Marrakech to Fes Tour via the Sahara Desert

Your journey begins at 08:00 AM with a private pickup from your accommodation in Marrakech. We leave the plains behind and ascend into the High Atlas Mountains via the panoramic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), stopping to take photos of ancient Berber villages built directly into the cliffs.

We take a scenic detour through the Ounila Valley to visit the hidden Kasbah of Telouet, the crumbling palatial fortress of the historic Pasha Glaoui. In the afternoon, we arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou. Because you are staying overnight here, you escape the daytime tourist crowds. Walk the quiet mud-brick corridors at sunset and enjoy a traditional dinner overlooking the river valley.

After breakfast on the terrace, we pass through Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa” due to its famous cinema studios. We continue along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, cutting through the Valley of the Roses to arrive at the breathtaking Todra Gorge. Take a relaxing walk along the canyon floor, where sheer limestone cliffs tower 300 meters above you.

After a local lunch, we drive toward the golden horizon of the Sahara. Upon arriving at the edge of the Merzouga dunes (Erg Chebbi), you will mount your camel for a 1-hour sunset trek deep into the sand dunes. Arrive at your desert camp for a warm welcome of mint tea, a rich Moroccan dinner, and live Berber drumming around a campfire under a blanket of stars

Wake up early to catch a magical Sahara sunrise over the peaks of the dunes. Today is entirely dedicated to uncovering the secrets of the desert landscape. We board a private 4×4 vehicle to explore the off-road tracks of the old Paris-Dakar Rally.

We will visit an authentic, hospitable Berber Nomad family living in traditional woven tents to learn about their nomadic lifestyle. Next, we stop at Khamlia Village to witness a live performance of spiritual Gnawa Music played by descendants of sub-Saharan Africans. For lunch, feast on Madfouna (a local specialty known as Berber Stuffed Pizza). Spend your afternoon relaxing by a pool on the edge of the dunes, sandboarding, or taking an optional quad bike excursion.

Our final day is a stunning journey across Morocco’s rapidly changing ecosystems. We depart the desert and pull over to take photos of the massive Ziz Valley, home to one of the largest continuous palm groves in the world.

We cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and stop for an apple-country lunch in Midelt. In the afternoon, we enter the ancient Cedar Forest of Azrou, where we step out to view and feed the native wild Barbary Macaque monkeys. After a quick coffee stop in Ifrane—celebrated as the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its pristine alpine architecture—we descend into the medieval imperial city of Fes, arriving at your Riad door by approximately 06:00 PM. END of the service