Marrakech to Fes: 4 days desert tour
Book the best trip itinerary for a 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara desert of Merzouga.
This tour is customizable, contact us for more info!
Main info:
Departure location:
Marrakech
Return location:
Fes
Departure time:
08:00 AM
Itinerary duration
4 days/ 3 nights
Highlights of our tour:
- Ait Ben Haddou's Ksar
- Ouarzazate Atlas studios
- Merzouga, camel ride and camping
- Tinghir canyons
- Atlas Mountains and valleys
- Ifrane city
- Middle Atlas mountains' views
Tour overview:
The most suitable itinerary for a 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes via the desert of Merzouga. Join now and enjoy Morocco as never before. With Travelling in Morocco, you will be able to visit the most impressive Kasbahs in Morocco such as the Fortress of Ait Benhaddou. Also, you will have the chance to visit The Ouallywood of Morocco and the Atlas mountains. And the most important of all, the Sahara desert of Erg Chebbi where you will ride a camel and spend a night with the Berber Locals. All of this and more with decent prices.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges
The first day of our 4 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is a trip to Boumalne Dades. Firstly, we will drive through the High Atlas Mountains and cross the Tizi Ntchka pass where we will make many stops to split the distance. We would stop by the Argan oil cooperatives and some Berber Villages and cafes. On the tip of the High Atlas, we will stop by the fortress of Ait Benhaddou. Another world heritage site in Morocco that offers picturesque views.
Further, we will move to the Ouallywood of Morocco, Ouarzazate. Here, we will stop by one of the Atlas studios that the city offers. Thereafter, we will hit the road of the 1000 Kasbahs and pass by Skoura, Amridhil, and Rose valley. These latter are famous for having a great amount of palm groves and beautiful landscapes. Finally, on the tour, we will arrive at our last destination, Gorges Dades, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Dades Gorges - Tinghir - Todra Gorges - Merzouga
Today, after having breakfast in the hotel/riad, we will drive towards the desert. Firstly, we will cross the valleys of Gorges Dades and its amazing palm groves. We will arrive in Tinghir and Tinjedad. Here, we will go on a visit to Todra and its grand canyons that reach about 300 m. You will have the chance to walk by and discover the place yourself. Afterward, we will leave for Rissani. The capital of the Tafilalte region is the starting point of the Alaouite dynasty. There, you will have the chance to tour one of the oldest traditional souks in Morocco where most people gather to buy and sell goods. Also, if you go there on a souk day, you will go to discover the donkeys park, such a unique place.
Further, we will drive to our today’s last destination, the Sahara desert of Erg Chebbi. We arrive there, ride camels and cross the golden dunes while watching their color change on the way to the camp. Finally, we will reach the desert camp. You can firstly leave your stuff and climb the dunes to watch the sunset. Then, get back discover the camp, relax, and have some mint tea or vice versa. In a while, you will be served dinner and invited outside to enjoy the Berber drums and instruments around the campfire.
Day 3: Merzouga desert tour
The third day of our 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes is a desert discovery trip. Taking the 4×4 car, we will travel to visit the most interesting desert surroundings. Definitely, we will start by visiting the Berber Nomads. These people still live a simple life under tents and live by raising camels, goats, and sheep. We will spend some time with them and discover their lifestyle. Afterward, we will leave for Mifiss’s mine of kohl. A place that was owned by the France administration.
Further, on the desert tour, we will travel to Khamlia, a small village that is about 5 km from Merzouga. Here, you will discover another lifestyle. The Gnaouas are people that originally came from Mali, Niger, Gabon, and other countries. Some of them settled in Khamlia and learned the Berber language, but still, they kept their unique traditions.
There are many other places that you will discover with us today. For example, there is the panoramic view of Glb Nass, the Emirati 4×4 cars Museum, and the desert Oases.
Finally, when the evening comes, you can choose whether to ride camels and spend another night in the camp or just head to a hotel in Merzouga.
Day 4: Merzouga - Midelt - Ifrane - Fes
The last day of our 4 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes has arrived. Firstly, if you have chosen to stay in the camp, we would offer you a small ride on the camel from the camp. However, if you have chosen the hotel, we will start our fourth day after you have breakfast.
Firstly, we will drive through Merzouga, Erfoud and then Errachidia. Here, we will stop by the Ziz Valley, the biggest source of dates in Morocco. Also, the Errachidia’s dam, the biggest source of water in the region of Errachidia. Further, on the tour, we will drive by the Tizi Ntlghmt curves and Zaabal Tunnel. Lunch will be whether in Midelt or Zaida, which are about halfway to Fes.
Afterward, we will head to the cedar forest in Azrou, walk around and see the Barbary Macaques. Then hit the road again towards Ifrane, the little Switzerland of Morocco. Here, we will go on a visit to the Atlas lion statue.
Finally, we will drive to the cultural city of Morocco and the last destination of today.
Tour includes:
- Pickup and drop off from accommodation.
- Camel for each in Merzouga
- Berber tent accommodation.
- Vehicle with gasoline
- Dinner and Breakfast
Tour excludes:
- Travel insurance
- Monuments fees
- Lunches
- Tips
- Soft drinks
Testimonials:
Book your 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes!
