The 5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes is one of Morocco’s great journeys — an unhurried adventure that links two of the country’s most magnificent imperial cities via the golden dunes of the Sahara. What sets this tour apart is its off-the-beaten-path approach: rather than following the standard tourist route, we take hidden detours, visit lesser-known sites, and create space for genuine cultural encounters along the way.
Highlights include a visit to a Berber family living in cave dwellings in the mountains, a full day of exploration in the Merzouga desert (including a nomadic family visit), and a scenic drive through the lush Ziz Valley and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas on the way to Fes.
All travel is by private, air-conditioned 4×4 vehicle, and all accommodation is hand-selected for quality and character.
– Crossing the High Atlas Mountains on a scenic mountain drive
– Visiting the historic Glaoui Kasbah of Telouet — a rarely visited gem
– Exploring the iconic Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– Visiting a Berber family who live in traditional cave dwellings in the mountains
– Discovering the dramatic Dades and Todra Gorges
– Riding camels across the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga
– Watching spectacular desert sunrises and sunsets
– Spending an unforgettable night in a luxury desert camp
– Meeting a nomadic Berber family in the Sahara
– Enjoying a full day of exploration in the Merzouga desert
– Watching Barbary macaques in a cedar forest near Azrou
– Arriving in the ancient medina city of Fes
DAY 1: MARRAKECH → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH → OUARZAZATE
Your private driver collects you from your accommodation in Marrakech early in the morning. The first part of the journey heads into the High Atlas Mountains on the route via Telouet — a less-travelled road that takes you through breathtaking mountain scenery to the remarkable Telouet Kasbah.
This little-visited palace, once the residence of the Glaoui chieftains who ruled the Atlas passes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, is a place of faded grandeur and extraordinary detail — ornate carved plaster, coloured zellige tiles, and rooms frozen in time. It is one of Morocco’s most atmospheric stops and rarely crowded.
From Telouet, the road descends through a dramatic gorge to rejoin the main southern route at Ait Ben Haddou — the UNESCO-listed kasbah whose earthen towers have starred in films the world over. After a visit, you continue to Ouarzazate for your first night.
DAY 2: OUARZAZATE → SKOURA → KELAAT M’GOUNA → BOU THARAR → DADES VALLEY
Today’s drive follows an off-the-beaten-path route through the Rose Valley — the region around Kelaat M’Gouna, known for its rose water production and fragrant springtime blooms. Along the way, you will stop at the Skoura Oasis, a verdant palmery filled with crumbling kasbahs, before heading into the narrow Bou Tharar gorge — one of the most scenic and little-visited canyon routes in the south.
The day ends in the Dades Valley, where the hotel is set against a backdrop of towering rock formations. Dinner here features home-style Moroccan cooking and the quiet of an evening in the valley.
DAY 3: DADES VALLEY → TODRA GORGE → MERZOUGA DESERT
After breakfast, you head east to Tinghir, stopping to walk through the extraordinary Todra Gorge — one of Morocco’s most celebrated natural landmarks. The gorge’s towering walls, pressed tight together above a cool mountain stream, create a dramatic corridor that is one of the most photogenic environments in all of North Africa.
From Tinghir, the landscape transitions into the open pre-Saharan plain. The drive east brings the first glimpse of the Erg Chebbi dunes — a golden wall of sand rising from the flat desert floor. Arriving at the edge of the dunes in the late afternoon, you mount your camel for a golden-hour ride deep into the sea of sand.
Your luxury desert camp provides dinner, Berber music around the fire, and a private tent with an en-suite bathroom for the night.
DAY 4: MERZOUGA DESERT EXPLORATION
A full day to discover the wonders of the Sahara. After the sunrise, you set out by 4×4 on an off-road excursion through the desert — venturing into remote corners of the landscape rarely seen by tourists.
The centrepiece of the day is a visit to a nomadic family in their desert encampment. Welcomed with tea and warm hospitality, you will spend time learning about their traditions, their relationship with the land, and the rhythms of daily life in the Sahara. It is an encounter that offers a profound and lasting perspective on a way of life that has endured for centuries.
The afternoon is open for sandboarding, a guided hike through the Monkey Fingers Canyon, and time to simply sit with the desert in its quietest hours. At sunset, another camel ride among the dunes, and then an evening of storytelling and stargazing at the camp.
DAY 5: MERZOUGA DESERT → ZIZ VALLEY → IFRANE → FES
The final morning begins with breakfast at the camp before the long but beautiful drive north to Fes. The route follows the Ziz Valley — a long, lush corridor of date palms, riverbanks, and ancient villages tracing the course of one of Morocco’s great rivers.
Climbing into the Middle Atlas Mountains, the landscape shifts dramatically from desert to forest. Near Azrou, wild Barbary macaques may be spotted in the cedar trees alongside the road — a charming and unexpected encounter. The mountain town of Ifrane, with its European-style red-roofed buildings and cool alpine atmosphere, offers a brief contrast before the road descends to Fes.
You arrive in the ancient medina city of Fes in the late afternoon, dropped at your hotel or riad.
– Pick-up from your accommodation in Marrakech
– Private air-conditioned 4×4 SUV
– English or Spanish-speaking driver/guide (other languages on request)
– 4 nights accommodation: Ouarzazate + Dades Valley + 2 nights Merzouga
– Meals: 4 dinners & 4 breakfasts
– Camel trekking excursion
– Sandboarding
– Guided hike of the Monkey Fingers Canyon
– Drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
– Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
– Private air-conditioned 4×4 SUV, van, or minibus
– English-speaking driver/guide (other languages available on request)
– 4 nights accommodation: Dades Valley + Merzouga (2 nights) + Ouarzazate
– Meals: 4 dinners & 4 breakfasts
– Camel trekking experience
– Sandboarding
– Lunches and beverages
– Entrance fees where applicable
– Tips (optional but appreciated)
– Please notify us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
– All vehicles are fully air-conditioned and regularly serviced.
– The itinerary is entirely flexible — we welcome modifications.
– Telouet Kasbah entrance fees are not included.
– Nomadic family visit location may vary on the day.
Please fill out the form below to contact us, and we will respond as soon as possible. For a faster response please send a WhatsApp: +212 668-342513 message or call us at +212678099129 . We look forward to connecting with you. Email: info@merzougadunestours.com
Paying for your tour is straightforward. A small upfront deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your spot — this can be sent via PayPal, bank transfer, or Wise. The outstanding balance is then settled directly with your driver or guide on the first day of your trip, accepted in euros, US dollars, or Moroccan dirhams.
Morocco’s official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). While major hotels and larger establishments tend to accept credit cards, smaller markets and towns generally operate on a cash-only basis, so it’s advisable to carry local currency.
Absolutely. The tour can be fully tailored to match your preferences — whether that means adding extra destinations, upgrading your accommodation, or switching to alternative transport such as a private 4×4 vehicle.
Yes, camel rides are commonly included in desert tour packages, typically used to cross the dunes on the way to your overnight camp.
Camel rides are a standard part of desert experiences and are used to reach the overnight camp by crossing the dunes.
Guests stay in traditional Berber-style tents within a desert camp setting. Amenities include comfortable bedding, warm blankets, shared or private bathroom facilities (depending on the camp category), and a shared dining area for meals and socializing.
The policy varies based on how far in advance you cancel relative to your departure date. A booking deposit is required to hold your reservation, and partial or full refunds may apply depending on the notice given.
