4.9 (6.7 k) · Marrakech · By Marrakech City Life Free cancellation
Embark on a 3-day journey from Marrakech to Fes, traversing the Sahara Desert via Merzouga. This tour is crafted for a seamless blend of comfort, cultural discovery, and stunning Moroccan landscapes.
Journey through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Explore the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah with a guided tour, and continue through Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses, and the dramatic Todra Gorges en route to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga.
Your adventure includes a stay in a traditional hotel in the Dades Valley. You also have the option to enhance your experience with a Deluxe Luxury Desert Camp situated within the dunes. Enjoy a memorable sunset camel ride, sandboarding, authentic Berber hospitality, and a starlit dinner in the Sahara.
With comfortable, air-conditioned transport, expert multilingual drivers, and small group settings, this tour provides a balanced mix of adventure, scenic beauty, and cultural insights between Marrakech and Fes. You will be conveniently dropped off in Fes at the end of your tour.
✓ Camel trek✓ Sand-boarding✓ Dinner✓ Air-conditioned vehicle✓ Breakfast✕ Lunch✕ Local Guide in Ait Ben Haddou KasbahDay 1: MARRAKECH - TIZI N'TICHKA - AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH - KELAA MGOUNA - TINGHIR
Repas : dîner
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Tinghir (Private room)
Day 1, Stop 1: Tizi n Tichka Pass
Tizi n Tichka
30 min
Cross the majestic Atlas Mountains and soak in the beautiful scenery from the summit of Tizi N'Tichka pass, the highest point in North Africa.
Duration: 30 minutes
Day 1, Stop 2: Ksar Of Ait-Ben-Haddou
Ksar Of Ait-Ben-Haddou
2 h, entrée incluse
Visit the renowned Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Duration: 2 hours, entrance included
Day 1, Stop 3: El Kelaa M'gouna
El Kelaa M'gouna
passage sans arrêt
Pass through the Valley of Roses.
No stop
Day 1, Stop 4: Valley of the Roses
Valley of the Roses
30 min
Enjoy a brief coffee break in Kelaat Mgouna, located in the Roses Valley.
Duration: 30 minutes
Day 1, Stop 5: Road to the Sahara
Camino al sahara
10 h, entrée incluse
Continue your journey towards your accommodation, traveling through the lush groves of the Roses Valley.
Overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast are included.
Duration: 10 hours, entrance included
Day 2: TINGHIR - TODRA GORGES - MERZOUGA
Repas : petit-déjeuner, dîner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: You will spend the night in a nomad tent at the Merzouga desert camp.
Day 2, Stop 1: Todra Valley
1 h
Appreciate the breathtaking views of the Dades Gorges and enjoy a pleasant walk in the Todra Valley.
Duration: 1 hour
Day 2, Stop 2: Merzouga
Merzouga
1 h
Experience unforgettable moments with a camel ride at sunset and sunrise in the Erg Chabbi desert near Merzouga.
Duration: 1 hour
Day 2, Stop 3: Merzouga Desert Camp
Merzouga Desert
16 h, entrée incluse
Immerse yourself in the Berber nomadic lifestyle with an overnight stay under the stars in a traditional tent. Savor an authentic Sahrawi Tagine accompanied by Berber music.
Duration: 16 hours, entrance included
Day 3: MERZOUGA - RISSANI - AZROU - FES
Repas : petit-déjeuner
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3, Stop 1: Merzouga Desert
Merzouga Desert
1 h, entrée incluse
Witness the spectacular sunrise and ride a camel back to the camp lodge for an early breakfast.
Duration: 1 hour, entrance included
Day 3, Stop 2: Tafilalet Region
Maison Tafilalet
passage sans arrêt
Travel through the Tafilalet palm grove and the town of Rissani, heading towards the Ziz Valley.
No stop
Day 3, Stop 3: Azrou Cedar Forest
Azrou Cedar Forest
30 min, entrée incluse
Keep an eye out for Barbary macaques in the cedar forest located between Azrou and Ifrane.
Duration: 30 minutes, entrance included
Day 3, Stop 4: Arrival in Fez
Fez
30 min
Arrive in Fez, Morocco's cultural capital, in the early evening.
You will be dropped off at your accommodation or the nearest accessible point.
Service concludes in Fez.
Duration: 30 minutes
Mobile or paper tickets are accepted. One ticket is issued per booking.
All travelers staying in a medina riad near Hôtel Restaurant Café de France, Rue des Banques, Marrakesh, Morocco, can join us at this designated meeting point.
Drop-off is available at Fes Sais Airport.
Drop-off is available at your hotel, riad, or Fes Sais Airport. If your riad is within the Medina and not accessible by vehicle, the driver will drop you off at the closest reachable point within walking distance.
