2 Days Desert Tour From Marrakech To Fez Via Merzouga Sahara
From the High Atlas to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, a journey across Morocco's most dramatic landscapes.
The 2 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fez via Merzouga traces a sweeping route through Morocco's most compelling terrain, connecting imperial cities, Berber kasbahs, and the vast Sahara in a single private journey. Guests board at their Marrakech hotel and are dropped off at their Fez accommodation, with no backtracking required. The itinerary is rated easy, making it accessible to a wide range of travelers.
The route crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi N'Tichka pass, descends to the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, and passes through Ouarzazate before threading the Dades and Todra valleys toward the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Guests spend the night in a tented Berber camp after a camel trek through the dunes and an evening of traditional drumming under an open sky. The second day heads north through the Ziz Valley, Erfoud, and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas before arriving in Fez.
Morocco's landscape changes dramatically over these two days, shifting from snow-capped peaks and ancient fortified villages to arid desert and finally to the lush cedar highlands. Each stretch of road introduces a distinct ecosystem and cultural layer. The private format means stops are adjusted to the group's pace and interests.
Tour Highlights
Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the scenic Tizi N'Tichka pass with stops at Berber villages.
Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar featured in major international films.
Experience camel trekking into the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sunset from the top of a dune.
Sleep in a traditional nomadic tented camp under a starlit Sahara sky with Berber music around the fire.
Journey through cedar forests and the Middle Atlas Mountains on the drive north toward Fez.
Photograph the dramatic Dades and Todra valleys, the Skoura palm grove, and the Ziz River oasis.
Discover Erfoud, renowned for its fossil heritage and its annual Date Festival traditions.
Itinerary
Departure from Marrakech early morning, heading southeast over the Tizi N'Tichka pass through the High Atlas with panoramic stops at Berber villages. The route descends to Ait Ben Haddou for a photo stop or short visit before continuing to Ouarzazate to see the Taourirt Kasbah and the area's film studio landscape.
The drive continues east through the Rose Valley and the extensive Skoura palm grove, where lunch is taken in Tinejdad or Touroug. The route passes through the impressive Dades and Todra gorges, offering some of Morocco's most striking geological scenery.
Arrival at the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga in the late afternoon for a camel trek of approximately one to one and a half hours to the Berber camp. Guests have the opportunity to watch the sunset from a dune crest, try sandboarding, and enjoy traditional drumming music around the campfire before sleeping in a tented camp.
Guests who wish to watch the desert sunrise are woken by camp hosts before breakfast. The return journey begins by vehicle, heading north along the Ziz River oasis through a corridor of palm trees and fortified ksours.
A stop in Erfoud introduces the city's fossil heritage before the route climbs into the Middle Atlas for a lunch break in Midelt. The landscape transitions noticeably here, with cedar forests and cooler temperatures replacing the arid desert scenery.
The tour concludes in the early evening with a drop-off at the guest's riad or hotel in Fez. The city marks the northern terminus of a route that has covered roughly 1,029 kilometres across Morocco's most varied geography.
What Is Included
Included
- Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional driver-guide for the full route
- Camel trekking at Erg Chebbi dunes
- One night in a traditional Berber tented camp
- Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
- Berber drumming music and campfire evening
- Hotel and riad pickup in Marrakech
- Drop-off at hotel or riad in Fez
Not Included
- Lunches and personal drinks
- Entry fees to monuments and sites
- Sandboarding rental (optional activity)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities for driver and camp staff
Important Information
Book Your Desert Journey
Secure your place on this private two-day route from Marrakech to Fez through the Sahara. Availability is limited and this tour operates on a private basis only.
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