A private, driver-guided three days from Marrakech to Fes across the Sahara — kasbahs and gorges on the way out, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas cedar forests on the way north.
Brief Itinerary
- Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades
- Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga
- Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Ifrane – Fes
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades
Your private driver will welcome you, then you leave Marrakech for the Dades Valley. Your first stop is the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to take some memorable photos of the amazing scenery. Then we head to the fortified city of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most spectacular ksar in all of Morocco, set on the old caravan route from the Sahara to Marrakech.
Ouarzazate – the Hollywood of Africa – is a world-renowned film-making location, from Lawrence of Arabia in the 60s to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen in 2011; you can visit the Atlas Studios (optional). After that, taking the Road of 1000 Kasbahs, we drive past colourful Berber villages to reach the Dades Valley for the overnight stay.
Total: 5 hours driving
Overnight at a boutique riad or hotel in Dades
Dades – Todra Gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast we take the road to Tineghir with its beautiful palm grove. We continue to the Todgha Gorge, where you walk along canyon walls about 300 m high, a favourite place for mountain climbers.
Afterwards we head to the Erg Chebbi dunes in the Merzouga Sahara Desert. We arrive in Merzouga before sunset, then you ride a dromedary camel for 45–60 minutes at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes to camp overnight in your luxury bivouac tent.
Total: 4 hours driving
Overnight at a luxury desert camp in Merzouga
Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Ifrane – Fes
We start in the morning from Merzouga and leave the Sahara behind, heading north through the spectacular Ziz Valley with its dramatic landscapes and palm groves. We continue towards Zaida, where we stop for lunch. Zaida is well known locally for its barbecue, making it a great place to enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal before continuing our journey.
After lunch, we drive towards Michlifen, in the Middle Atlas Mountains. This beautiful forested area is known for its population of Barbary macaques. We can take a break here, enjoy the natural surroundings and observe the monkeys in their environment. We then continue to Ifrane, often known as the Moroccan Switzerland because of its European-style architecture, clean streets and mountain setting, where you have some free time to walk around and take photos.
Finally, we continue toward Fes, arriving in the afternoon or early evening depending on road conditions and the length of our stops. From the golden Sahara of Merzouga to the forests of the Middle Atlas and the elegant streets of Ifrane, this final day offers a wonderful change of scenery before arriving in the historic city of Fes.
Total: 7 hours driving
What's Included & Excluded
What's Included
- 24/7 in-country multilingual support team
- Transport with private driver, including gasoline, tolls & parking; driver at your disposal for additional activities
- 2 breakfasts (Dades, Merzouga)
- 2 dinners (Dades, Merzouga)
- Camel ride in the Sahara Desert
- Overnight stay in a hotel or riad (Dades)
- Overnight stay in a luxury desert camp (Merzouga)
What's Not Included
- Personal expenses / souvenirs
- Airfare
- Meals not listed in the itinerary; all drinks
- Tips for driver, local guides, hotel and restaurant staff
- Travel insurance
