Flying into Marrakech and out of Fes? This is the route that takes you between them the long way — across the Atlas, through the Sahara, and back up through the palm oases of the Ziz Valley.
Two nights near the dunes give the desert time to breathe: a sunset camel trek, an unhurried morning, and the option of a slow day in Merzouga before the road north. As with everything we run, the tour is private, and the pace is yours.
- Duration
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Pickup
- Marrakech — hotel or riad
- Accommodation
- Hotel in Dades + 2 nights desert camp
- Group
- Private, 2–6 travellers
Itinerary outline
Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Dades Valley
Depart over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, crossing to Aït Ben Haddou for a walk through the UNESCO-listed ksar. Continue through Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses into the Dades Valley. Night in a hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included.
Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (Sahara)
Morning in the spectacular Todra Gorge, with its 300-metre cliff walls. Then south through Berber villages and palm oases to Merzouga. A sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes, dinner and Berber music at the camp. Night in the desert, dinner and breakfast included.
A slow day in Merzouga
Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at the camp and a morning at leisure. Options: a visit to the Gnawa village of Khamlia, a 4x4 excursion to the salt lake Dayet Srji, sandboarding, or simply a long walk up the dunes. A second night in the desert (or a hotel in Merzouga if you prefer), dinner and breakfast included.
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Fes
After breakfast, the road north follows the Ziz Valley palm oasis, climbs through Midelt into the Middle Atlas and meets Fes in the late afternoon, with lunch and photo stops along the way. Drop-off at your hotel or riad in Fes.
What’s included
- Private 4x4 & English-speaking driver-guide
- Pick-up in Marrakech & drop-off in Fes
- 1 night hotel in the Dades Valley — dinner & breakfast
- 2 nights in a Berber desert camp — dinner & breakfast
- Camel trek, sandboarding & Berber music
- Bottled water in the car
- Fuel, tolls and road taxes
- Lunches & drinks
- Monument entrance fees
- Optional local guide at Aït Ben Haddou
- Personal expenses
- Traveller tips
Accommodation
Three nights: one in a family hotel in the Dades Valley and two in a Berber camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes, with dinner and breakfast included. The second camp night can be swapped for a hotel in Merzouga if you prefer a hot shower and a firm bed.
Good to know
Are the dates flexible?
Yes. Every departure is private, so the route runs on your calendar — tell us when you arrive and we build the days around it.
What happens if the weather turns?
Safety comes first. In rain or a heavy sandstorm we swap the exposed sections for an adapted route or a 4x4, and keep the rest of the experience intact.
Why a one-way route?
You end in Fes without retracing a metre of road — ideal if you are flying into Marrakech and out of Fes, or continuing north to Chefchaouen or Tangier.
Can we swap the second camp night for a hotel?
Yes. The second night among the dunes can be a hotel in Merzouga — just tell us which you prefer when booking.