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Desert tour: from Fès to Marrakech in 7 days
In brief — Fès → Marrakech desert tour · 7 days / 6 nights
In brief — Fez to Marrakech desert tour
- The Fez to Marrakech desert tour runs 7 days and 6 nights from €800 per person, indicative, in twin rooms, private from 4 people or in a small group, with a personalised quote within 24 hours.
- The route links Fès, Ifrane and the cedar forest, the Ziz valley, the Merzouga dunes of Erg Chebbi rising to 150 metres, the Todra gorges, Aït Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres.
- Riad Vendôme coordinates the tour with a licensed transport partner and official guides: private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, overnight camp in Merzouga with sunset camel ride, and two final nights at the riad.
- Direct booking / WhatsApp: +212 600 608 608
- 🗺️ Fès ▸ Ifrane ▸ Ziz valley ▸ Merzouga (dunes) ▸ Todra ▸ kasbah road ▸ Aït Ben Haddou ▸ Marrakech ▸ Essaouira
- 🚗 Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver + official guide (English/Italian-speaking)
- 🛏️ 6 nights in twin rooms, including 2 at Riad Vendôme & Spa in Marrakech
- 🐫 Overnight camp in Merzouga + camel ride at sunset
- 🍽️ Breakfasts, half-board on the road and one dinner at the riad included
- 👥 Private (from 4 people) or small group
- 💶 From €800 / person (indicative) — quote within 24h
This 7-day tour crosses Morocco from north to south: Fès — spelled Fez in English — the Merzouga desert and its dunes, the Todra gorges, the kasbah road, then Marrakech and a day trip to Essaouira. The landscapes change at every stage, from the Atlas cedars to the Sahara dunes. The tour runs in a small group or privately, in twin rooms, and ends with two nights at Riad Vendôme & Spa, in the Marrakech medina. We coordinate it for you in collaboration with a licensed transport partner and official guides: a complete, turnkey trip, with no logistics to manage on the ground. It is an almost all-inclusive desert tour in Morocco — private transport, official guides, accommodation and main meals included (flights excluded) — from Fez to Marrakech.
The day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Fès. Airport welcome and transfer to your riad. Guided tour of the Fès medina and its lanes, craft workshops and monumental gates. Overnight in Fès.
Day 2 — Fès, Ifrane and the Ziz valley. Departure from Fès heading south. Stop in Ifrane, nicknamed the "little Switzerland of Morocco" for its steep-roofed architecture, then in the cedar forest where the Atlas monkeys live. The road then reaches the Ziz valley and its palm groves. Overnight in the Ziz valley.
Day 3 — Towards the Merzouga desert. Road to the desert. Via Rissani and its market, then arrival at Erg Chebbi, whose dunes rise up to 150 metres high. Camel ride at sunset, then dinner and an overnight stay in a desert camp, with music around the fire. Overnight camp in Merzouga.
Day 4 — Merzouga, the Todra gorges and the Dadès valley. Sunrise over the dunes, then back to the vehicle by 4x4. The road reaches the Todra gorges, whose walls rise up to three hundred metres above the river. Stop at the Monkey Fingers, finger-shaped rock formations. The day ends in the Dadès valley, on the road of a thousand kasbahs. Overnight in the Dadès valley.
Day 5 — The kasbah road to Marrakech. Crossing the Valley of Roses, then a visit to Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified earthen village and the setting for numerous films and series. The road then crosses the Tizi n'Tichka, Morocco's highest road pass at 2,260 metres, with views over the Atlas. Arrival in Marrakech in the late afternoon. Overnight at Riad Vendôme & Spa.
Day 6 — Marrakech and Essaouira. Day trip to the Atlantic coast at Essaouira: its ramparts facing the ocean, its fishing port, its medina and its surf spots known for the wind. Return to Marrakech in the late afternoon. Overnight at Riad Vendôme & Spa.
