Fes to Marrakech desert tour 5 days

Approx. departure: 8:30
Distance/drive time: ~205 km • 4.5–5 hrs (excluding stops)
5-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour day one eases you out of Fes and into the cool air of the Middle Atlas along the N13. You’ll wind through oak and cedar forests toward Ifrane, a picture-perfect town with sloped-roof chalets and tidy boulevards, before continuing past Azrou and Timahdite with views of Ayachi Mountain in the distance. Expect unhurried photo stops and a short woodland walk where you will watch for Barbary apes in their natural habitat and breathe in the forest’s crisp scent.

As the scenery shifts from green hills to high-plateau landscapes, you will pause for viewpoints that reveal the vastness of central Morocco. By late afternoon, you’ll roll into Midelt and settle into a friendly guest house where dinner awaits.

Our driver will ensure smooth pacing and comfort breaks, and your luggage will be handled door-to-door so you can simply enjoy the views and arrive refreshed for the journey ahead.

Approx. departure: 8:30
Distance/drive time: ~270 km • 5–6 hrs (excluding stops)
You’ll set out over Tizi-n-Talghemt—the “She-Camel Pass”—as the road snakes through stark mountains and descends toward the palmeries of the Ziz Valley. At dramatic viewpoints, you will gaze across a ribbon of date palms, earthen ksars, and deep gorges carved over millennia. Continue south via Er Rachidia to Erfoud, where fossil ateliers and date markets invite a short, optional visit.

By mid-afternoon, the golden outline of the Erg Chebbi dunes rises on the horizon and Merzouga welcomes you to the edge of the Sahara. Swap your 4×4 for a gentle camel ride (or keep the vehicle—your choice) to a luxury desert camp tucked among towering sands.

As the sun melts into the dunes, you will climb a crest for a sunset panorama that lives long in memory. Dinner unfolds beneath a canopy of stars, with warm Berber hospitality and rhythmic drumming easing you into a tranquil desert night.

Approx. departure: Sunrise activity ~6:00; depart camp ~9:00
Distance/drive time: ~280 km • 5–6 hrs (excluding stops)
Wake early to watch daylight spill over Erg Chebbi—an unforgettable moment when the dunes glow from rose to gold. After breakfast and a return ride (camel or 4×4), you’ll head west to Tinghir.

En route, an optional stop lets you descend into a traditional khettarat—ingenious underground water channels that once irrigated the valley. In Todra (Toudgha) Gorge, vertical limestone walls soar above a clear stream; here you will stroll along the canyon floor and through village gardens, greeting locals tending their plots. Continuing into the Dades Valley, the scenery shifts to terraced fields, kasbah silhouettes, and the famous switchbacks near the Dades Gorges.

You will arrive at a characterful kasbah-style hotel where dinner is served and the valley’s silence settles in. Throughout the day, your driver will pace the route for easy walks, photo breaks, and coffee stops so you never feel rushed—just immersed.

Approx. departure: 9:00
Distance/drive time: ~170 km including piste • 4–5 hrs (excluding stops)
This morning you’ll enjoy a short walk in the Dades scenery before venturing along the scenic Boutaghar piste (when conditions permit), a gentle off-road track threading Berber hamlets and lunar outcrops. In the Valley of the Roses, springtime blossoms scent the air, while year-round cooperatives showcase rosewater and natural products.

You will share a tea visit with Berber nomads in caves—an intimate moment that brings desert traditions to life. Rolling onward, palm groves thicken as you reach the Skoura Oasis and the storied Kasbah Amridil, where earthen architecture and historical household tools tell the tale of oasis living. By late afternoon, Ouarzazate—gateway to the Sahara—comes into view.

You will check into your riad or hotel with time to relax by the pool or take a leisurely stroll before dinner. Service is seamless today: curated photo stops, thoughtful timing, and flexible routing that adapts to your appetite for adventure.

Approx. departure: 8:30 • Estimated arrival in Marrakech: ~18:00
Distance/drive time: ~200 km • 4–5 hrs (excluding visits)
Your final day weaves film-set landscapes and timeless villages into one superb crossing of the High Atlas. First stop: the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, where you will explore mud-brick alleys and fortified granaries with a local touch. Rather than the main highway, we’ll guide you through the exquisite Ounila Valley, a tapestry of ochre cliffs, orchards, and hillside ksour. In Telouet, the kasbah’s ornate exterior hints at past grandeur (interior visits remain closed post-quake), and you will hear stories of caravan routes and Glaoui power. Then it’s up and over the sinuous Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, with sweeping viewpoints to savor before descending into the red-hued plains of Marrakech.

As city minarets appear, you will arrive to your riad by early evening—perfect timing for a first wander through Jemaa el-Fna or a well-earned rooftop dinner. If you wish, we’ll extend transfers, add experiences, or arrange extra nights to match your style.