3 days Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga desert

OVERVIEW

The 3 day sahara desert tour from Marrakech to Fes is one of the most popular desert tours from Marrakech that connects the two imperial cities. The 3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes lets you discover a big part of the south of Morocco, departing from the ocher city of Marrakech towards the Atlas mountains and crossing beautiful scenery on the curvy roads and perched berber villages blending with the mountains, to the infamous kasbahs of Ait benhaddou fortified village and Ouarzazate with its cinematic attractions, spending the first night in the heart of the dades gorges in a traditional but comfy hotel. The second day lets you enjoy a short walk in the todra immense gorges before heading towards Merzouga in a more arid plains announcing the beginning of the deserts, once in Merzouga, you will ride the camels and go deep in the desert to spend a night in a nomad bivouac to enjoy a starry night under a clear and peaceful sky. The third day takes you through a different route heading towards Fez and crossing many villages and sceneries along with the beautiful cedar forest with its playful monkeys before reaching the Cultural capital of the country : Fes where you driver will drop you off in your hotel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Atlas mountains

• Explore Ait Benhaddou Unseco site

• Visit Ouarzazatte movie studio

• Explore Dades and Todra Gorges

• Camel ride in Sahara desert

• A night in Merzouga desert camp
• Visit Midelt, Azrou, Ifran

WHY OUR CUSTOMERS CHOOSE THIS TOUR?

This 3-day tour to Fes is ideal for intrepid travelers hoping to explore Morocco away from the hustle and bustle of busy Marrakech. Visit UNESCO-listed sites and relax to traditional Moroccan music beneath star-lit Sahara Desert skies.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT?

Trade the bustling city of Marrakech for the solitude of the desert during this 3-day, 2-night. Over the course of your journey you’ll get an up-close-personal experience in the desert, including a chance to visit a desert oasis, explore a UNESCO World Heritage site and spend the night under the stars at a camp in the Sahara Desert.

Start the first day with a pickup from your Marrakech accommodation, continuing into the Atlas Mountains as you pass Berber villages and cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Aït Benhaddou kashbah, a historic meeting place and trading site, and check out the desert oasis at Skoura before spending the night in Boumalne Dades.

On day two travel the “Road of 1,000 Kashbahs” to the Todra Gorge, stopping at the holy city of Rissani in the afternoon. Then climb aboard a camel for an unforgettable ride in the late afternoon sun toward Erg Chebbi and your evening camping accommodations in the desert. Spend the evening enjoying dinner and serenades of traditional music from local nomads under the stars. On day three you’ll ride your camel back to Mezrouga, heading back through the High Atlas Mountains to your Marrakech accommodations to finish the trip.

For a full run-down of the trip itinerary as well as more details about overnight accommodation choices, please read the details below.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: MARRAKECH – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS – AIT BEN HADDOU – OUARZAZATE – DADES

Your driver will pick you up at 08:00 am, and you will start 3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes to the Dades Gorges across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass of the high Atlas Mountains, with far-reaching views across the mountains, to the traditional High Atlas Berber villages. Then you continue to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site and have lunch at one of the restaurants at the foothils of the Kasbahs. After lunch we will drive to Ouarzazate with option to visit the Atlas Studios and Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate and then we continue to Dades gorges through Skoura and rose valley, we will spend the night in a traditional kasbah in Dades gorges.

First, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou kasbah, where locals and travelers alike have met to socialize and trade down the centuries. Soak up the atmosphere at your leisure, then head onward with your guide to Ouarzazate for lunch in a local cafe (own expense). Perhaps visit Taourirte Kasbah — a popular meeting place for people from the Atlas, Drâa and Dadès Valleys.

In the afternoon, head onward with your guide to the oasis at Skoura. Pause to admire the lush, green palm trees rising like a mirage in the dry desert, then continue on along the Dadès River through deep gorges, where the ruins of ancient kasbahs lie among traditional Berber villages.

Arrive in Boumalne du Dadès in the evening, where your dinner and accommodation await.

DAY 2: DADES GORGE – TODRA GORGE – ERFOUD – ERG CHEBBI DUNES IN MERZOUGA.

After breakfast, we will drive from Dades gorges to Erg chebbi Sahara desert at Merzouga. Berber villages are scattered along the way, we’ll pass through Todra Gorges, Tenhir, Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud in which we’ll feel the beginning of the Saharan oasis of Tafilalet, Once you arrive to Merzouga, a small offroad takes you to the edge of the golden dunes where camels are waiting for you, the luggage will be loaded in an 4×4 car and transported to the camp, and you can enjoy a beautiful camel ride over the sand dunes and watch a majestic sahara sunset on your way to the camp. After reaching your destination, you will be greated with tea and smiles. You will be shown to your beautiful comfortable private tents equipped with ensuite bathrooms and showers to relax and settle before dinner time. After a delicious meal, fire will be lit and a festive ambiance takes over with musical plays by the staff and cameleers under the starry night of the desert !

With traditional music from local nomads to entertain you, enjoy dinner and an evening under the stars before retiring to bed.

DAY 3: MERZOUGA – ERFOUD – ERRACHIDIA – MIDELT – CEDAR FOREST ( MONKEYS) – FES

An early morning wake up is recommended to assist sunrise from the top of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. you will have breakfast in the camp, pack and go back either on camels or by 4×4 leaving the dunes behind. Back on the asphalt roads, you will head north towards Fez via the High Atlas Mountains. On the way, we will drive through Rissani, Erfoud, Errachidia and Medilt. We’ll stop for lunch and pictures of wild monkeys on the Cedar forests of Azrou before arriving to Fez. Drop you off at your accommodation.