Pickup is available from all hotels and riads located in Marrakech.
If your accommodation is accessible by car, you will be picked up directly at the entrance of your hotel. For riads situated within the Medina with limited vehicle access, a nearby meeting point within walking distance will be arranged and communicated to you the day before the tour.
Pickup will occur between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM. The exact time will be confirmed the evening prior to the tour via WhatsApp or email.
Please ensure your contact details are accurate at the time of booking to receive your pickup confirmation and driver information.
If you are arriving by flight on the same day, airport pickup can also be arranged upon request.
Meeting point
Hôtel Ali
Rue Moulay Ismail, Marrakech 40000, Maroc
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are permitted on this tour. Public transportation options are conveniently located nearby. Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap during the journey. Specialized infant seats are available upon request. This activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Standard Desert Camp Tent Accommodation: Private room and standard camp. First night: Hotel in Tinghir. Second night: Standard camp tent with shared bathroom. Activities: Camel trekking, Sandboarding. ATV Quad and Buggy rentals are available in the desert dunes from local operators. Package: Basic. Duration: 3 days. Meals: 2 Dinners, 2 Breakfasts. Route: Via Merzouga Sahara Desert. Transport: Comfortable Minivan with ample luggage space. Includes: Pickup. Deluxe Camp Tent (Recommended) Accommodation: Private room and deluxe camp. First night: Hotel in Tinghir. Second night: Deluxe camp tent with private bathroom. Activities: Camel trekking, Sandboarding. ATV Quad and Buggy rentals are available in the desert dunes from local operators. Package: Upgraded. Duration: 3 days. Meals: 2 Dinners, 2 Breakfasts. Route: Via Merzouga Sahara Desert. Transport: Comfortable Minivan with ample luggage space. Includes: Pickup. Premium Desert Tour Accommodation: Luxury Camp & Luxury Riad. First night at Dades Paradise, Dar Blues, Xaluca Dades, or similar. Second night at Merzouga Luxury Camp or Madu Luxury Camp. Activities: ATV & Camel Ride & Sandboard. Includes 1 hour ATV quad ride, 1 hour camel ride, and sandboarding. Package: Premium. Duration: 3 days. Meals: 2 Dinners, 2 Breakfasts. Transport: Private A/C Vehicle (TOYOTA Land Cruiser Prado or Minivan). Includes: Pickup. Pack comfortable clothing suitable for varying temperatures, including layers for cooler desert nights. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Carry a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated. Ensure your camera is fully charged to capture the breathtaking scenery. Learn a few basic Arabic or Berber phrases to enhance your interaction with locals. Be prepared for long driving days, with opportunities to stretch and take photos. For a full refund, please ensure your cancellation is made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time.
Product code: 115777P4
Activity offered by Marrakech City Life via Viator.
WizardTrip Help Center Adventure seekers Culture enthusiasts Photography lovers Travelers seeking unique experiences 3-day desert adventure from Marrakech to Fes Explore Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site Camel trek and overnight stay in a Sahara Desert camp Scenic drives through the Atlas Mountains and Todra Gorges Option to upgrade to a luxury desert camp experience Small group tours with multilingual drivers
Population 1,002,697 (2024)
Elevation 465 m
Currency Moroccan dirham
Official languages Arabic, Standard Moroccan Tamazight
Driving on the right
Power plugs C, E · 127 V
Emergency number 15
Capital city Rabat Average temperatures 10° Jan 11° Feb 14° Mar 17° Apr 20° May 24° Jun 29° Jul 29° Aug 24° Sept 20° Oct 15° Nov 11° Dec Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.
What is the maximum group size for this tour? + The maximum group size for this tour is 100 travelers.
Can I get a refund if I cancel? + For a full refund, please ensure your cancellation is made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time.
What meals are included in the tour? + The tour includes breakfast and dinner. Lunch is not included.
Is pickup included? + Yes, pickup is included from all hotels and riads in Marrakech.
What languages are available for the guide? + The guide is available in Arabic (Audio, Guide, Written), French (Audio, Guide, Written), and English (Audio, Guide, Written). Written guides are also available in German and Italian.
Reviews provided by Viator, written by travellers on Viator and Tripadvisor.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Good tour
384eriche, October 2026
What a cool tour! My wife and I loved the desert activities (camel and ATV) and the chance to take in the Sahara landscape and the stars. We found the accommodations to be quite acceptable (we did book the upgraded desert camp). The nature stops along the way we're cool, and Aït Benhaddou did not disappoint. Some of the smaller stops were skip-able but we did have to break up the hours in the car somehow. Appreciated the encounters with various Berber guides and artisans. Food was the clear weak point throughout, with plenty of stops at overpriced and lower quality tourist trap restaurants (including buffets, the last of which was rated less than 2 stars and upset my stomach). Each of those tourist trap restaurants had many other tour vans, so seemingly this is a widespread experience despite other higher rated and more locally priced options in the same areas. Still, save for renting your own car, this type of tour may be the only way to get to the desert. I would say it is worth it in spite of the food. Iddir was a great guide and driver. He was very helpful in a unique situation we had early in the trip and was both funny and informative throughout. His charisma and command of countless languages allowed him to expertly handle a multi-national group!
