2 Days / 1 Night Marrakech To Fes Desert Trips

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga Desert (Camel Trek & Desert Camp)

Your adventure begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel or riad in Marrakech typically around 7:00 AM. Leaving early is crucial because the driving distance on this route is long The road climbs into the High Atlas Mountains via the famous Tizi n’Tichka pass, winding up to 2,260 metres with jaw-dropping views of Berber valleys and rocky peaks that stretch in every direction.

The first major stop is the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s most celebrated historic fortifications Built from clay and straw this ancient ksar has appeared in countless international productions including Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy. You’ll have time to walk partway up and photograph this extraordinary site from the opposite bank.

From there, you continue southeast through Ouarzazate Morocco’s film capital for a quick coffee stop (there’s no time for Atlas Studios on this tight itinerary). The journey then follows the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” through the Skoura palm grove and the Dades Valley with a short photo stop at the famous “monkey fingers” rock formations. You’ll then pass through the dramatic Todra Gorge with time to walk under the towering 300-metre-high limestone cliffs.

By late afternoon or early evening, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi come into view. In the village of Merzouga, camels await at the edge of the dunes. You’ll ride across the sandy sea stopping on a high ridge to watch the sunset paint the desert in shades of amber and rose. Dinner is served at the camp followed by an evening of traditional Berber drumming around the campfire. You’ll overnight in a private tent with en-suite bathroom options available in luxury camps.

Driving distance: Approximately 560 km
Driving time: Approximately 9.10 hours
Meals: Dinner and breakfast included
Overnight: Luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi (private tent with en-suite bathroom available)

Day 2: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes

Wake up early for one of the most magical moments of the trip sunrise over the Sahara dunes. Take a walk over the golden sands and watch the first light transform the desert into a breathtaking display of colour. After breakfast at the camp  you’ll ride the camels back to Merzouga or return by 4×4 if you prefer.

The drive north follows the Ziz Valley a lush ribbon of palm groves and riverbanks cutting through otherwise arid terrain with a panoramic viewpoint stop. You’ll pass through Rissani (if it’s Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday, you can explore the lively souk) and Erfoud for a quick visit to a fossil workshop.

Lunch is in Midelt  a town nestled between the Middle and High Atlas mountains. In the afternoon  you cross the Middle Atlas with a stop in the cedar forest near Azrou home to a troop of wild Barbary macaques Morocco’s native monkeys. The journey continues through Ifrane a charming alpine town often called “Little Switzerland” for its European-style chalet houses and cedar forests.

You’ll arrive in Fes in the evening typically between 6:00 and 8:00 PM where the tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation.

Driving time: Approximately 8–9 hours
Meals: Breakfast included
Overnight in fes : optional (arrival and drop off in Fes)