4-day tour from Fes to Marrakech: 2 Sahara nights and Ouarzazate

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Fes > Ifrane > Azrou forest > Errachidia > Merzouga:

We leave Fes at 8:00 in the morning with one of our local drivers, who might be Ahmed or another of the team, and head to Ifrane, a town known for its pitched roofs, unusual in Morocco. These roofs were designed to cope with the heavy snowfall the area receives every year.
We then pass near Azrou, a town at 1,250 metres above sea level. Its name is Berber and means “stone” or “rock”.

In the nearby oak and cedar forests, you can spot wild Barbary macaques.
We continue driving south on the N13 road, crossing the Middle Atlas mountains. We pass through a town called Timahdite, another Berber name. Because the name begins and ends with the letter “t”, it is considered feminine in the Berber language.
The next stop is Midelt, at 1,508 metres. It is known as the “apple capital” of Morocco and lies at the foot of Mount Ayachi. Midelt is an important agricultural and mining centre. Minerals such as fluorite, vanadinite, quartz and cerussite are found here, and this is where we stop for lunch at a local restaurant: skewers and grilled meat come off the barbecue, with tagine on the table and mint tea to finish.

After lunch, we continue south across the Tizi-n-Talghemt pass, also known as the “camel pass”. We descend into the Ziz Valley, a beautiful area rich in palm trees and long green oases. Along the road you come across many small villages, known as “ksar”, made up of simple houses.
We reach Er Rachidia, a mining town known for copper and malachite. From there, we continue to Erfoud, famous for its date festival and its fossil workshops. It is fascinating to see how ancient fossils are turned into beautiful objects. The local shops are well worth a visit and there is no pressure to buy anything.

Our journey continues to the famous red dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, where the 4×4 ride to the camp begins.
Dinner and the overnight stay are at Mouhou Camp, our own traditional camp in the desert.

Day 2

Merzouga > Berber villages > nomadic families > Erg Chebbi desert:

Today is dedicated to discovering the Merzouga desert. You will have free time to enjoy it your way: you can take a camel ride or explore it in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle. We also visit the village of Khamlia, known for its traditional Gnawa music.

We then continue our 4×4 journey to the ancient mining village of Mifis. This small settlement, once exploited by the French, is still known for lead and other minerals.
We also visit a friendly nomadic family living behind the desert dunes: a truly special experience. On the way back to Merzouga you can take a 1-hour camel ride across the dunes to reach the desert camp.

Day 3

Merzouga > Rissani > Todra Gorge > Dades > Mgouna > Ouarzazate:

If you wake up early, you can admire the beautiful sunrise over the dunes. The changing colours and shadows on the sand are an incredible sight. After breakfast at the camp we head towards Tinghir and the Todgha Gorge.
Along the way you pass the traditional underground water channels called khettarat. You can go down into one of them to see how they were built. These channels are a clever way of bringing water to the fields without losing it to evaporation during the hot summer. They start on higher ground and descend slowly until the water reaches the surface. If you are interested, you can read more about these channels in the research of Andrew Wilson.

In the gorge and valley area, you have the chance to take a walk, either through the gorge itself or through the gardens and fields of the village before reaching the main site.
After visiting the gorge, we continue to the Dades Valley. Millions of years ago, this area lay under the sea. Huge amounts of sand and other materials gathered around the coral reefs and slowly turned into rocks such as sandstone and limestone. Over time, the land rose, forming the Atlas Mountains and the nearby landscapes.

Next we cross the Valley of Roses, known for its Rose Festival held in May. Here, roses are used to make beauty and skincare products that are popular all over Morocco.
In Skoura we stop at the beautiful oasis and visit the Amredhil Kasbah. This historic mud-brick house has been carefully restored and shows how people once lived in these buildings. The thick walls keep the heat in during winter and the cool in during summer, making them perfect for the desert climate.
After about 45 minutes we arrive in Ouarzazate, where we spend the night in a local guesthouse.

Day 4

Ouarzazate > Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah > High Atlas > Marrakech:

After breakfast, we head to the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Morocco. This famous kasbah has appeared in many Hollywood films and some of its buildings date back to the 17th century.
We then cross the beautiful Ounila Valley. The road winds between colourful landscapes, Berber villages, green gardens and small kasbahs. The changing colours of the rocks and soil make the journey very special.

We then continue to Telouet, a village hidden among the mountains. It was once the seat of the powerful El Glaoui family, rulers of Marrakech. From here they controlled the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the highest mountain pass in North Africa. The kasbah, although now in ruins, still shows signs of its former splendour. The inner rooms, especially at the far end, surprise many visitors with their traditional Moroccan decoration.

Unfortunately, the Telouet Kasbah is closed because of damage caused by the September 2023 earthquake. It is still worth stopping to see the exterior and hear its fascinating history from a local guide.
In the late afternoon, we cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and reach Marrakech. This marks the end of your 4-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech. The driver will take you to your riad.