3 Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour Luxury Camp and Camel Ride

Day 1: Fes → Azrou → Midelt → Merzouga

1. Ifrane
   20m
   Built by the French in the 1930s as an alpine retreat, Ifrane looks more like a Swiss village than a Moroccan town, with chalet-style roofs and manicured gardens. It once recorded the lowest temperature ever measured in Africa (-23.9°C). Stop for photos at the stone lion statue.
2. Azrou Cedar Forest
   30m
   A forest town named after the volcanic rock that overlooks it. This is the best stop on the route to see wild Barbary macaques, an endangered species living freely in the surrounding cedar forest. Guests are asked not to feed them.
3. Midelt
   50m
   A mountain town at the foot of Jbel Ayachi, known for its apple orchards and fossil/mineral trade. This is the usual lunch stop before the road drops toward the desert.
4. Erg Chebbi
   12h
   Evening arrival - Camel trek + overnight included
   The gateway to the Sahara, where the Erg Chebbi dunes rise up to 150 m and stretch roughly 22 km along the Algerian border. Meet your camel guides for a 1-hour trek into the dunes at sunset, followed by dinner and a night in a luxury desert tent.

Day 2: Merzouga → Tinghir → Dades Valley

1. Erg Chebbi Dunes
   50m
   Watch the sun rise over Morocco's tallest dune sea, with peaks reaching up to 150 m. The desert changes color from grey to gold in the early light, before the return camel ride to Merzouga.
2. Tinerhir
   45m
   A palm-grove town at the entrance to the Todra Gorge, irrigated by centuries-old channels that still divide water between local families today. This is the usual lunch stop before entering the gorge.
3. Todra Gorge
   50m
   A dramatic limestone canyon with walls rising up to 300 m and narrowing to around 10 m at its tightest point. A river runs along the canyon floor, and the site is popular with rock climbers.
4. Boumalne Dades
   12h
   Part of the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs," this valley is known for its fortified mud-brick villages and the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations — sandstone shapes carved by erosion, which change color in late-afternoon light. Overnight at a hotel or kasbah in the valley.

Day 3: Dades Valley → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech

1. El Kelaa M'gouna
   20m
   Known as Morocco's rose capital, this valley grows damask roses used for rosewater, oil, and cosmetics. A rose festival is held each May, and local shops sell rose-based products year-round.
2. Taourirt Kasbah
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   Kasbah Taourirt sits in Ouarzazate and was once the seat of power for the Glaoui family, who controlled much of southern Morocco and the trans-Saharan trade routes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak, the kasbah housed hundreds of people, from family members to servants, within its maze of towers and courtyards. Built from rammed earth (pisé), its walls are decorated with the geometric patterns typical of southern Moroccan architecture. Only a small part of the complex is restored and open to visitors, but it remains one of the best examples of a Glaoui-era kasbah still standing. It's also a short walk from Ouarzazate's film studios, giving a sense of why the region became known as Morocco's "Hollywood."
3. Ait Ben Haddou
   1h
   A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, this fortified earthen village (ksar) once served as a caravan stop between the Sahara and Marrakech. Its buildings, mostly from the 17th century, have appeared in films including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Walk the stepped alleyways and climb to the old granary (agadir) at the top for valley views.
4. Tizi n Tichka
   15m
   The main road over the High Atlas between Ouarzazate and Marrakech, reaching about 2,260 m at its highest point. Roadside stalls sell minerals and geodes, and the route offers wide mountain views before descending toward Marrakech.
5. Marrakech
   12h
   Arrival approx. 6:00-7:00 PM
   Tour ends with drop-off at your hotel or the nearest point accessible by vehicle, since medina alleys are pedestrian-only.

Pickup details

Your driver will meet you at your hotel/riad reception in Fes. He will be holding a sign with your name. If you're staying inside the medina where vehicles can't enter, we'll contact you 24 hours before pickup to confirm the nearest accessible meeting point.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels