FES TO MARRAKECH 2 DAYS DESERT TOUR VIA MERZOUGA

PRIVATE TOUR — FES TO MARRAKECH 2 DAYS DESERT TOUR VIA MERZOUGA

OVERVIEW

The 2 Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour is the shortest way to cross Morocco and still fit in a night in the Sahara. In two days you’ll drive from Fes across the Middle Atlas Mountains, ride camels across the Erg Chebbi dunes, sleep in a luxury desert camp, and continue the next day past the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and over the High Atlas to Marrakech.

There’s a lot of driving involved — Day 2 alone covers nearly 600 km — so this route suits travellers who are really short on time. If you have three days available, the 3 Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour splits the long drive from Merzouga and gives you time for Todra Gorge, Dades, and a proper stop at Ait Ben Haddou.

Every itinerary is fully customisable to suit your preferences and pace.

DURATION: 2 DAYS / 1 NIGHT
START: FES
END: MARRAKECH

– Stopping in Ifrane — the “Switzerland of Morocco”
– Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains
– Spotting Barbary macaques in the cedar forest
– A camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes
– A beautiful sunset over the Sahara
– A night in a private luxury tent at a desert camp
– Campfire drumming and Berber music under the stars
– A peaceful sunrise over the dunes
– A panoramic stop at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
– Crossing the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech

DAY 1: FES → IFRANE → MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA

Your tour begins with a morning pick-up from your riad in Fes. The first stop is Ifrane — often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its cooler climate and mountain setting. The road then crosses the Middle Atlas, with a stop in the cedar forest where Barbary macaques are often seen in the wild.

Lunch is served at a restaurant along the way. The drive continues through the Ziz Valley — a long oasis full of palm trees — with a stop at a panoramic viewpoint. You’ll reach the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes in the afternoon, where your camels will be waiting to take you across the sand to your luxury camp. A pause on a high dune lets you watch the sunset before continuing to camp, where a private tent is ready for you. Dinner is followed by drumming, Berber music, and a long evening under the stars.

Approximate driving distance: 500 km
Approximate driving time: 7 hours 30 minutes

DAY 2: MERZOUGA → AIT BEN HADDOU → HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS → MARRAKECH

An early start is rewarded with a calm sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, a 4×4 returns you to the town of Merzouga for the long drive to Marrakech. There will be stops along the way.

You’ll stop for a panoramic view of the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou — the UNESCO-listed fortified village that has served as a backdrop for many internationally famous productions. After some photos, the drive continues over the High Atlas Mountains, with stops at the finest viewpoints, before descending into Marrakech, where you’ll be dropped off at your accommodation.

Approximate driving distance: 560 km
Approximate driving time: 9 hours

IMPORTANT NOTES

– The driving times above don’t include stops for lunch and sightseeing.
– This itinerary involves a lot of driving — it may not suit anyone prone to motion sickness.
– Note that at Ait Ben Haddou you’ll only see the kasbah from the outside — there isn’t time to walk through it on this tour.
– If you have 3 days available, the 3 Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour gives you a much more comfortable pace and more time at key sites.
– The tour can also be run in reverse — see the Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 2 Days.
– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated on request.
– Prefer not to ride a camel? A 4×4 will take you to the camp at no extra cost.
– All our luxury camps feature private tents with en-suite bathrooms.

– Pick-up from your accommodation in Fes
– Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech
– Private air-conditioned 4×4, van, or minibus
– English-speaking driver or driver plus English-speaking guide (other languages on request)
– 1 night at your chosen luxury camp (private tent with en-suite bathroom)
– 1 dinner and 1 breakfast
– Camel trekking experience
– Sandboarding