Day 7 — Marrakech and departure. A last morning in the red city: the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia, Jemaa el-Fna square and its souks. Free time depending on your flight time, then transfer to the airport.
Tour map
The tour covers over 1,000 km north to south across Morocco, from the Atlas cedars to the Sahara dunes, all the way to the Atlantic coast at Essaouira.
Distances and driving times
The journeys are spread over several days, with regular stops for sightseeing and photos. Real durations, stops included:
| Day | Route | Real duration |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2 | Fès ▸ Ifrane ▸ Ziz valley | [~280-300 km] · full day with stops |
| Day 3 | Ziz valley ▸ Rissani ▸ Merzouga | [~180-200 km] · half day |
| Day 4 | Merzouga ▸ Todra ▸ Dadès valley | ~360 km · 5 to 6h with visits |
| Day 5 | Dadès ▸ Aït Ben Haddou ▸ Marrakech | ~330 km · full day, pass + visits |
| Day 6 | Marrakech ▸ Essaouira (return trip) | ~190 km each way · 2h30-3h |
Landscapes and highlights
- 🏜️ The Merzouga desert — Erg Chebbi, dunes up to 150 metres high, camel ride and overnight camp.
- 🏔️ The Todra gorges — rock walls up to three hundred metres above the river.
- 🏰 The kasbah road — earthen villages, palm groves and the Valley of Roses.
- 🎬 Aït Ben Haddou — UNESCO-listed fortified village, the setting for numerous films and series.
- 🌊 Essaouira — ocean-facing ramparts, fishing port and surf spots.
- 🍽️ Moroccan cuisine — mint tea and tagines at every stop, and a Moroccan cooking class available on your two nights in Marrakech.
Your 2 nights at Riad Vendôme & Spa
The tour ends with two nights at our riad, in the heart of the medina.
- 📍 Dar El Bacha, the most pleasant and safest neighbourhood in the medina, walkable throughout — Jemaa el-Fna square is 7 minutes away.
- 🛏️ Twin rooms (separate beds), breakfasts and city tax included.
- 🍽️ Dinner on the first evening, on arrival at Riad Vendôme & Spa, prepared on site, is included.
- 🏊 Swimming pool, jacuzzi, rooftop and Spa on site.
You can add a cooking class with Chef Naïma or a Spa package on site (see "Optional activities").
Price and format
The tour runs privately, from 4 people, or in a small group. Rooms are twin (separate beds) by default; double, triple or quadruple rooms available on request.
From €800 per person, indicative, on a group basis in twin rooms. Price varies by season, group size and room configuration (single, triple, quadruple), as well as chosen options. Each tour is the subject of a personalised quote, prepared within 24h according to your dates and your group.
What's included
- ✅ Airport welcome and assistance throughout the trip.
- ✅ Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver for the whole tour.
- ✅ Official guide, English or Italian-speaking depending on the group.
- ✅ Accommodation in twin rooms (separate beds).
- ✅ 6 nights: Fès (breakfast), Ziz valley (half-board), Merzouga (half-board), Dadès valley (half-board), 2 nights in Marrakech at Riad Vendôme & Spa (breakfasts) including dinner on the first evening, on arrival at the riad.
- ✅ Camel ride at sunset and return by 4x4 in the desert.
- ✅ Day trip to Essaouira.
- ✅ Return airport transfers.
- ✅ Fuel, tolls, parking and mineral water during the journeys.
- ✅ Local and city taxes.
What's not included
- ▪️ Flights.
- ▪️ Lunches and dinners not listed in the programme.
- ▪️ Drinks with meals.
- ▪️ Entry fees for monuments and sites.
- ▪️ Tips (driver, guides, staff).
- ▪️ Personal expenses and any service not listed under "What's included".
Optional activities
- 🥾 Guided hike to the Monkey Fingers — in the morning, an easy walk of about 1h, low elevation gain, accessible to all, to discover the rock formations and the valley landscapes: €100 for the group.
