4 Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

This compact 4-day adventure takes you from Fes’ ancient medina to Marrakech’s vibrant streets, featuring an unforgettable Sahara desert experience. Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains, ride camels over golden dunes, and discover dramatic gorges and valleys along the way.

Highlights of Your 4 Day Desert Tour from Fes:

✔ Guided tour of Fes’ UNESCO-listed medina
✔ Barbary macaques in Cedar Forest
✔ Sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi dunes
✔ Visit Todra Gorge’s 300m cliffs
✔ Explore Ait Benhaddou’s famous kasbah
✔ Cross scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass

Day 1: Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga

Journey from imperial Fes toward the Sahara Desert, passing through diverse landscapes. Stop in Ifrane, known as “Moroccan Switzerland” for its alpine architecture, then continue to the Cedar Forest to observe wild Barbary macaques. After lunch in Midelt (famous for apples), descend through the dramatic Ziz Valley with its palm oases before arriving in Merzouga. Overnight at a desert hotel preparing for tomorrow’s adventure.

Day 2: Immersive Desert Culture Day

Today offers deep cultural immersion, beginning with a visit to the Gnawa community to experience their unique music and heritage. We’ll then meet nomadic families in their traditional tents, gaining insight into their timeless way of life.

Lunch features authentic Berber pizza shared with a local family. In the afternoon, we’ll explore Rissani’s vibrant souk, historically significant as a caravan trading hub. The day concludes with refreshing mint tea before retiring to your comfortable riad/hotel, filled with new understanding of desert cultures.

Day 3: Merzouga to Dades Valley

After sunrise over the dunes and breakfast at camp, we depart for Dades Valley. En route, we’ll stop in Rissani to visit its traditional market (on market days) and see remnants of the ancient Sijilmassa trading post. The highlight of the day is Todra Gorge, where 300-meter cliffs tower above a palm-filled canyon. We’ll arrive in Dades Valley by evening, staying at a hotel with spectacular views of the “monkey fingers” rock formations.

Day 4: Dades Valley to Marrakech

Our final day begins with a scenic drive through the Valley of Roses (most spectacular in May during harvest season). We’ll stop at Skoura’s impressive palm grove before reaching Ait Benhaddou, Morocco’s most famous ksar and UNESCO World Heritage site featured in films like Gladiator.

After exploring the ancient mud-brick fortress, we cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, stopping for panoramic views and photo opportunities. We’ll arrive in Marrakech by early evening, where your desert adventure concludes with drop-off at your accommodation or the airport.