Desert · Private journey
3 Days Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Marrakech to Fes
- Private, just your group
Overview
Start in Marrakech, sleep in the dunes and finish in Fes — the essential south-to-north desert route.
The route
MarrakechStart
Aït Ben Haddou
The Sahara
FesEnd
Itinerary
Day by day
A working draft: every day can be lengthened, shortened or swapped once we know what matters most to you.
- Day1
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Skoura → Dadès Valley
Climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, detouring to the hilltop Telouet Kasbah before reaching the earthen ksar of Aït Ben Haddou. Continue past Ouarzazate to the Skoura palm oasis and the Valley of Roses, then on to Kalaat M'Gouna and into the Dadès Valley for the night among its folded rock formations.
Aït Ben Haddou - Day2
Dadès Valley → Todgha Gorge → Merzouga (Sahara camp)
Head to Tinghir for a walk through Todgha Gorge, where sheer cliffs rise 300 metres above a narrow river path, then continue east via Erfoud and the market town of Rissani to Merzouga. As the light turns gold, ride a camel out to the Erg Chebbi dunes for dinner, drumming and a night at a desert camp.
The Sahara - Day3
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Ifrane → Fes
Watch the sunrise over the dunes, then drive north through Errachidia and the palm-lined Ziz Valley to Midelt and into the Middle Atlas cedar forests, keeping an eye out for wild Barbary macaques. Pass through the alpine town of Ifrane before the final descent to Fes, arriving in the late afternoon.
Fes
The details
What's included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, fuel & tolls
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Accommodation in riads, kasbahs & a desert camp
- Camel trek to the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Desert camp with dinner & breakfast
- Daily breakfast
- Local guides in the imperial cities
- All local taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches & some dinners
- Monument & museum entrance fees
- Drinks & personal expenses
- Tips / gratuities
- Travel insurance
Good to know
Questions about this journey
Can you customize an itinerary, or do we have to book one exactly as listed?
Every trip on this site is a starting point. Tell us your dates, pace and interests on WhatsApp or through the form below, and we'll adjust the route, swap in extra nights, or build something from scratch around what you actually want to see.
What's included in the price of a private Morocco tour?
Standard inclusions are a private air-conditioned vehicle with fuel and tolls, an English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip, accommodation in riads, kasbahs and a desert camp, the Erg Chebbi camel trek, daily breakfast, local guides in the imperial cities, and all local taxes. International flights, most lunches and dinners, entrance fees, tips and travel insurance are not included.
When's the best time of year for a Sahara desert tour?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the most comfortable temperatures for both the High Atlas passes and the dunes. Summer is workable but hot in the desert by midday; winter nights in the Sahara and the mountains can be cold, so pack layers if travelling between November and February.
Which cities can a tour start and end in?
Most itineraries start or end in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca or Tangier — wherever your flight lands. Filter the tours by city to see what's available, or ask us to build a route between two different cities if you don't see the combination you need.
Want this route adjusted? Message us on WhatsApp or browse all 33 journeys.
You may also like
More journeys from Marrakech
Desert3 days3 Days Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
The classic quick escape to the dunes — over the Atlas to Aït Ben Haddou, down the gorges and a night under the stars at Erg Chebbi.
Desert4 days4 Days Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech
An extra day over the 3-day classic — more time in the dunes, a 4x4 excursion and tea with a nomad family.
Desert4 days4 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes
Marrakech to Fes at a gentler pace, with a full evening and sunrise in the Sahara.
Begin your journey
Make the 3-day journey your own
Tell us your dates and what you'd change, and we'll come back with a real draft and a clear price, not a form letter.