Our 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes crosses the country from the Red City to the oldest imperial city, with two nights in the Sahara in between. You drive over the High Atlas, stop at Ait Ben Haddou and the Todgha Gorge, ride a camel into Erg Chebbi, spend a full day in the dunes, and then reach Fes through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.

This Marrakech to Fes desert tour of 4 days runs as a private trip. You travel only with your own group, in an air-conditioned vehicle, with the same driver-guide from the first day to the last. Because you do not come back to Marrakech, every kilometre takes you to something new.

Duration	4 days / 3 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 evening)
Desert	Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga (2 nights in the desert area)
Tour style	Private tour, customizable
Accommodation	1 night in the Dades Valley + 2 nights in Merzouga (see options)
Meals	3 dinners and 3 breakfasts
Total distance	About 1,220 km, one way
Price	On request (see what affects the price)

Quick answers about the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes

• Where does it start and end? It starts in Marrakech and ends in Fes, so you do not repeat the same road.
• Which desert? Erg Chebbi, next to Merzouga, where the dunes rise up to 150 m.
• How much driving? About 6 h 30 on day 1, 5 h 30 on day 2, a short 4×4 day on day 3 and 7 h 30 to 8 h on day 4.
• How far is Merzouga from Fes? About 470 km, through Errachidia, Midelt and Ifrane.
• Where do you sleep? One night in the Dades Valley and two nights in the Merzouga area.
• What is not included? Lunches, drinks, entrance fees and tips.

Highlights of the 4 days Marrakech to Fes desert tour

• Crossing 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 and an old caravan stop.
• Following the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Skoura and the Rose Valley.
• Walking inside the narrow canyon of the Todgha (Todra) Gorge near Tinghir.
• Riding a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
• Spending a full day in the desert: 4×4 tracks, nomad families and the village of Khamlia.
• Seeing Rissani and the ruins of Sijilmasa, the caravan city of the Tafilalt.
• Driving north along the Ziz Valley and its palm groves.
• Crossing the cedar forests near Azrou, home of the Barbary macaques, and stopping in Ifrane.
• Arriving in Fes, the oldest of the imperial cities.

Why a private 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes?

This route works in one direction only. You start in Marrakech, sleep twice in the desert and finish in Fes, so you never drive the same road twice. On a private 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, you also decide where to stop: longer in the Todgha Gorge, a detour to Rissani, or an early start on the last morning.

The other advantage is comfort. You choose a standard camp or a luxury tent with a private bathroom, and your luggage travels with you from Marrakech to Fes. If you are comparing formats, read our guide to private vs group tours in Morocco.

Itinerary of the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes

The route below is our standard plan. 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 GPS measurements place it at about 2,205 m.

Next, you descend to the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. Caravans once rested below these walls on the way between the Sahara and Marrakech. You can walk up through the lanes to the old granary at the top.

After lunch, you pass through Ouarzazate, home of the Atlas film studios, and follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. On the way you see the palm grove of Skoura, with the earthen Kasbah of Amridil, and the Rose Valley around Kelaat M’Gouna. 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 Monkey Fingers rocks and the hairpin road that climbs the cliff. Then you continue east to Tinghir, where a viewpoint looks over a long green palm grove.

A few kilometres further, you enter the Todgha Gorge. In its narrowest section, the canyon is only about 10 m wide and the smooth walls rise around 160 m on each side. Elsewhere, the cliffs reach 400 m.

In the afternoon, the road crosses desert plains through Tinejdad and Erfoud, a town known for fossils and dates. Finally, you arrive in Merzouga and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for the sunset. 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: Erg Chebbi – nomad families – Khamlia – Rissani and Sijilmasa

Wake up early and climb a dune for the sunrise. After breakfast, a 4×4 takes you around Erg Chebbi: the black volcanic hills, the dry lake of Dayet Srji, where flamingos stop after the rains, and the tracks used by the old caravans.

You visit a nomad family under their tent, then stop in Khamlia, a village founded by descendants of people brought north along the trans-Saharan routes. There, a Gnawa group plays its deep, repetitive rhythms.

In the afternoon you can drive to Rissani, in the Tafilalt oasis. One kilometre north of the town lie the ruins of Sijilmasa, founded in 757 and, for centuries, the northern gate of the gold and salt trade. The rest of the day is free for tea, sandboarding or a quiet walk on the sand. This is the calm day of the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.

• Driving distance: about 80 km, mostly by 4×4
• Activity time: about 4 hours, plus free time
• Overnight: desert camp or hotel near the dunes
• Meals: breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Merzouga – Erfoud – Errachidia – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

After breakfast, you start the longest drive of the trip, heading north. The road passes Erfoud and Errachidia and then 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, at 1,907 m, and reach Midelt, a good lunch stop known for its apples. In the afternoon you enter the Middle Atlas: cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live, and 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, in the late afternoon or early evening.

