Fes to marrakech Via Desert

Trip Overview

This is the real crossing, five days from Marrakech to Fes through the parts of Morocco most people only see in photos. You’ll wind through Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and the rose fields of the Dades Valley, ride camels into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for a night under the stars, and pass wild monkeys in the cedar forests of Azrou before ending in Fes. It’s less a tour and more a proper journey across the country.

Trip Details

Duration

5 Days 4 Night

Group

Private

Trip Type

Fun, Desert, History

Itinerary

Depart Marrakech and cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, about 4 hours through some of Morocco’s best scenery, to the Kasbah of Telouet, once home to the Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas, known for its intricate tile and woodwork, with a nearby café serving a genuinely good fig tajine. Continue through the Ounila Valley, home to some of the most photogenic Berber villages in the country, to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s served as a backdrop for Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Arrive in Ouarzazate for dinner and the night at a riad.

After breakfast, the route passes through the kasbahs of Skoura to Kelaa M’gouna, home to Morocco’s Festival of Roses every May, where shops sell rose water and oils along the Rose Valley. Continue to the Dades Valley for an evening walk along the river before dinner and the night there.

Leave Dades Gorge with a detour through Todra Gorge, canyon walls rising nearly 300 meters on either side, one of Morocco’s most dramatic landscapes. The road continues through small Berber villages and the town of Tinjdad toward Merzouga. In the late afternoon, trade your vehicle for a camel and ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun sets. Dinner and the night at the desert camp.

Wake early for sunrise over the dunes, breakfast in the desert, then a camel ride back to where you started. From there, visit Khamlia, known for its Gnawa music, then Rissani, the holy city where the ancestors of the Alaouite Dynasty are buried, and the 17th-century ruins of Ksar Abbar. Continue to Erfoud, known for its fossil markets and date festival, for the night.

 

A relaxed final morning before heading north: through the Ziz Valley, one of Morocco’s largest palm oases, lunch in Midelt, known for its apple orchards, then over the Tizi-n-Talremt pass to the cedar forests of Azrou, where wild monkeys often come right up to the road. A short stop in Ifrane, Morocco’s “Switzerland,” before arriving in Fes.

 

trip highlights

  • Included & Excluded
  • 5 Days Private tour
  • 4 nights accommodations
  • Transportation: Private SUV, Minibuses, or Transportation that suits your group size.with fuel included
  • Bottled water
  • Exclusive Guided Tours in Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
  • Daily breakfast
  • Camel ride in Desert (optional)
  • travel companion (optional)
  • Photo breaks & pauses
  • Dinner meals are included in the southern part of our tours.
  • Drinks
  • Meals not specified in the inclusions
  • International and domestic flights

We intentionally exclude dinners in urban areas or big cities for two main reasons. Firstly, dining at Riads or hotels in city settings tends to be relatively expensive. Secondly, the presence of a variety of restaurant options in cities allows our clients to choose according to their budget and preferences.

From cozy hotels, traditional kasbahs, and charming riads to stargazing desert camps, Go to Sahara provides a variety of lodging options to suit your needs. We have options that fit your budget, whether it’s luxury, mid-range, or affordable. Simply inform us of your preferences, and we’ll handle the rest to make sure you have the greatest stay possible.

We can arrange cooking classes/ Hammam & SPA  / Hot air balloon / ATV Quads / Dune buggies and any additional activiy available in any destination upon request.

Watch Nat's 5-day Desert And marrakech trip with us

Any size group works. If there are more than 20 of you, just book in advance, since all our trips run private.

 

Desert days get hot, but nights in the camp get surprisingly cold, so bring layers. A scarf or light headwrap helps with wind and sand, plus sunscreen and comfortable shoes for walking on sand and rock.

 

This 5-day, 4-night trip starts at €260 per person for our budget plan, comfy, clean stays with everything you need. Reach out with your group size and dates for an exact quote.

 

Fall and spring are the best times to visit, warm days and comfortable nights. Summer runs hot, but our accommodations and vehicles are air conditioned, so you’re never stuck sweating it out. Winter nights get cold, so pack warm layers, but that’s part of the charm, there’s nothing like wrapping up by the campfire under a clear desert sky.

 

We actually own our own transportation company, so it’s not some random driver you’ve never met. Small groups ride in a Toyota Prado, bigger groups get a Mercedes Vito van or Sprinter minibus, and for groups over 20 we bring in a full-size bus. Everything is clean, comfortable, and driven by drivers we know and trust.

Yes, we can include or exclude activities to suit what you and  your group like.

 

It’s a completely different experience from the city or the coast, vast dunes, Berber camps, nights under the stars. If you have the time, pairing it with Marrakech or the coast is the best way to see more than one side of the country.

 

Yes, this trip can be extended to more days or shortened to fit your schedule. It also pairs well with our desert or coast trips if you or your group wants to add more of Morocco, or both, for the full experience.

 

Tell Us About Your Group

Group size, dates, how many days, that’s all we need. We’ll come back to you as soon as possible.

Phone:

(+212) 767927631

Email:

contact@gotosahara.com

Want to see more of Morocco while you're here?

See the Coast
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