Overview
Our 8 day tour from Fes to Marrakech combines the imperial city of Fes, the mountains, the local culture and a real Sahara adventure. This 8 days Morocco itinerary gives you time: two days in Fes, the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley, then two nights around Merzouga.
Ride a camel over the golden dunes, sleep in a luxury desert camp, listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia, walk in the Todra Gorge and discover Ait Ben Haddou before crossing the High Atlas to Marrakech.
This 8-day Sahara trip from Fes to Marrakech is private and personal: one of our best Morocco desert tours to discover the country beyond the usual routes.
Highlights
- Guided tour of the medina of Fes
- Ifrane, the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley
- Camel ride and night in a luxury Sahara camp
- Gnawa music in Khamlia and the market of Rissani
- Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and a pottery workshop
- Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka Pass
Itinerary · Day by Day
DAY1Arrival in Fes
Welcome at Fes airport and transfer to your traditional riad.
If you have time, a first walk in the old medina.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY2Discover the Old Medina of Fes with a Local Guide
A guided tour of the narrow streets, souks, craft workshops and famous tanneries of Fes.
Discover local traditions and everyday life in the medina.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY3Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
Through the Middle Atlas to Ifrane and the cedar forest, home of the Barbary macaques.
The palm groves and oases of the Ziz Valley, and arrival in Merzouga to relax at a hotel with a pool.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY4Merzouga – Khamlia – Rissani – Camel Ride to the Desert Camp
Discover the villages and Amazigh communities around Merzouga, the Gnawa music of Khamlia and, if time allows, the market of Rissani.
In the afternoon, a camel ride over the Erg Chebbi at sunset to your luxury desert camp, dinner and music around the fire.
Sahara Eden Camp, or similar
Private tent with a comfortable bed and a private bathroom with a hot shower. Dinner and breakfast included, with Berber music around the campfire under the stars. We never use basic camps or shared bathrooms.
DAY5Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Sunrise over the dunes, then a walk between the high walls of the Todra Gorge.
Continue to the Dades Valley and its rock formations, palm groves and villages.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY6Dades Valley – Roses Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou
The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Roses Valley and Skoura, with a traditional pottery workshop on the way.
Ouarzazate and the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, with its clay towers and film sets. Night in Ouarzazate or Ait Ben Haddou.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY7Ait Ben Haddou – Tizi n'Tichka – Marrakech
Cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, with viewpoints over the Amazigh villages and green valleys.
Arrival in Marrakech in the afternoon and free time in the city.
Clean and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and your choice of double, twin or single beds. Breakfast and dinner included. If your preferred accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar option of the same category.
DAY8Marrakech – Departure
Depending on your flight, free time for the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Transfer to Marrakech airport.
End of the tour · drop-off at your riad, hotel or the airport
Gallery
Tour Map
Route: Fes – Ifrane – Ziz Valley – Merzouga – Khamlia – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Accommodations
Choose one category for your whole trip. The desert camp is always luxury. These are our usual choices; if one is fully booked we arrange a similar hotel of the same category.
| Night | Standard | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 Fes | Riad Sara | Palais Houyam | Palais Faraj |
| Night 2 Fes | Riad Sara | Palais Houyam | Palais Faraj |
| Night 3 Merzouga | Hotel Ksar Merzouga | Riad Azawad | Riad Serai Boutique Hotel |
| Night 4 Sahara (erg chebbi) | Sahara Eden Camp, or similar · luxury desert camp only | ||
| Night 5 Dades Valley | Riad Gabsi | Riad Paradise or Dar Blues | Eden Boutique Hotel |
| Night 6 Ouarzazate | Hotel Riad Amlal | Palm View Palace | Oz Palace Ouarzazate |
| Night 7 Marrakech | Riad Merzouga Marrakech | Riad Aslal | La Mamounia |
Price
The “from” price is for a private group of 17 people or more in standard accommodation. The final price depends on your group size, travel dates and the hotel category you choose. Ask us for a free quote.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned 4×4 or deluxe van for 8 days
- English or Spanish speaking local driver-guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at your riad, hotel or the airport in Fes and Marrakech
- 6 nights in hotels or riads of your category + 1 night in a luxury desert camp
- Breakfast and dinner every day (vegetarian and vegan options)
- Camel ride in the dunes (one camel per person)
- Stops for photos and breaks whenever you want
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Personal expenses
- Official local guides in the cities (we can book them for you)
Booking
If you’re looking to book or personalize this tour itinerary, let us know your ideas and preferences. We’ll craft an experience uniquely tailored to your vision. Our goal is to help you create the perfect Moroccan adventure. Don’t hesitate to contact us by email for more details.
If we haven’t replied to your message, please contact us on WhatsApp at +212 647-064454. We’ll be happy to help you!
Before You Go
- Bring layers: nights can be cold in the mountains and the desert, even in summer (and very cold from November to February).
- Pack sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a scarf to protect you from sun and sand.
- For mosques and holy places, dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered). Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the only one open to non-Muslims.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the medinas, gorges and kasbahs.
- Bring a small bag for the desert night; your big luggage stays safe in the car.
- Have some cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and small shopping; card payment is rare in villages.
- Roads in the mountains are winding: tell us if you get car sick and we will stop more often.
- Mobile network works in most places, and Wi-Fi is available in the hotels.
Reviews
FAQs
Is this tour private?
Yes. The car, the driver and the guide are only for you and your group. We never mix travelers from different bookings.
Are hotels included?
Yes, every night is included in the category you choose (standard, mid-range or luxury), and the desert night is always in a luxury camp.
Are meals included?
Breakfast and dinner are included every day. Lunches and drinks are not included, so you can choose where and what to eat.
Is the airport transfer included?
Yes. We pick you up at your riad, hotel or the airport in Fes and drop you off at the end of the tour in Marrakech.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Of course. You can add a night, change the hotels or add experiences like a nomad family visit, a cooking class or a romantic dinner in the dunes. Tell us your wishes.
What kind of vehicle is used?
A private air-conditioned 4×4 or deluxe van, depending on the size of your group.
What is the best time for this tour?
The tour runs all year. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant. Summer days are hot, and winter nights in the mountains and the desert are cold.
