Our 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes is much more than a transfer between two imperial cities. It is a complete Moroccan road trip. In three days, you cross the High Atlas, walk through the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and sleep under the stars in the Erg Chebbi dunes. Then, on the last day, you ride north through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to reach Fes.
This Marrakech to Fes desert tour runs as a private trip. You travel only with your own group, in an air-conditioned vehicle, with one driver-guide from start to finish. As a result, you choose the pace, the photo stops and the level of comfort.
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Start | Marrakech (pick-up at your hotel or riad, around 8:00 am) |
| End | Fes (drop-off at your hotel or riad, late afternoon or early evening) |
| Tour style | Private tour, customizable |
| Accommodation | 1 night in the Dades Valley + 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi (see options) |
| Meals | 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners |
| Total distance | About 1,140 km |
| Price | On request (see what affects the price) |
Highlights of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
- Driving over the High Atlas on the Tizi n’Tichka pass, one of the highest road passes in Morocco.
- Exploring the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
- Following the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and the Rose Valley.
- Seeing the red cliffs and hairpin road of the Dades Gorges.
- Walking inside the narrow canyon of the Todgha (Todra) Gorge near Tinghir.
- Riding a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
- Watching a Sahara sunrise from the top of a dune.
- Crossing the Ziz Gorges, the Middle Atlas cedar forests and Ifrane before arriving in Fes.
Why choose a private Marrakech to Fes desert tour?
A private tour gives you full control of your time. For example, you can stop longer in Ait Ben Haddou, skip a shop, or add a short walk in the Dades Gorges. On a private 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, your driver-guide adapts the day to your group, not to a fixed bus schedule.
In addition, you pick your accommodation level. You can stay in a simple guesthouse and a standard camp, or you can choose a boutique hotel and a luxury tent with a private bathroom. Families, couples and friends travelling together usually prefer this format. If you are still comparing formats, read our guide to private vs group tours in Morocco.
Itinerary of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
The route below is our standard plan for the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes. However, we can adjust the stops, the hotels and the camp to your wishes. Driving distances and times are approximate and do not include stops.
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Skoura – Dades Valley
Your driver picks you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech at around 8:00 am. First, the road climbs into the High Atlas through Berber villages, walnut trees and red terraces. Soon, you reach the Tizi n’Tichka pass. The sign at the top reads 2,260 m, although modern GPS measurements place the pass at about 2,205 m. Either way, the views are wide and the air is fresh.
Next, you descend towards the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified earthen village sits above the Ounila river and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. A local guide can walk you up through its lanes to the old granary at the top. Moreover, you will recognise its walls from films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.
After lunch, you pass through Ouarzazate, often called the door of the desert and home of the Atlas film studios. Then you follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. On the way, you see the palm grove of Skoura and the town of Kelaat M’Gouna, famous for its rose festival in May. Finally, you reach the Dades Valley for dinner and the night.
- Driving distance: about 350 km
- Driving time: about 6 hours 30 minutes
- Overnight: hotel or guesthouse in the Dades Valley
- Meals: dinner
Day 2: Dades Gorges – Tinghir – Todgha Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga (camel trek)
After breakfast, you drive up the Dades Gorges to see the rock formations known as the Monkey Fingers and the famous hairpin road. Then you continue east to Tinghir. Here, a viewpoint looks over a long green palm grove and old earthen villages.
A few kilometres further, you enter the Todgha Gorge. In its narrowest section, the canyon is only about 10 m wide, and smooth rock walls rise around 160 m on each side. Elsewhere, the cliffs can reach 400 m. You have time to walk along the river and take photos.
In the afternoon, the road crosses desert plains towards Erfoud, a town known for fossils and dates. Afterwards, you pass Rissani, near the ruins of ancient Sijilmassa, and arrive in Merzouga. There, you meet your camels. You ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, which rise up to 150 m, and you watch the sunset from the sand. In the evening, you enjoy a Berber dinner, drums around the fire and a sky full of stars.
