane, the 'Switzerland of Morocco', then continue to your riad in Fes.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Fes
- Day 7
Guided tour of Fes and departure
With a licensed local guide, see the Royal Palace gates, then enter the UNESCO-listed medina for its madrasas, souks, artisan workshops and the Chouara tanneries.
After the tour, your driver takes you to your hotel or Fes airport.
🏁 Transfer to your Fes hotel or Fes airport, end of tour
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
- 6 nights in riads, hotels and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in the Dades Valley, the desert camp and Merzouga
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Licensed local guides in Marrakech and Fes
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- 4x4 desert excursion in Merzouga
- Airport, hotel and riad transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Dinners not listed above
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Questions About the 7-Day Marrakech to Fes Tour
Is 7 days enough for Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes?
Yes. Seven days gives you a guided day in Marrakech, two nights in the Sahara with a full desert day, and a guided day in Fes, with the kasbahs and gorges of the south on the way.
How is this tour different from the 5-day Marrakech to Fes tour?
The 7-day tour adds an arrival day and a guided day in Marrakech, plus a guided tour of Fes at the end. The desert part is similar, with two nights in Merzouga.
How many nights are in the Sahara?
Two: one in a private tent at a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes after a sunset camel trek, and one in a hotel by the dunes after a 4x4 day exploring the area.
Where does the tour end?
In Fes, after the guided tour on day 7. Your driver takes you to your Fes hotel or to Fes airport.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in the Dades Valley, at the desert camp and in Merzouga. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
Can I do this tour in reverse, from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. See our 8-day Fes to Marrakech tour, which follows a similar route with guided days in both cities.
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 Marrakech to Fes, 8-day Fes to Marrakech (reverse) and 9-day Imperial Cities loop from Marrakech.
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.