4-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Overview:

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the mesmerizing landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Morocco with this four-day tour. From the historic city of Fez to the bustling streets of Marrakech, each day offers new adventures and immersive experiences.

Highlights: 

• Depart from Fez and journey southeast to Merzouga, renowned for its golden desert.
• En route, explore the European-inspired city of Ifran and the picturesque Ziz Valley.
• Experience a camel trek to a desert camp in Merzouga, complete with traditional dinner and music under the stars.

• Witness the sunrise over the Sahara Desert before exploring nearby villages and experiencing Gnawi music in Khamlia.
• Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst panoramic desert views and visit nomadic communities.

• Journey through Rissani and Todra Gorges, admiring limestone canyons and palm forests.
• Explore the road of the thousand Kasbahs en route to Dades Valley, known for its ancient Kasbahs and stunning landscapes.

• Discover the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou and traverse the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi Ntichka pass.
• Arrive in Marrakech, concluding your journey with unforgettable memories of Morocco’s diverse beauty and cultural richness.

Program of the 4 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech

DAY 1: FES – IFRAN – AZROU – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA DESERT

The trip will start from Fez city; recognized as an international heritage by UNESCO, we will first meet at the hotel or raid where you are booked. Heading towards Merzouga known for its golden desert in the southeast of Morocco. Through the route we will drive by the city of Ifran; different from the other cities of the country Ifran has European wonderful architecture surrounded by the Cedar forest; here we can stop to feed monkeys living in that forest and enjoy the fresh air. After that we will continue the route to Midelt City; located in the middle atlas; known for its apple production and the ancient mines of Plumb. We will stop there for lunchtime and continue the trip. The next direction will be Erfoud an oasis town in eastern Morocco, crossing the Tizi Ntalghamt a passage through the mountain that will transport you to another landscape view with deserted mountains except next to the river. Arriving at Arfoud the trip we will drive directly to Merzouga stop at an auberge to leave your luggage there and ride camels to the khaima “the tent” in the desert. You will be served dinner then listen to the local music with drums and dance around a campfire.

DAY 2: MERZOUGA AREA AND THE CAMEL TREK

The morning in the desert will start very early to allow you to see the sunrise and the changing of color of the golden dunes with time. After that, you will ride back camels to Merzouga at the hotel where you can get a fresh shower and a tasty breakfast before going on a visit to the villages surrounding Erg Chebbi dunes such as Hassi Labied, Merdani, Khamlia andM’fis. We will meet locals on the way to Khamlia who will show you their desert fausses. On the sand, you will probably encounter desert reptiles and mammals. Arriving in Khamlia known as the Gnawi village, black people coming from southern countries of Africa as slaves in the past were integrated into Moroccan society. The people there will welcome you very hospitably with a cup of tea made in the desert manner (Amazigh whiskey) and listening to their lovely spiritual Gnawi music. Leaving Khamlia we will go toward the Algerian borders to have a panoramic view of the golden dunes before having a picnic lunch under the shadow of a tree. The ride will continue visiting nomads of the region living under an Amazigh tent and taking care of their herds. On the way back to Merzouga to have dinner and sleep the night at the hotel, you will come across the volcanic rocks and the Yasmina Lake where you will be surprised with the natural postcard of the dunes surrounding the lake ( in spring)

DAY 3: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – TODGHA GORGES – DADES VALLEY

On the second day, you will wake up early in the morning to admire the sunrise shining on the golden sand.  After that, we ride back on camels to the auberge. Where you will take a shower to refresh your body and then an appetite breakfast. Putting back your things on the bus, we will drive to Marrakech, meeting the Rissani city the former capital of the Tafilalt region, and crossroads between northern and southern regions, then the Todra Gorges a series of limestone river canyons near the Tinghir city; where the large palm forest and agriculture show in the Moroccan desert handicrafts along the way. Shaped thousands of years ago thanks to the power of water going in the river the gorge gave us a very amazing view. We will drive through the road of the thousand Kasbahs in the great palm Skoura towards the valley of Dades which also has a spectacular landscape similar to that of the Todra gorge decorated with hundreds of Kasbahs. Take the narrow road in the valley and stop by to enjoy it, have dinner, and spend the night.

DAY 4: MARRAKECH VIA OUARZAZATE, AIT BEN HADOU, AND THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS

The next morning, you will have a breakfast meal. Then we will start the trip meeting the oasis of Skoura and the valley of roses which is cultivated with hectares of roses; their beauty and smell could be seen in May. The drive will take us to the Ighram “the fortified village” of Ait ben Haddou whose name is taken from the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987, where famous films were shot to name but a few Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy. Tizi Ntichka, is the next stop, a mountain wind road which we will climb to the top and take pictures of the amazing view. At the end of the road, Marrakech was known in Tamazight as Amour N Akouch or the land of GOD. In this beautiful city comes the end of our services.

Map: 4 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech