5 Days
Marrakech
20 +
This 5-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour offers a slower, more immersive journey through southern Morocco’s dramatic landscapes, Berber culture, and Sahara magic. The extra time allows you to truly soak in the tranquility and beauty of the desert — a rare and unforgettable experience.
Your first night in the Sahara includes a camel ride to a luxury camp set deep within the dunes, far from the noise and light of civilization. Over the course of five days, you’ll explore the majestic Atlas Mountains, Berber valleys, traditional kasbahs, and hidden nomadic enclaves.
In the Dades and Todgha valleys, enjoy a glimpse into authentic Berber life with guided walks through local gardens and farmland — a striking contrast to city life and the desert’s silence.
This journey also takes you to some of Morocco’s architectural gems, including the stunning Kasbah Telouet, the iconic UNESCO-listed Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, and the restored Kasbah Amredhil in Skoura.
If you’re seeking an enriching desert experience with time to breathe, reflect, and truly connect with Morocco’s diverse soul, this is the tour for you.
After an 8:30 AM pick-up from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, your journey begins across the majestic High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. You’ll turn off the main road to visit Kasbah Telouet, once home to the powerful Glaoui family. Although the interior remains closed due to the September 2023 earthquake, a local guide will share its captivating history as you explore the exterior.
Next, enjoy lunch near Aït Ben Haddou, Morocco’s most famous kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the ancient ksar, you’ll continue through Ouarzazate and arrive in the oasis town of Skoura, where you’ll enjoy a restful night in peaceful surroundings.
After breakfast, explore Skoura Oasis, known for its towering palm groves and historical kasbahs. Visit the beautifully restored Kasbah Amredhil, then take a short walk through the olive and fruit tree-lined oasis.
Continue through the Valley of Roses via Kela’a M’Gouna, renowned for its annual Rose Festival. Stop to sample locally made rose-infused beauty products.
Next, take an off-road route to discover nomadic caves and enjoy tea with local Berber nomads. Afterward, head to the Dades Gorges for lunch and enjoy the rest of the day walking through the valley, relaxing, or sharing tea with a Berber family. Overnight in a charming guesthouse.
Today’s route leads you to Tinghir and the impressive Todgha Gorge, where you’ll walk beneath 300-meter-high canyon walls with a ribbon of sky overhead.
After a short drive, you’ll reach the Tafilalet Oasis and Rissani, the ancestral seat of Morocco’s current royal family. Stop en route at ancient underground irrigation channels, an ingenious system that preserved water in the desert climate.
Continue to Merzouga, where your camel caravan awaits. Ride into the heart of the dunes to your luxury desert camp. Enjoy tea and Moroccan pastries upon arrival, then climb the dunes for sunset views. End your day with dinner and Berber music around the campfire.
Start your morning with a serene sunrise and breakfast at the camp.
You have two experience options today:
Option 1 – Camel Trekking Day:
Embark on a full-day camel trek through the dunes. Your camel handler will carry all the essentials and prepare a picnic lunch among the sand dunes. You’ll walk approximately 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon before returning to camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Option 2 – 4x4 Desert Excursion:
Explore the wider desert in a 4×4. Visit Khamlia village, home to the Gnawa people, and enjoy a live music performance. Then head to Rissani, a historic town built on the ancient city of Sijilmassa, once a key stop for trans-Saharan caravans. Wander its bustling souks, which come alive on market days.
Return to the dunes in time for a sunset camel ride and your second night under the stars in your luxury camp.
After breakfast, begin the scenic drive north to Fes. Along the way:
Optional stop at Rissani’s market
Visit a fossil workshop in Erfoud to see how ancient sea fossils are transformed into artwork and furniture
Pass through Er Rachidia and the lush Ziz Valley, dotted with palm groves
Stop in Midelt (1,508m) for lunch – known as Morocco’s “apple capital” and a major mining hub
Continue across the Tizi-n-Talremt Pass to Azrou, nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains. In the cedar forests, keep an eye out for Barbary macaques, and admire the fragrant cedarwood used in traditional Moroccan craftsmanship.
Arrive in Fes by early evening, where your driver will drop you off at your riad — marking the end of your unforgettable 5-day desert adventure from Marrakech.
At Morocco Sahara Tours, we create personalized travel experiences that connect you with the essence of Morocco. Explore, adventure, and make lasting memories with us.
