5 days fes to sahara desert and marrakech tours
Fes , Morocco
Duration
5 days
Tour Type
Explore Tours
Embark on an unforgettable Moroccan adventure with this 5-day Fes to Marrakech desert odyssey!
This thrilling tour whisks you away from the bustling streets of Fes, through the majestic High Atlas Mountains, and deep into the heart of the Sahara Desert. Immerse yourself in Morocco’s diverse landscapes, from rugged valleys and towering gorges to golden sand dunes stretching towards the horizon.
Highlights:
- Fes: Explore the labyrinthine alleyways of Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vibrant culture and ancient medina (marketplace).
- Sahara Desert: Experience the magic of the Sahara Desert on an unforgettable camel trek. Spend a night under a blanket of stars in a traditional Berber camp, enjoying delicious local cuisine and warm hospitality.
- Atlas Mountains: Traverse the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains, stopping to admire panoramic vistas and charming Berber villages.
- Kasbahs: Step back in time as you visit ancient kasbahs, fortified villages that served as important trade and defense outposts for centuries.
- Marrakech: Conclude your journey in the captivating city of Marrakech, a vibrant hub of culture, history, and sensory delights.
This tour is perfect for adventurous travelers seeking a taste of Morocco’s diverse landscapes, rich history, and Berber traditions. Prepare to be captivated by breathtaking scenery, unique cultural experiences, and the unforgettable magic of the Sahara Desert.
Included/Exclude
- Transportation: Ground transportation throughout the tour, likely a minibus or 4WD vehicle.
- Accommodation: desert camp.
- Meals: Breakfast.
- Activities: camel trek in the Sahara Desert, entrance fees to major attractions (kasbahs, gorges etc.).
- Guide: A professional driver/guide throughout the tour.
- Flights: Roundtrip airfare to/from Morocco is likely not included.
- Travel Insurance: Protecting yourself in case of unexpected events is usually an extra cost.
- Lunches and Drinks: Lunches and drinks may not be included, so factor in budgeting for these.
- Tips: Tipping your guide and driver is customary but not mandatory.
Tour Plan
After breakfast in your riad, you will leave towards the southeast following the Caravan roads to Merzouga. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at the Cedar forest, the largest one in Morocco, over the Middle Atlas Mountains – where you may well sight Barbarian apes. After lunch in Midelt, you will continue through the large open high desert, and notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city Er Rachidia. Your journey continues along the luxuriant Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet date palm grove, famous for date cultivation. This area is the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco. You’ll arrive at Merzouga at the end of the afternoon – to be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check in to your riad.
After breakfast in the riad you will start an explorative journey of the area. You’ll visit the Gnawa people – originally slaves brought from Sudan -to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations. You may also visit the souk in Rissani , a traditional town which was the origin of the ruling family in Morocco and the meeting place of the Caravans trading as far as Timbuctou in Mali. Here you will see a lot of men hooded and women veiled. Back to the village of Merzouga for some rest, in the afternoon you will mount your camel, guided by an experienced camel man to explore within the sand-sea of Merzouga. Overnight will be at our desert camp, where you will have your dinner. For your convenience, the camp is equipped with western bathrooms.
Early in the morning, your camel guide will wake you up to watch what well may be the best sunrise of your life. After sunrise you will trek back to the village of Merzouga. Enroute you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast in your riad, you’ll leave for Rissani , Tinghir, and Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we’ll drive through the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley.
After breakfast in the hotel we’ll drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaat Mgouna and Ouarzazat. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. We’ll stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose city”, to purchase rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your trip is over. Continue to Ouarzazate via the Amridil Kasbah, one of the last Berber chieftains during the 18th century, now the Kasbah is a house of many Glaoui people. At night you will stop in Ouarzazat.
After an early breakfast in the riad, we wtat our journey to reach the ksar (fortified village) of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator , Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, Sahara with Penélope Cruz…etc. After visiting the kasbah we´ll go to Marrakech, we´ll see Tizi Ntichka port,that. with 2.260m is the highest point in our country. We´ll enjoy beautiful landscapes from the viewpoints on the way and make some stops to take pictures of the berber villages, at the end of the afternoon and check in to your riad within the Medina. Overnight at riad.
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Review Scores
3 thoughts on “5 days fes to sahara desert and marrakech tours”
Max Guests
17
Min Age
2+
4.4
This 5-day exploration from Fez to the Sahara and finally to Marrakech was a fantastic bonding experience for our family. We started in the vibrant city of Fez, where we explored the bustling souks with our kids, learning about traditional Moroccan crafts. The journey through the Middle Atlas Mountains was a scenic adventure, with plenty of opportunities for hikes and photo stops. The highlight for the kids was definitely the camel trek in the Sahara Desert, a unique and exciting experience. The desert camp itself offered a chance to learn about Berber culture through stargazing sessions and traditional music performances. Marrakech provided a final cultural immersion – a visit to a traditional hammam for a relaxing experience and a chance to learn about Moroccan beauty rituals. A fantastic tour for families who want to experience the wonders of Morocco together.
4
This 5-day Fez to Marrakech tour was a delicious adventure with plenty of relaxation time! We began in Fez, indulging in a cooking class where we learned to prepare the iconic pastillas and fragrant tagines. Throughout the journey, our guide, Fatima, ensured we stopped at hidden culinary gems – family-run restaurants serving traditional Berber dishes and charming cafes with panoramic views. Even the meals at the desert camp were a highlight – traditional Berber stews cooked over an open fire, enjoyed under a blanket of stars. In between all the eating, we had plenty of time to relax at the desert camp with its comfortable tents and refreshing pool. Marrakech offered a final culinary adventure, from the mouthwatering street food in Djemaa el-Fnaa to the elegant rooftop restaurants overlooking the city. A perfect tour for food lovers who also want to unwind and soak up the Moroccan atmosphere.
4.2
TThis 5-day journey from Fez to the Sahara and finally to Marrakech was a dream come true for a history and nature lover like me! We started in Fez, exploring the labyrinthine medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our guide, Rashid, was a walking encyclopedia, sharing fascinating stories about the city’s rich past and architectural wonders. Leaving Fez, we embarked on a scenic journey through the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping at the impressive Roman ruins of Volubilis and the dramatic Ziz Gorges. The highlight was definitely reaching the Sahara Desert. The camel trek at sunrise over the golden dunes was breathtaking, and the days were filled with exploring the unique desert ecosystem and learning about Berber culture. Marrakech was the perfect final stop, with its stunning palaces like Bahia Palace and the vibrant Djemaa el-Fnaa square, , with its stunning palaces like Bahia Palace and the vibrant Djemaa el-Fnaa square, a feast for the senses.