To book your 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes, please fill in the name of the tour in the subject field. Also as mentioned before, this tour is customizable, so if you have any customizations concerning the provided itinerary, please let us know!
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Highlights overview:
Travelling In Morocco, the Moroccan tours agency offers a brief overview of the main destinations that you will be visiting with the 4 days from Marrakech to Fes desert tour.
Merzouga, the #1 highlight of 4 days from Marrakech to Fes:
The village is not the most important thing there, it is the sand dunes that lie next to it. Merzouga is usually a name given to the whole desert area, and it includes other big villages such as Hassi Labied, Takojt, Tanamoust, Tiharyin, Taboumyat, Khamlia, and many more. The reason behind the name of this village has two different stories. Firstly, some people think that in the past there was a family called Merzoug and it is the original word of Merzoug. Secondly, some other people think that the name is originally Arabic because Merzouka means the wealthy land in Arabic.
There is another unique myth that most of the Berbers living in Merzouga believe in. It says that the in the far past, there was a tribe living here in Merzouga in peace and they were so wealthy. One day, when they finished eating their meals (most say Couscous), they started to fight with it. So because they were wasting food, God punished them with the huge sand dunes and storms until they got all covered by dunes.
The sand dunes are called Erg Chebbi and they are about 30/15 km. However, if you go deeper to the east you will find other sand dunes such as those in Znigui, Jdaid, and Ramlia.
Ait Benhaddou:
The small village or Ksar is built by Thami El Gloaui, one of the richest Bashas in the history of Morocco. This small Berber village is in a strategic place that allows it to be one of the important villages in the Southeast of Morocco. Why not and most of the camel caravan traveling from Sijilmassa to Marrakech were using it as a stop to relax or even save their commodities. Ait Benhaddou is located on the tip of the High Atlas Mountains. Clearly, it offers some of the best views that you will experience in this 4 days tour from Marrakech to Fes. Great wall and high towers all made of clay represents the best example of Moroccan architecture.
The village nowadays is abandoned, most people that used to live there have moved to the other bank of the river. Also, only a few families are still living there and their main income is from tourism.
Ouarzazate:
The Hollywood of Africa as many people prefer to call it is located a few km from the Village of Ait Benhaddou. Before digging deep into what this city offers, we would like firstly to talk about the origins of the city’s name. Like most of the Moroccan cities, Ouarzazate is a Berber city, and its name says it all. It consists of two different words, “Ouar” which means without, and “Zazate” which stands for noise. So, the whole name means, a place without noise.
Ouarzazate is famous for being one of the major destinations for Movie Makers and directors all over the world. It is in Ouarzazate where they shoot the fifth season of Prison break and parts of Game Of Thrones. The city has two main studios called the Atlas Studios, they offer the best designs and views that will take you back on history. Also, this city is famous as the gate to the Sahara desert and in the last years, they have established an international Airport special for desert tour lovers.
Rissani and Erfoud:
Two major desert cities where most of the Sahrawis have established new modern houses and streets. Firstly, there is Rissani and as mentioned in the itinerary, it is the starting point of the ALaouite dynasty. Not to mention that it is was also the starting point of the famous caravan routes heading to Tombouctou. In Rissani, you will find one of the oldest and biggest traditional souks all over the country. There you can mostly find everything you are looking for. However, the souk opens only on three main days, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
The amazing thing about Rissani is that sellers who bring commodities to the city still use traditional means of transportation. It is the donkey, so do not be shocked if you visit there on a souk day and you find a park full of donkeys with saddles.
On the other hand, there is the city of Erfoud. It is located about half an hour from the Sahara desert of Merzouga, you can say that is the real gate to the sand dunes rather than Ouarzazate. Erfoud is more likely to be the capital of the desert region as it is the biggest city that is near to the desert of Merzouga. Among the things that you should not miss when visiting this city are the fossil workshops, Erfoud is full of them. Moreover, Erfoud is in charge of the biggest source of dates in Morocco, the Ziz Valley. Not to mention that every year, the city holds or organizes a festival of dates. People from all over the world attend it to buy or sell different kinds of dates from all over the world.
Ifrane and the cedar forest:
The 4 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is your way to explore both the beautiful places of Ifrane and the Cedar forest in Azrou. On the one hand, there is the little Switzerland of Morocco, the cleanest city in Africa and the eight in the world. When first you enter this phenomenal city, you will feel the difference. Located in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Ifrane is the coldest Moroccan city. It offers a charming atmosphere, landscapes, gardens, and fresh air. Not to mention that it is the destination number one for skaters in Morocco.
Clearly, the main attraction in Ifrane is the Atlas lion statue. This latter was carved by a German prisoner in order to get his freedom as the inhabitants of Ifrane say. Moreover, Ifrane is home to one of the best and high-quality universities in Africa, Al Akhawayine university. It offers many different branches that other universities in Morocco do not. 00
On the other hand, there is the cedar forest, which is not very far from Ifrane. It was home to many different animals that unfortunately have extinct. Nowadays, it is home to the friendly Barbary macaques. The place is like a zoo where you can relax and breathe fresh air.