The 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is the definitive Morocco experience for travelers who want to do it properly — not rushed, not skipping anything, but fully immersed in the extraordinary tapestry of landscapes, cultures, and experiences that southern Morocco has to offer. Five days transforms the Marrakech-to-Fes journey from a tour into an adventure, from sightseeing into genuine discovery.
The 5-Day Marrakech to Fes Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1: Marrakech → Ait Benhaddou → Atlas Film Studios → Ouarzazate
Take the scenic Tizi n’Tichka route through the High Atlas. Spend a full 90 minutes at Ait Benhaddou — enough time to properly explore the six kasbahs and granary at the summit, understand the history with your guide, and photograph the extraordinary earthen architecture in the changing afternoon light. Visit Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate (used for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Babel). Overnight in Ouarzazate riad.
Day 2: Ouarzazate → Rose Valley → Draa Valley → Merzouga
Early departure through the spectacular Rose Valley near Kelaa M’Gouna — particularly magnificent in May during the annual rose water festival. Continue via the Draa Valley’s ancient kasbah corridor and arrive in Merzouga for the full afternoon desert experience before the sunset camel trek.
Day 3: Merzouga Full Desert Day
The 5-day tour’s secret weapon — a full day in the Merzouga desert. Morning quad bike or sandboarding, a visit to a nomadic Berber family’s encampment, an afternoon exploring the edge of the dunes by foot or 4×4, and a second sunset camel trek. For photographers, a full day at Erg Chebbi delivers thousands of extraordinary images. Our 5-Day Desert Tour Marrakech to Fes is built around this full-day desert experience.
Day 4: Merzouga → Jebel Saghro → Todra Gorge → Dades
Cross the remarkable Jebel Saghro volcanic range — Morocco’s most dramatic and least-visited mountain landscape. A full hour in Todra Gorge for a proper walk into the canyon narrows. Overnight in the Dades Valley with its extraordinary rock formations.
Day 5: Dades → Midelt → Ziz Gorges → Ifrane → Fes
The final day brings the northern landscapes — Midelt’s fossil market, the spectacular Ziz Gorges, cedar forests, Ifrane, and Azrou’s Barbary macaques. Arrive in Fes for a riad check-in and first evening stroll in the medina.
An Optional Extension: Add Chefchaouen
The 5-day tour pairs perfectly with our Marrakech to Chefchaouen via the Desert extension — adding Morocco’s magical Blue City to the end of the journey for the most complete northern Morocco experience. Browse all our Marrakech departures and contact us for custom pricing. TripAdvisor Merzouga provides additional context on Morocco’s extraordinary desert heritage.