- Driving distance: about 320 km
- Driving time: about 5 hours 30 minutes
- Camel ride: about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes to the camp
- Overnight: desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury)
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 3: Merzouga – Erfoud – Errachidia – Ziz Gorges – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
Wake up early to see the sunrise over the dunes. Then ride your camel back to Merzouga, or go back by 4×4 on request. After breakfast and a shower, the longest drive of the tour begins.
First, you head north through Erfoud and Errachidia. Soon after, the road follows the Ziz Valley, a ribbon of palm trees and old ksour. You also cross the Ziz Gorges and the Legionnaire’s Tunnel, dug by the French Foreign Legion in 1927–1928. Then you climb over the Tizi n’Talghemt pass (1,907 m) to Midelt, a good lunch stop known for its apples.
In the afternoon, you enter the Middle Atlas. Here, cedar forests near Azrou are home to Barbary macaques, an endangered species, so please do not feed them. Next, you stop in Ifrane, a mountain town at about 1,650 m nicknamed the “Switzerland of Morocco”. Finally, you arrive in Fes and your driver drops you at your riad or hotel.
- Driving distance: about 470 km
- Driving time: about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours
- Overnight: not included (end of the tour in Fes)
- Meals: breakfast
Gallery of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
What is included in the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
Included
- Pick-up at your hotel or riad in Marrakech.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel.
- English-speaking driver-guide (other languages on request).
- 1 night in a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades Valley.
- 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard or luxury).
- Camel ride in Merzouga (one camel per person).
- 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners.
- Drop-off at your hotel or riad in Fes.
Not included
- Lunches and drinks.
- Entrance fees and local guides (for example in Ait Ben Haddou).
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Travel insurance.
Map of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
The 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes follows this route: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura → Kelaat M’Gouna → Dades Valley → Tinghir → Todgha Gorge → Erfoud → Rissani → Merzouga → Errachidia → Ziz Gorges → Midelt → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes. You can open the full route on Google Maps.
Accommodation options
All options of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes include the same route, vehicle and driver-guide. Only the level of comfort changes. We confirm the exact hotel and camp names when you book, depending on availability.
| Option | Night 1: Dades Valley | Night 2: Erg Chebbi desert camp |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Comfortable guesthouse or kasbah hotel, private room with bathroom | Standard Berber tent, shared or private bathroom depending on the camp |
| Superior | Charming kasbah hotel with views of the gorges | Comfort tent with private bathroom |
| Luxury | Boutique hotel or high-end kasbah | Luxury tent with private bathroom, proper beds and a quieter setting |
3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes price
The price of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes is on request, because every private tour is quoted for your group. Four things change the price:
- Group size: the price per person goes down when more people share the vehicle.
- Accommodation level: standard, superior or luxury.
- Season: Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest periods.
- Extras: local guides, sandboarding, quad or 4×4 rides.
Send us your dates and the number of travellers through our contact page, and we will reply with a clear quote.
How to book the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
- Send your travel dates, number of people and preferred accommodation level through the contact form, by email at favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com or on WhatsApp (+212 786 278 943).
- We reply with a personalised itinerary and price.
- You confirm the tour. Payment by PayPal is accepted.
- Your driver-guide picks you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech on the first day.
Favorites Morocco Tours vs other Marrakech to Fes desert tour companies
Many agencies sell a Marrakech to Fes desert tour, but the experience can be very different. Large shared tours often use full minibuses and keep a fixed timetable. By contrast, we run this route as a private trip with one driver-guide for the whole journey.
Furthermore, we are a local team based in Marrakech. We know the road, the camps and the best stops, so we can adapt the plan when the weather or your energy changes. We also tell you the real driving times before you book. That way, you know that day 3 is long and you can decide whether a 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes suits you better.
Know before you go
- Days 1 and 3 of the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes are long driving days. If you prefer a slower pace, choose the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes or the 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.
- Do you want to return to Marrakech instead? Book the 3 days tour from Marrakech to the desert.
- Starting in Fes? The same trip exists in the other direction: 3 days tour from Fes to Marrakech.