- 🏍️ Quad biking in Merzouga — 1h in the desert: €45 per hour per person.
- 🚙 Buggy in Merzouga — €200 for 2 people.
- 🍳 Cooking class with Chef Naïma in Marrakech — 3h, lunch included: from €48 per person.
- 🛀 Spa package at Riad Vendôme — hammam, scrub and 1h massage: from €49 per person.
When to go & good to know
The tour runs all year round. In autumn and winter, the days are mild and sunny, but the nights are cool in the desert and at altitude: a warm layer for the evening is necessary. In spring, the valleys are lush and the roses are in bloom. In summer, it is hot in the South: activities are best done early in the morning and in the late afternoon.
Getting there: flights & arrival
The Fez to Marrakech tour starts in Fès and ends in Marrakech: the ideal option is to book an "open-jaw" flight — arriving into Fès, returning from Marrakech — so you never backtrack. Several UK airports, including London and Manchester, offer flights to Fès and to Marrakech, direct or with a connection. Flights are not included (see "What's not included"); write to us and we'll gladly help you find the best options from your departure city.
On the Marrakech days at the end of the tour, the Jewish heritage itinerary starts a few minutes' walk from the riad, in the mellah.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does it take to travel from Fès to Marrakech through the desert?
Seven days is the ideal format: it's the time needed to cross, without rushing, Fès, the Merzouga desert, the Todra gorges, the kasbah road, Marrakech and Essaouira, with real stops rather than long driving days.
Is the journey tiring?
The route is spread over several days, with regular stops for sightseeing and photos. The descent to the desert is done over two days, with an overnight stay in the Ziz valley, which avoids long non-stop driving days.
Is it cold at night in the desert?
In autumn and winter, yes — nights are cool in the Sahara and at altitude, even though the days remain mild and sunny. A warm layer for the evening is essential.
Is the tour private or in a group?
Both. Private from 4 people, or in a small group. Rooms are twin by default, with other configurations available on request.
How do I book?
Message us on WhatsApp: we'll prepare a personalised quote within 24h, tailored to your dates and your group.
Which towns and sites does the Fès to Marrakech tour pass through?
The tour links Fès to Marrakech via Ifrane and the cedar forest, the Ziz valley, the Merzouga desert and Erg Chebbi, the Todra gorges, the Dadès valley and the road of a thousand kasbahs, Aït Ben Haddou and the Tizi n'Tichka pass, then Marrakech and a day trip to Essaouira.
How many nights are spent in the Merzouga desert?
One night in a camp at the foot of Erg Chebbi, with a camel ride at sunset, dinner and music around the fire, then sunrise over the dunes the next morning.
Can this tour be coordinated for a travel agency or tour operator?
Yes. We coordinate this trip in collaboration with our licensed transport partner and adapt it to your groups. Riad Vendôme & Spa is your anchor point in Marrakech and your facilitator on site, with professional rates on request.
How far is Merzouga from Fès and from Marrakech?
The descent from Fès to Merzouga is spread over two days, with an overnight stop in the Ziz valley: a full day on the road on day 2, then a half day on day 3. From Merzouga, reaching Marrakech also takes two days: about 360 km to the Dadès valley, then about 330 km on to Marrakech, via the Tizi n'Tichka pass and Aït Ben Haddou.
When is the best time of year to do the Fez to Marrakech tour?
The tour runs all year round. In autumn and winter the days are mild and sunny but the nights are cool in the desert and at altitude, so a warm layer for the evening is necessary. In spring the valleys are lush and the roses are in bloom. In summer it is hot in the South: activities are best done early in the morning and in the late afternoon.
How much does a desert circuit cost for one person, a couple or a family of four?