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
A trip that’s very worthy
884suannec, October 2026
Ibrahim is a very good guide! A trip that’s very worthwhile
★★★★★ Viator review
3 days of driving for a 12hr experience. But yes, it’s worth it.
Hailey_G, October 2026
When booking this tour I did not fully realize just how much driving it was going to be.
The entire first day is driving, with stops along the way. The most notable stop is Berber village Ait Baddhou, absolutely worth the journey! Other stops you make feel like a sales pitch opportunity for the locals - which is great if you’re interested in buying.
The second day was also driving the entire day. You make it to the desert just before sunset. At this point you are rushed out of your car and you join a swarm of hundreds of other tourists doing the exact same tour. It’s kind of fun because you run into similar travelers throughout the three days because they are all doing the same experience, just in different cars. But it is very hectic.
Little instruction is given regarding riding a camel. Be sure to watch a video ahead of time, especially regarding how they stand up! Ask the guide to check that the seat is secure. One girl in this trip fell and knocked out because they did not secure her seat well so she fell out of it when the camel stood up and the metal bar you hold onto knocked the wind out of her.
The camel ride is unreal. The experience of a lifetime. You stop halfway to camp to watch the sunset and go sand boarding.
In terms of weather, I went on one of the few days of the year where it rained in the desert the night before. Which, was a blessing because the weather was much cooler and the damp sand was perfect because we didn’t have any blowing in our faces. I would still recommend the head scarf though to cover your face simply because the camels smelled so bad at times.
The campsite is awesome! I highly recommend the luxury tent if you want to go to bed at a decent hour, the standard tent side has a DJ and younger crowd that stay up pretty late. The night sky in the desert alone makes the entire days of driving so worth it.
I decided to ride the ATV on the way back the next morning. You leave at 5am to make sure you catch the sunrise. I would say if you are nervous about riding an ATV or are a beginner, you have to commit! The guides got angry when people drove too slowly and would lose the group, I overheard another girl getting scared because the guide threatened to leave her behind because she was so cautious while driving. I am a beginner and the dunes can certainly be intimidating riding for your first time.
Be prepared to hate the 3rd day of all day driving to Fes. There are multiple stops along the way to break up the driving time, but everyone just wanted to get to the next destination honestly.
For lunch stops, don’t be afraid to go off and find your own food. The restaurants the guide would send us to were not always the best, the food looked questionable, or it was more expensive than another restaurant down the street.
Overall, an awesome experience! If I ever did it again I’d try to find a way to do it privately to avoid all of the hectic driving days and dealing with the hundreds of other tourists around.
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
Amazing Driver
ateequem2026, October 2026
Khaled was a great driver. He was really helpful throughout the trip. I recommend everyone to go with him. Great experience of the Sahara Desert
★★★★★ Tripadvisor review
An unforgettable experience from Marrakech to Fes
afonsov867, October 2026
I really enjoyed this desert tour! It was a tiring trip, with very early starts (6 AM on the first day and 4 AM on the second), and the long hours on the road were definitely the hardest part. However, it was an amazing opportunity to discover so many different places and landscapes in Morocco in just a few days.
From crossing the High Atlas Mountains and visiting Aït Ben Haddou to exploring the Todra Gorges, riding camels across the Sahara dunes at sunset, spending the night in the desert camp, and seeing the beautiful Ziz Valley and the cedar forest near Azrou, every day brought something different. The desert experience, especially the sunset, the starry sky, and the traditional music around the campfire, was truly special.
There were a few things that could have been better. I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see the Gladiator arena in Aït Ben Haddou, as our local guide didn’t take us there, and I think a stop at Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate would also have been a great addition. The room at the hotel in Dades was quite poor, and we were very cold during the night. The hospitality, however, was incredible, and the staff made us feel very welcome. The food was average at the beginning, but the quality improved as the tour went on.
Overall, despite the exhausting early mornings and a few things that could be improved, I would definitely recommend this tour. It’s a fantastic way to experience Morocco’s incredible diversity, from mountains and historic kasbahs to the Sahara Desert and the landscapes of the Middle Atlas. I came away with wonderful memories and feel that the experience was absolutely worth it!
A beautiful adventure that I won’t forget!
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