- Only two days? Our 2 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga reaches Erg Chebbi, with about 9 hours of driving each day. For a shorter drive, choose the 2 days tour from Marrakech to Zagora.
- Desert nights are cold from November to March, even when the days are warm. Pack a warm layer; our guide on what to wear in Morocco helps you prepare.
- Tell us about any food allergy or diet before the tour. Camps and hotels can prepare vegetarian meals.
- Bring some cash in dirhams. You will find ATMs in Ouarzazate, Tinghir and Erfoud, but not at the desert camp.
- Pack a small overnight bag for the camp. Your main luggage can stay in the vehicle.
Extra activities
| Before the tour (Marrakech) | During the tour | After the tour (Fes) |
|---|---|---|
| Agafay desert quad bike and camel ride | Sandboarding in the Erg Chebbi dunes | Guided tour of the Fes medina (what to do in Fez) |
| Ourika Valley day trip | Quad bike or 4×4 ride around the dunes | Trip to the blue city of Chefchaouen |
| Essaouira full-day trip | Gnaoua music in the village of Khamlia | Airport or train station transfer |
| Ouzoud waterfalls day trip | Upgrade to a luxury tent | Private dinner in a Fes riad |
Reviews
Our travellers share their experience after each trip. Read our reviews on TripAdvisor.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Fes through the desert?
The full route is about 1,140 km. Day 1 covers about 350 km, day 2 about 320 km and day 3 about 470 km. Without stops, that means roughly 6 h 30, 5 h 30 and 7 h 30 to 8 h of driving.
How far is the Sahara desert from Marrakech?
Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes are about 560 km from Marrakech. That is around 9 to 10 hours of driving, which is why we split the journey with a night in the Dades Valley.
How far is Merzouga from Fes?
Merzouga is about 470 km from Fes, via Errachidia, Midelt and Ifrane. The drive takes about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours without long stops.
Is 3 days enough for a Marrakech to Fes desert tour?
Yes, a 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes is enough to see the main highlights and sleep one night in the dunes. However, the days are long. If you want more time in the gorges or a second night in the desert, choose the 4 or 5-day version.
Is the tour suitable for families with children?
Yes. Because the tour is private, we plan more breaks for children. Tell us their ages when you book, so we can prepare the right vehicle and tent. Kids usually love the camel ride and the camp.
What type of vehicle do you use?
We use a private, air-conditioned vehicle adapted to the size of your group. We confirm the vehicle when you book.
What should I pack for the desert?
- A warm jacket for the night, especially in winter.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or scarf.
- Comfortable shoes or sandals for the sand.
- A small bag for the night at the camp.
- A power bank and some cash in dirhams.
Can I sleep in a luxury desert camp?
Yes. You can choose a luxury tent with a private bathroom in Erg Chebbi. Just select the luxury option when you ask for your quote.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking 2 to 4 weeks ahead. For Christmas, New Year and Easter, book as early as possible because the best camps fill up quickly.
How do I pay for the tour?
We accept payment by PayPal. We explain the payment details when you confirm your booking.
Have another question about the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes?
Write to us through our contact page or on WhatsApp.
Who we are
Favorites Morocco Tours is a local travel agency based in Marrakech. We design private tours across Morocco, from the Sahara to the imperial cities. Our drivers and guides grew up on these roads, so they share the culture, the history and the small places that visitors often miss. Learn more about us.
Popular desert tours
- 3 days tour from Marrakech to the desert
- 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
- 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes
- 4 days tour from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert
- 3 days tour from Fes to Merzouga
- 3 days tour from Fes to Marrakech
More Morocco tours
- Tours from Marrakech
- Tours from Fes
- Tours from Casablanca
- Tours from Tangier
- Day trips from Marrakech
- Sahara Desert in Morocco: travel guide
- Best time to visit Morocco
Contact us
- Phone / WhatsApp: +212 786 278 943
- Email: favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com
- Office: Marrakech, Morocco
Plan Your Private Journey
Private journeys designed around your pace, comfort and the details that matter.
Request This Journey