The 4-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour is the extended Sahara crossing with a full day in the Merzouga desert. From Fes, cross the cedar forests to a lodge with a pool, spend a morning in Khamlia village with Gnaoua music, ride a camel into the dunes at sunset, and sleep in a luxury ensuite camp. Then onward through the gorges, Skoura oasis, Aït Ben Haddou, and the High Atlas to Marrakech. From €315 per person with your own private 4×4.
At a Glance
Tour Highlights
Khamlia Village & Gnaoua Music
Visit a Berber nomad community near Merzouga and experience Gnaoua — a hypnotic blend of African rhythms, Berber traditions, and Sufi spirituality. Welcoming tea and an intimate musical performance.
Day 2 · 4-Day HighlightMerzouga Lodge with Pool
Night 1 at a comfortable lodge at the edge of Erg Chebbi — air-conditioned room, swimming pool, restaurant. A welcome transition between the drive and the desert camp.
Night 1 · LodgeCedar Forests & Barbary Apes
Day 1 starts with the ancient cedar forests of the Middle Atlas near Azrou. Stop to photograph the playful Barbary macaques on the roadside.
Day 1 · AzrouSunset & Sunrise Camel Treks
Ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset on Day 2, sleep in the luxury camp under the stars, ride back at sunrise on Day 3. Both included — the full Sahara cycle.
Day 2–3 · IncludedTodra Gorge — 300m Canyon
Day 3 takes you through the Tinghir oasis and into the dramatic Todra Gorge — towering limestone cliffs from a walkable riverbed.
Day 3 · TodraSkoura Oasis & Kasbah Amridil
One of Morocco's largest palm groves with the perfectly restored Kasbah Amridil. A guided visit explains Saharan architecture and medieval irrigation.
Day 4 · SkouraAït Ben Haddou — UNESCO Ksar
The iconic fortified village and filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Explore with a local guide on Day 4 before the Atlas crossing.
Day 4 · UNESCOBuilt for Photographers
Ziz Valley afternoon light, Sahara sunset + sunrise, Khamlia portrait sessions, Todra Gorge morning light, Aït Ben Haddou golden hour — four ecosystems, four days, four signature light sessions.
PhotographyDay by Day
Four days from Fes to Marrakech through the Sahara — with a full day of desert immersion. Because it's private, every stop is adjustable.
Your driver picks you up from your Fes hotel or riad. Drive across the Saiss plains to Ifrane — known for its alpine character — then into the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. Stop at Azrou to spot the Barbary macaques in the wild.
Continue to Midelt for lunch. Then descend through the stunning Ziz Valley — thousands of date palms, scattered kasbahs, and dramatic cliffs. The scenery shifts sharply as the desert approaches. Continue via Erfoud to Merzouga.
Check into your Merzouga lodge — Auberge du Sud or Xaluca Tomboctou — a comfortable hotel at the edge of Erg Chebbi with air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool, and a restaurant. Relax, take a dip, watch the dunes change colour at sunset. Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast at the lodge, visit the village of Khamlia to meet local Berber nomads. This small community is known for Gnaoua music — a hypnotic blend of African rhythms, Berber traditions, and Sufi spirituality, performed with castanets and drums. Welcome tea, an intimate musical performance, and a window into a way of life far from the cities.
A full afternoon in the desert — explore the dunes, hunt for fossils, try sandboarding, experience a 4×4 sand-bashing session with your driver, or simply absorb the silence and scale of the Sahara.
Mount your camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun drops. Arrive at your luxury desert camp — a private ensuite tent with real beds, hot shower, quality linens, and electricity. Moroccan dinner under the stars, Berber drumming around the campfire, and some of the clearest night skies you'll ever see.
Wake before dawn for a sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Ride your camel back to the main town and meet your driver. Head to Rissani — birthplace of Morocco's ruling Alaouite dynasty. Visit the local dates market.
Continue to Tinghir for a walk through the palm-lined oasis with a local guide — Berber villages, goat herders, and the town's fascinating Jewish heritage. Then into the dramatic Todra Gorge — towering limestone cliffs rising 300 metres. Lunch at the gorge.
Drive along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Babylon — private ensuite room, AC, half-board.
After breakfast, drive through the Valley of the Roses. If visiting in spring (April–May), the Damascus rose fields are in bloom — visit an artisanal rosewater distilling cooperative. Continue to the Skoura oasis — one of Morocco's largest palm groves — and visit Kasbah Amridil, a perfectly restored private museum showcasing Berber architecture and irrigation.
Continue via Ouarzazate to the iconic Aït Ben Haddou — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming location for Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. Cross the river with a guide to explore the village. Lunch at a local cafe with views of the ksar.
Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m), passing Berber villages built of stone and earth. Arrive in Marrakech late afternoon. Your driver drops you at your hotel or riad — the end of four extraordinary days from Fes to Marrakech.
Tour Pricing
Price per person decreases as your group size increases.
| Participants | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7–9 | 10–13 | 14–17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price / person | 1135€ | 635€ | 545€ | 495€ | 465€ | 415€ | 395€ | 345€ | 315€ |
Prices verified March 2026 · +212 615 346 108
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ Included in Your Tour
- Private AC 4×4 or van with dedicated driver-guide — 4 full days, Fes to Marrakech
- Pickup from your Fes hotel or riad
- Night 1: Merzouga lodge (Auberge du Sud or Xaluca) — AC room, pool, half-board
- Night 2: Erg Chebbi luxury ensuite desert camp — private tent, hot shower, half-board
- Night 3: Hotel Babylon, Dades Valley — private ensuite room, AC, half-board
- Sunset camel trek (Day 2) and sunrise camel ride (Day 3)
- Drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or riad
Not Included
- Lunches and beverages
- Entrance fees and local guides (pay directly)
- Optional extras: quad biking, 4×4 dune circuit
- Tips (at your discretion)
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Traveller Reviews
835 verified reviews verified reviews
"The 4-day version was absolutely worth it. Having a full day in Merzouga meant we could relax at the lodge pool, visit Khamlia, and really take in the desert without feeling rushed to get to the camp. The Gnaoua music was a surprise highlight."
"We drove from Fes through the cedar forests, spent two incredible nights near the Sahara, then carried on through the gorges and over the Atlas to Marrakech. Our driver Hassan knew every perfect stop. Kasbah Amridil on Day 4 was a hidden gem we'd never have found alone."
"I'm a photographer and the 4-day pacing was ideal. Ziz Valley in afternoon light on Day 1, Khamlia portraits on Day 2, Todra Gorge shadows on Day 3, Aït Ben Haddou golden hour on Day 4. Four completely different shoots. The private tour let me stop wherever the light was right."
"Travelling with our teenage daughter, the lodge pool on Day 1 was a bonus after the long drive. She loved the Barbary apes, the camel ride, and surprisingly, the Gnaoua drumming at Khamlia. Ending in Marrakech meant we could explore the souks the next day."