• 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 4 days Marrakech to Fes desert tour

What is included in the 4 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.
• 2 nights in the Merzouga area: desert camp, hotel, or one of each.
• Camel ride in Merzouga (one camel per person).
• 4×4 excursion around Erg Chebbi, with the visit to a nomad family and to Khamlia.
• 3 dinners and 3 breakfasts.
• 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).
• Extra activities such as sandboarding, quad or buggy rides.
• Tips and personal expenses.
• Travel insurance.

Map of the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes

The route is: Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura → Dades Valley → Tinghir → Todgha Gorge → Erfoud → Merzouga (2 nights, with Khamlia and Rissani) → Errachidia → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes.

Accommodation options

Every option of the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes includes 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	Nights 2 and 3: Merzouga
Standard	Guesthouse or kasbah hotel, private room with bathroom	Berber tent and a simple hotel near the dunes
Superior	Kasbah hotel with views of the gorges	Comfort tent with private bathroom, plus a hotel with a pool
Luxury	Boutique hotel or high-end kasbah	Two nights in a luxury tent with private bathroom, or one night in the camp and one in a desert hotel

4 days Marrakech to Fes desert tour price

The price is on request, because every private tour is quoted for your group. Four things change it:

• 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 buggy 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 this Marrakech to Fes desert tour

1. 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).
2. We reply with a personalised itinerary and price.
3. You confirm the tour. Payment by PayPal is accepted.
4. 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 tour companies

Many agencies sell the same route in three days, which means you sleep once in the desert and spend the third day driving 470 km to Fes. Our 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes adds the day that most travellers wish they had: a full day around Erg Chebbi, without packing your bag.

We are also a local team based in Marrakech. We give you the real driving times before you book, we keep the same driver-guide for the whole trip, and we can end the tour in Fes, Marrakech or Casablanca. If you have less time, see the 3 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.

Know before you go

• On the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes your luggage travels with you, so you do not need to leave anything behind.
• Day 4 is the longest, with about 7 h 30 to 8 h of driving. Book your riad in Fes for a late check-in.
• Flying home from Fes? Fes-Saïss airport is about 15 km south of the medina, so the tour fits well before a flight the next morning.
• Want five days instead? See the 5 days tour from Marrakech to Fes.
• Travelling in the other direction? We also run the 4 days desert tour from Fes to Marrakech.
• From December to February, snow or ice is possible on the Tizi n’Tichka and in the Middle Atlas, and desert nights are cold. Pack a warm layer; see what to wear in Morocco.
• In July and August the south is very hot, often above 40 °C. Spring and autumn are the best seasons: see the best time to visit Morocco.
• Do not feed the Barbary macaques near Azrou. They are an endangered species.
• Bring some cash in dirhams. You will find ATMs in Ouarzazate, Boumalne Dades, Tinghir, Erfoud, Rissani and Midelt, but not at the camp. See our guide to the Moroccan dirham.

Extra activities

These activities are optional on the 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes. We book them on request, at an extra cost.

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 buggy ride around the dunes	Trip to the blue city of Chefchaouen
Essaouira full-day trip	Local guide in Ait Ben Haddou or in Rissani	Airport or train station transfer
Ouzoud waterfalls day trip	Upgrade to a luxury tent	Private dinner in a Fes riad

Reviews

Travellers who booked our 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes share their experience after each trip. Read our reviews on TripAdvisor.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Merzouga from Fes?

Merzouga is about 470 km from Fes, or 7 h 30 to 8 h of driving, through Errachidia, the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane.

Is 4 days enough to go from Marrakech to Fes through the desert?

Yes. Three days is the minimum, but the fourth day is what turns a transfer into a trip: you get a full day in Erg Chebbi instead of one night.

Do we come back to Marrakech?

No. The 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes is a one-way route and ends in Fes, so you can continue north to Chefchaouen or fly home from Fes.

What happens on day 3 in the desert?

You explore Erg Chebbi by 4×4, visit a nomad family, listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia and can drive to Rissani, next to the ruins of Sijilmasa. There is no long drive that day.

Do the desert camps have bathrooms?

Yes. Standard camps have shared or private bathrooms, depending on the camp. Superior and luxury tents have a private bathroom with a shower.

Is the tour suitable for families with children?

Yes. The extra day helps a lot with children, because only day 4 is a long drive. Tell us their ages when you book.

What type of vehicle do you use?

We use a private, air-conditioned vehicle adapted to the size of your group, plus a 4×4 for the desert excursion on day 3.

What should I pack for this tour?

• A warm jacket for the desert nights and the Middle Atlas.
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or scarf.
• Comfortable shoes or sandals for the sand.
• A small bag for the camp nights.
• A power bank and some cash in dirhams.

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 4 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.

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Contact us

• Phone / WhatsApp: +212 786 278 943
• Email: favoritesmoroccotours@gmail.com
• Office: Marrakech, Morocco