Camel Ride Trips8-Day Morocco Tour from Fes to Marrakech
Fly into Fes and out of Marrakech, with the Sahara in between. Spend a guided day in the Fes medina, two nights around the Erg Chebbi dunes with a sunset camel trek and a full desert day, the Todra Gorge and Valley of Roses, Ait Ben Haddou and a guided day in Marrakech. Planned by our local team, born in the desert near Merzouga.
What is the 8-Day Morocco Tour from Fes to Marrakech?
It is a private, one-way tour by Camel Ride Trips, a local team from Rissani near Merzouga. It starts at Fes airport and ends at Marrakech Menara Airport after 8 days and 7 nights. It includes a guided day in the Fes medina, the drive through Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley, two nights in Merzouga (a Sahara camp after a sunset camel trek, then a hotel near the dunes), a desert day with nomad families, the M'Fis mines and Gnawa music in Khamlia, then Rissani, the Todra Gorge, the Valley of Roses, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, the Tizi n'Tichka pass and a guided day in Marrakech.
- 2 nights Fes
- 1 night Sahara camp
- 1 night Merzouga hotel
- 1 night Ouarzazate
- 2 nights Marrakech
How much driving is there on the 8-day Fes to Marrakech tour?
The road from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara is about 1,100 km. On this 8-day tour, four of the eight days have little or no driving: you get full days in Fes, the Merzouga desert and Marrakech. Times below are approximate and include short stops.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Fes airport → riad, guided day in Fes | — | Short transfers only |
| Day 3 | Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga | about 470 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
| Day 4 | Merzouga, M'Fis, Khamlia and oases | about 80 km | Short drives by 4x4 |
| Day 5 | Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Rose Valley → Ouarzazate | about 370 km | 6–7 hours with stops |
| Day 6 | Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech | about 200 km | 4–5 hours with visits |
| Days 7–8 | Guided day in Marrakech, airport transfer | — | Short transfers only |
✈ Airport to airport
Pickup at Fes airport, drop-off at Marrakech airport.
⛺ Two nights in Merzouga
A Sahara camp in Erg Chebbi and a hotel near the dunes.
🧭 Guided cities
Licensed local guides for full days in Fes and Marrakech.
🏜 Local desert team
Our team is from Rissani, so the camels and camp are run by us.
8-Day Fes to Marrakech Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Fes
Your driver meets you at Fes airport and takes you to your riad in the old medina. Depending on your arrival time, take a first walk in the lanes or relax with mint tea.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in the Fes medina
- Day 2
Guided tour of Fes
With a licensed local guide, see the Royal Palace gates, the view over the medina from Borj Sud and a ceramics workshop.
Inside the UNESCO-listed medina, visit the Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas, Al Quaraouiyine, Nejjarine Square, the Chouara tanneries, the souks and artisan workshops.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in the Fes medina
- Day 3
Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Cross the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, the 'Switzerland of Morocco', and the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live. Have lunch in Midelt, then follow the palm groves and canyon views of the Ziz Valley.
In Merzouga, swap the car for a camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. At the desert camp, enjoy dinner and Berber music by the fire under the stars.
🛏 Overnight: Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 4
Merzouga desert exploration
After sunrise and breakfast, visit nomad families and share tea, then see the old M'Fis mines, once worked for minerals and kohl.
Listen to live Gnawa music in Khamlia, walk in a palm oasis, and spend a relaxed evening near the dunes.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel or riad near the Merzouga dunes, dinner included
- Day 5
Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Rose Valley → Ouarzazate
Visit Rissani, an old caravan town known for its markets, then walk inside the Todra Gorge between its high canyon walls.
Continue through the Valley of Roses, known for its rose water and cosmetics, to Ouarzazate, the 'Gateway to the Sahara'.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Ouarzazate, dinner included
- Day 6
Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech
Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed earthen ksar and one of Morocco's best-known film locations.
Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with views of peaks, valleys and Berber villages, and arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
- Day 7
Guided tour of Marrakech
With a licensed local guide, visit the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the souks of the medina, ending at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square with its musicians, storytellers and food stalls.
Free time afterward to explore at your own pace.
🛏 Overnight: Riad in Marrakech
- Day 8
Departure from Marrakech
After breakfast, your driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport in time for your flight.
🏁 Transfer to Marrakech Menara 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
- 7 nights in riads, hotels and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in Merzouga and Ouarzazate
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Licensed local guides in Fes and Marrakech
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Fes airport pickup and Marrakech airport drop-off
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 8-Day Fes to Marrakech Tour
Is 8 days enough to see Morocco from Fes to Marrakech?
Yes. Eight days lets you see Fes and Marrakech properly with local guides, spend two nights in the Sahara and cross the kasbah valleys and High Atlas, with four days that have little or no driving.
How is the 8-day tour different from the 5-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour?
The 8-day tour adds an arrival day and a guided day in Fes, plus two nights and a guided day in Marrakech, and it includes airport transfers at both ends. The desert part is similar, with two nights in Merzouga.
How many nights are spent in the Sahara?
Two: one in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes after a sunset camel trek, and one in a hotel or riad near the dunes after a full day exploring the area.
Do you pick up at Fes airport?
Yes. Your driver meets you at Fes Saïss Airport on day 1, and on day 8 takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners in Merzouga, at the desert camp and in Ouarzazate. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
What is the best time for this tour?
Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most comfortable. In summer we plan the camel trek for sunset and sunrise, and in winter desert nights are cold but the camp provides warm blankets.
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.
Shorter options from Fes: 5-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour, 3-day Fes to Marrakech and 2-day Fes 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.