The Fès to Marrakech tour on this page is from €800 per person (indicative), 7 days / 6 nights on a group basis in twin rooms. The rate is per person and all-inclusive: transport in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus with driver, nights at the riad in Marrakech, the bivouac night, full board on the road and the camel ride at sunset. Because a private departure pays for the vehicle once, the price per head falls as the group grows: a family of four sharing one private 4×4 pays noticeably less per person than a couple travelling alone. Send your exact dates by WhatsApp to +212 600 608 608 for a firm quote within 24 hours — a price is never quoted blind.
Do you need a 4×4 for the Moroccan desert?
Not for the main roads: they are tarmac all the way to Merzouga and to Zagora, and an air-conditioned minibus is perfectly comfortable. A 4×4 becomes necessary for the last off-road stretch — the piste to the camps at the foot of the Erg Chebbi, and above all the crossing to the erg Chegaga (also spelled Chigaga) beyond M'hamid, which is around 2 hours of dunes and stony track. Riad Vendôme coordinates the vehicle and the driver in collaboration with an approved licensed transport partner; you choose private or shared when you book.
How does a night in a desert bivouac actually work?
You reach the edge of the dunes in the late afternoon and ride out by camel at sunset — 30 to 45 minutes, slow and suitable for complete beginners. The camp is a circle of nomad tents with real beds, proper mattresses and blankets, and shared or private washrooms depending on the camp. Dinner is a Berber tagine served under the tent, then drums and mint tea around the fire, and a sky with no light pollution at all. Wake-up is before dawn to climb the nearest dune for sunrise, breakfast at the camp, then the road back.
Can you do the desert with children or with a baby?
Yes — families are a large share of our departures. The road day is the only real constraint and it is broken up with stops. Éric recommends the Zagora circuit for younger children: 5 to 6 hours of driving instead of 7 to 8, and a shorter night away. Bivouac tents have real beds, camel rides are gentle and a small child can ride with a parent. Travelling with a baby, say so when you book so the partner fits a suitable car seat and the camp sets aside a quieter tent.
Is a desert circuit in southern Morocco safe?
Southern Morocco is one of the calmest and most travelled parts of the country, and the Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Merzouga axis is a well-maintained tourist road. The circuit is coordinated in collaboration with an approved licensed transport partner — professional drivers who know the passes — and with official guides for the visits. The camps are permanent, staffed and reachable by telephone. Mobile coverage is patchy in the middle of the erg, which is part of the charm: leave the camp number with your family. Otherwise it is common sense — drink plenty of water, cover your head, and never walk off into the dunes alone.
Can you combine the desert circuit with a stay at the riad, the spa and a cooking class?
That is how most guests do it, and it is why the riad is the anchor point. You arrive at Riad Vendôme in the Marrakech medina, take a night or two to settle in, leave for the desert, then come back to the same room. On the return day the spa books a hammam and a massage, and the cooking class with Chef Naïma — 3 hours, market, tagine and couscous, lunch included — is €48 per person. Luggage you don't need in the desert stays at the riad.
Can the whole riad be privatised, and for how many guests?
Yes, Riad Vendome can be hired exclusively. The main riad has 12 rooms and goes up to 20 rooms with our second riad 100 metres away, for exclusive hire of up to 45 guests. During an exclusive hire there are no other guests: the pool, hammam, jacuzzi and rooftop are reserved for your group alone.
Request a quote
📱 Have a tour in mind? Message us directly on WhatsApp at +212 600 608 608. We reply quickly, with a personalised quote within 24h.
› Request a quote for the Fès → Marrakech tour
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Travel agencies, DMCs and tour operators
We coordinate this trip in collaboration with our licensed transport partner and can adapt it to your groups. Riad Vendôme & Spa is your anchor point in Marrakech and your facilitator on site. Professional rates on request. › Our DMC & receptive offer in Marrakech
The Riad Vendôme is registered with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.
On the same theme in Marrakech: Grand Tour Merzouga + Zagora 4 days · 4x4 Tour in the Moroccan Grand South · Merzouga & Erfoud Desert Tour · Zagora & M'hamid Desert Tour · Discover Marrakech · Book the riad
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