If you have flights arriving in Marrakech and departing from Fes, or vice versa, the 4-day Marrakech to Fes tour via the desert is, without doubt, the best way to make the most of your trip without retracing your steps. In four days you traverse the country diagonally, passing through the snow-capped Atlas, the Sahara dunes, the Todra Gorges, the Middle Atlas cedar forests with their Barbary macaques, and finally the medieval medina of Fes. It is the most complete one-way route in Morocco and the one we recommend if you have the option to organise your flights this way.
Why this route makes sense
Marrakech and Fes are Morocco’s two most fascinating cities, and they could not be more different from each other. Marrakech is energetic, southern, full of colour and movement; Fes is older, more medieval, more contemplative. Going from one to the other through the desert allows you to experience the entire spectrum of the country in one continuous narrative. Our Private 4-Day Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is designed exactly for this purpose, and it remains one of our top-rated itineraries.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley
You leave Marrakech early to cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka. First stop: Ait Benhaddou, the famous ksar of red earth that you can consult on Lonely Planet Morocco. After that, you continue to Ouarzazate to visit Kasbah Taourirt and the Atlas Film Studios briefly. The afternoon ends in the Dades Valley, where you spend the first night at a kasbah hotel with terrace views of the valley.
Day 2: Dades to Merzouga
The day begins with the Todra Gorges, where the river has carved a slot canyon with vertical walls. Walking through this passage with the morning light filtering down from above is one of Morocco’s most striking natural moments. Then you continue south, passing through the Tafilalet palm oasis until you reach Merzouga in late afternoon. The sunset camel trek brings you to the desert camp for dinner, music and stargazing.
Day 3: Merzouga to Fes via Middle Atlas
After the sunrise on the dunes and breakfast at the camp, you head north through the Ziz Gorges and the Tafilalet oasis, climbing into the Middle Atlas. Near Azrou, the cedar forest is home to wild Barbary macaques that you can observe at close range. Lunch in Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco” with its alpine architecture, and then the descent into Fes by late afternoon.
Day 4: Fes
The fourth day is dedicated to exploring the medina of Fes with a licensed local guide. The Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Al-Qarawiyyin University, the Andalusian Quarter, and the spice markets all deserve time. The medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest car-free urban area in the world. Our Private 3-Day Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga can be extended with extra Fes nights for travellers who want more time in this extraordinary city.
Practical information
This tour can be done in either direction (Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech) at the same price and with similar quality. Visit our tours from Fes page for the reverse direction. For all our Marrakech departures, see tours from Marrakech. Our blog has detailed information about the route and seasonal considerations.
