3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga Desert

Your adventure begins early in Marrakech, where your driver greets you at your riad or the airport. As you leave the city’s ochre walls behind, the road winds upward through the High Atlas Mountains—a ribbon of tarmac twisting toward the sky. The Tizi n’Tichka Pass, perched at over 2,200 meters, offers sweeping views of rugged peaks, terraced villages, and shepherds guiding their flocks across the slopes.

The air grows crisp, and the scenery shifts dramatically—from fertile plains to dramatic mountain ridges painted in red and ochre hues. Stop along the way to capture photos and sip mint tea at a roadside café as the breeze carries the scent of thyme and wild herbs.

Descending from the mountains, you reach the legendary Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most iconic landmarks. This centuries-old fortress of sun-dried clay has stood guard over the caravan route for generations. Its maze-like alleys and towers have starred in films such as Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. Take time to wander through its ancient corridors and imagine life here centuries ago, when traders passed with salt, gold, and silk.

Continuing eastward, you pass through Ouarzazate, often called “the Gate of the Desert.” This cinematic city has been a backdrop for countless Hollywood productions. After lunch, the journey carries on through Skoura’s palm oasis, where tall palms sway above hidden kasbahs, and through the fragrant Valley of Roses, which bursts into bloom each spring.

By evening, arrive in Boumalne Dades, your resting place for the night. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner overlooking the Dades Valley, where the last light of day turns the cliffs to shades of gold and crimson.

Wake to the cool air of the valley and the soft call to prayer echoing from a nearby village. After breakfast, the drive follows the serpentine Dades River, offering a perfect photo stop at a viewpoint over the dramatic Dades Gorges, where time and water have sculpted the red limestone into extraordinary formations.

From here, the road continues to the Todra Gorges, a breathtaking canyon where sheer walls of rock rise up to 300 meters. The Todra River trickles through the base, inviting you to stroll along its edge. You’ll likely see local families picnicking, rock climbers scaling the cliffs, and donkeys trotting between palm groves. The play of light and shadow on the canyon walls creates a scene that feels both ancient and alive.

After a lunch stop near Tinjdad or Touroug, the landscape begins to change—the lush valleys give way to dry plains dotted with acacia trees and Berber villages. Gradually, the Sahara Desert reveals itself on the horizon.

By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Merzouga, gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Here, trade your 4x4 for a camel and set off across the golden sands. The silence of the desert deepens as the sun dips lower, painting the dunes in hues of amber and rose. Stop atop a high dune to watch the sunset over the Sahara—a moment that feels suspended in time.

Your evening unfolds at a luxury desert camp, where you’re welcomed with mint tea and the warm rhythm of Berber drums around a campfire. Dine beneath a vast, starlit sky—one of the clearest in the world—before retreating to your tent for a night wrapped in stillness and wonder.

Rise early to witness the sunrise over the dunes, a sight that words can barely capture. After breakfast, return by camel to Merzouga village, where your driver awaits to continue northward.

Your first stop is Rissani, once the ancient capital of the Tafilalet region and an important stop for desert caravans. The town’s traditional souk—especially lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—is a feast for the senses: the scent of spices, the calls of traders, and the colorful displays of dates, fabrics, and pottery.

A short drive takes you to Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops. Here, skilled artisans polish ancient marine fossils embedded in marble—a tangible reminder that this desert was once an ocean floor.

The road then follows the Ziz Valley, where rows of date palms line the riverbed like a green ribbon winding through the desert. Stop for panoramic photos before continuing toward Midelt, where you’ll enjoy lunch surrounded by the cool mountain air.

As the landscape shifts again, cedars appear on the horizon. The Cedar Forest of Azrou is home to the playful Barbary macaques, a delight for travelers who can feed them peanuts or simply watch their antics among the trees. The scent of pine fills the air—a refreshing contrast after the desert’s dry winds.

Your final stop before reaching Fes is Ifrane, affectionately known as “the Switzerland of Morocco.” With its alpine-style chalets, clean streets, and winter snowfalls, Ifrane surprises every traveler who passes through.

By evening, you’ll arrive in Fes, Morocco’s cultural capital, where the labyrinthine medina awaits your exploration. Your 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour ends here, filled with memories of mountains, kasbahs, and dunes that will stay with you long after your journey home.