This comprehensive four-day route connects Morocco’s imperial heritage with its desert wilderness and modern urban energy. You’ll witness dramatic landscape transitions while experiencing authentic Berber hospitality, making this journey perfect for those seeking both cultural depth and natural wonder.
4-Day Fez Merzouga Marrakech. Your departure from your accommodation begins at 8 AM. The journey to Erg Chebbi sand dunes spans 8 hours during which you’ll witness the Atlas Mountains and various settlements (Erfoud and Rissani).
We’ll pause in towns like Ifrane and Azrou to appreciate the cedar forest scenery and observe the resident monkeys. Lunch will be provided in Midelt before continuing through the Ziz valley with its stunning palm tree landscapes until reaching Erg Chebbi where you’ll embark on a camel trek to access the desert camp for an overnight stay in a Berber tent.
Following breakfast, you’ll take another camel trek back to your hotel for refreshment. We depart from the Sahara desert formations of Erg Chebbi, taking a rugged off-road route across the hamada (black Desert) toward the Sahara settlement of Rissani.
Next, we travel north to Erfoud, famous for its fossils; here we can visit a fossil exhibition before continuing to the remarkable Todra valley, renowned for rock climbing, where you can stroll before we proceed to your hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodation included.
Following your hotel breakfast, we begin our journey along the Thousand Kasbahs route as impressive kasbahs line both roadsides. Unfortunately, many of these historic, fortified structures now exist as ruins.
Only select ones have undergone restoration. We journey through Dades Valley and venture off-road into rocky terrain, discovering numerous Berber settlements and nomads living in cave dwellings. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to meet a local family and understand their lifestyle and primary occupation, which is “Tending to goat herds & shepherding.” Before reaching the Skoura palm groves, the spectacular rose valley scenery will captivate you. After 45km, we reach Ouarzazate and settle in at a local hotel for the night.
After breakfast, we’ll begin our day with a tour of the film studios located in Ouarzazate, known as Africa’s Hollywood. Following this, we’ll explore the complete Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, designated by UNESCO in 1987. Ait Benhaddou is the World Heritage location that has served as a filming site for over 20 productions including “Gladiator,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Lawrence of Arabia”.
Enjoy a walk to discover the distinctive Moroccan architectural design style used in kasbah construction. We continue our journey to Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n’tichka pass. Pause for lunch in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. Transfer to your accommodation in Marrakech. End of your 4-Day Fez Merzouga Marrakech tour.
FES
Ourzazate
Merzouga
Marrakech
Upon confirming your booking, kindly let us know about any dietary restrictions or meal preferences you may have, including vegetarian or vegan options. This helps us ensure your culinary needs are met throughout the journey. Our tour guides select dining establishments recognized for serving fresh, quality cuisine to guarantee your satisfaction and wellness during the trip. Should you wish to dine at a particular restaurant, feel free to mention it to your guide; they’ll gladly arrange it for you. Your meal enjoyment and overall comfort matter greatly to us.
This is primarily a private tour, though you can participate in a small group format by selecting our shared 4-day desert excursion from Fez to Marrakech.
Keep in mind that you have the choice to travel straight to the Merzouga desert on day one. This allows you to spend the complete second day fully discovering the Merzouga desert region, based on the comprehensive schedule outlined in the 4-day journey from Fez to Merzouga.
Note that day three includes considerable driving time. If you’d like to minimize the extended travel duration, consider the 4-day Marrakech desert expedition if your schedule permits the extra day.
For the best desert tour experience from Fez to Marrakech, we highly recommend devoting an entire day to experiencing Merzouga, particularly if you choose the 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour or the 5-day Marrakech to Merzouga adventure.
This 4-day Fez to Marrakech desert experience can alternatively end in Fez by opting for the Marrakech to Fez desert tour package. You may also begin the journey in Fez and complete it in Marrakech through our Fez to Marrakech desert tour option.
While it’s feasible to complete a desert tour in 2 days via the Marrakech desert tours 2-day option, this isn’t our suggested route as it requires extensive time on the road.
The most popular Saharan desert gateway for this route is Merzouga/Erg Chebbi. The driving distance from Marrakech to Merzouga is approximately 560 kilometers (350 miles). The trip typically takes 9 to 10 hours of driving time without stops. This is a very long journey, which is why the tour is heavily focused on driving time on Day 1.
The driving distance from Fes to Merzouga/Erg Chebbi is slightly shorter than from Marrakech, covering approximately 460 to 470 kilometers (286–292 miles). The journey takes about 7 to 7.5 hours of driving time without stops, which is why the second day of the tour also involves significant driving.
We prioritize your comfort and utilize modern, air-conditioned transportation, including 4×4 SUVs, vans, and minibuses (depending on the size of your group).
It is highly recommended to book the tour as soon as possible to ensure availability for your preferred dates.
To confirm your reservation, a small initial payment (deposit) must be submitted via PayPal, Wise, or bank transfer. The remaining balance is to be paid in cash to your driver/guide on the first day of your tour, accepted in euros, US dollars, or the equivalent amount in Moroccan dirhams.
