MULTI-DAY MOROCCO TOUR
6-Day Fes to Marrakech Tour via the Sahara Desert
A private multi-day Morocco tour linking the imperial city of Fes with Marrakech, crossing the Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains along the way.
DURATION
6 Days / 5 Nights
ROUTE
Fes to Marrakech
GROUP SIZE
2-16 People
TYPE
Private Multi-Day Tour
Tour Overview
This 6-day private tour takes you from Fes to Marrakech the scenic way, spending a night in the Sahara Desert and crossing some of the most dramatic landscapes in Morocco. It is a natural choice if you are flying into Fes and out of Marrakech, or simply want to see the country from north to south.
Traveling by private vehicle with your own driver, this multi-day Morocco tour combines imperial-city culture with a genuine Sahara Desert experience, finishing in Marrakech with time to explore its souks and gardens before you depart.
Tour Highlights
- Full guided day exploring the Fes medina before departure
- Drive through the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Midelt
- Follow the Ziz Valley toward the Sahara
- Camel trek into the dunes of Merzouga at sunset
- Overnight in a private desert camp under the stars
- Explore the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage kasbah
- Finish with time to explore Marrakech, including the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fes — Guided City Tour
Your tour begins with a full day in Fes, home to Fes el Bali, one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. With a knowledgeable local guide, you will navigate a medina of more than 9,000 narrow streets and alleyways, a layout that has remained largely unchanged since the city’s founding over a thousand years ago and one that genuinely rewards having someone who knows it well.
Highlights typically include the Bou Inania Madrasa, an exceptional example of Marinid-era craftsmanship with carved cedar wood, zellige tilework, and stucco detailing; the historic Chouara Tannery, where leather has been dyed by hand in stone vats using methods largely unchanged for centuries; and the area surrounding the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 and recognized as the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in the world.
Beyond the headline sights, walking through the medina offers a genuine sense of daily life — coppersmiths hammering intricate patterns into trays, weavers at wooden looms, spice merchants with pyramids of saffron and cumin, and bakers carrying dough to the neighborhood’s communal wood-fired oven. Your guide will help you understand the guild traditions and symbolism behind much of what you see.
Overnight in Fes.
Day 2: Fes to Merzouga — via the Middle Atlas & Ziz Valley
Leaving Fes, the road climbs into the Middle Atlas Mountains, where cedar and oak forest replace the plains around the city. You will pass through Ifrane, a mountain town with alpine-style stone chalets and sloped roofs that feels distinctly different from the rest of Morocco, before continuing to Midelt, known for its apple orchards and mineral trade.
From Midelt, the route descends into the Ziz Valley, one of the most scenic drives in the region, where the road follows a long ribbon of date palm groves and traditional earthen villages built into the hillsides above the Ziz River. This valley has been an important trade corridor for centuries, and roadside stalls sell dates and other oasis produce along the way.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Merzouga and leave your vehicle behind for a camel, riding into the dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun sets and the sand shifts through shades of gold and rose. At your desert camp, you will be welcomed with mint tea, followed by a traditional dinner and an evening of Berber music around the fire beneath a sky full of stars.
Overnight in a private desert camp near Merzouga.
Day 3: Merzouga to Dades Valley — via the Todra Gorges
Wake early for one of the most memorable moments of the trip — sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, when the changing light turns the sand through shades of orange and gold and the cool morning air makes it a particularly good time to climb one of the higher dunes for a panoramic view.
After breakfast at camp, return by camel or 4×4 to meet your driver and head west toward the Todra Gorges, a dramatic limestone canyon where cliffs rise more than 300 meters on either side of a narrow riverbed. Popular with rock climbers from around the world, the gorges are also an easy, scenic stop for a walk along the canyon floor and a mint tea at one of the small cafés built directly against the rock face.
Continuing on, you will arrive in the Dades Valley, known for its terraced fields and dramatic wind-carved rock formations known locally as the “Monkey Fingers.”
Overnight in a guesthouse in the Dades Valley.
Day 4: Dades Valley to Marrakech — via Ouarzazate & Ait Ben Haddou
Today’s drive takes you through Ouarzazate, sometimes called the gateway to the desert and home to Morocco’s well-known film studios, before stopping at Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified UNESCO World Heritage kasbah built almost entirely from rammed earth. Its dramatic silhouette has made it a favorite filming location for decades, and you will have time to explore its narrow passageways, visit artisan workshops still operating within its walls, and climb to the old granary for sweeping views over the Ounila Valley.
From there, the road climbs into the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass, one of Morocco’s most scenic mountain roads, winding through switchbacks and small Berber villages with stops at viewpoints along the way.
You will arrive in Marrakech by evening, with time to settle into your riad or hotel before dinner.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 5: Marrakech — Guided City Tour
Spend the day exploring Marrakech with a local guide. Highlights typically include the Bahia Palace, a 19th-century palace known for its elaborately decorated rooms and courtyards; the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret has served as a landmark and model for other structures across the region; and the lively souks of the medina, where you can shop for spices, leather goods, textiles, and traditional crafts across dozens of specialized market lanes.
In the evening, experience Jemaa el-Fnaa as it transforms — food stalls fill the square with the smell of grilled meat and fresh orange juice, while musicians, storytellers, and henna artists set up around the edges. It is one of the most iconic public squares in Africa, and no two visits are quite the same.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 6: Departure from Marrakech
After breakfast, your private tour comes to an end. You will be transferred to Marrakech airport for your departing flight, or we can help arrange an extension to the Atlantic coast or the Atlas Mountains if you would like to continue your trip.
What’s Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for 6 days
- Fuel and all transportation costs
- Accommodation for 5 nights (Fes hotel, desert camp, Dades guesthouse, Marrakech hotel)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinner in the desert camp
- Camel trek in Merzouga
- Guided city tours in Fes and Marrakech
What’s Not Included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
Good to Know Before You Go
- This route is ideal if you are flying into Fes and out of Marrakech, avoiding the need to backtrack.
- Best time to travel: spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable temperatures across the mountains and desert.
- Desert nights get cold, even when the daytime temperature is warm — pack a warm layer for the evening in Merzouga.
- Comfortable walking shoes are useful for the medinas in Fes and Marrakech, and for the Todra Gorges.
- Curious what an overnight stay in the desert is really like? Read our guide to a night in the Sahara Desert, or see how Marrakech compares to Fes before you travel.