Fez to Marrakech in 3 Days via the Erg Chebbi Dunes

Trip overview

Three private days from Fez to Marrakech via the Sahara: the Middle Atlas, the Ziz Valley, a night in Erg Chebbi, the Todra Gorge, the Dades and Aït Ben Haddou.

• Duration3 days / 2 nights
• Starts inFez
• GroupPrivate or shared · 1–16 people
• DifficultyEasy
• LanguageEspañol
• DeparturesDaily departures all year round

Highlights

• One-way route from Fez to Marrakech via the Sahara
• Ifrane, the Azrou cedars and Barbary macaques
• The Ziz Valley and its palm grove
• Sunset camel ride and a night in camp in Erg Chebbi
• Todra Gorge and Dades Valley
• Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm grove
• Aït Ben Haddou ksar
• Crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1: Fez – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga: camel ride and camp

   We leave your riad in Fez at around 7:30 and climb into the Middle Atlas. We stop in Ifrane and in the cedars near Azrou, where the Barbary macaques often come out. We continue across the plateau to Midelt, an apple-growing town at the foot of Jbel Ayachi, for lunch.

   In the afternoon we drop into the Ziz Valley, with viewpoints over the canyon and the palm grove, and pass through Errachidia and Erfoud to Merzouga. At the foot of Erg Chebbi you get on a camel and cross the dunes as the sun sets. At the camp there is mint tea, dinner and Berber music. Night in a tent. About 8 or 9 hours on the road with stops, the longest day.

   Desert camp in Erg ChebbiDinner

2. 2

   Day 2: Sunrise in Erg Chebbi – Rissani – Tinejdad – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley

   We climb a dune to watch the sunrise and ride back to Merzouga by camel or 4x4 for breakfast. We pass through Rissani, the old capital of the Tafilalet, and head west along the oasis route between Erfoud and Tinejdad, where you can still see the wells of the old underground irrigation channels.

   At Tinghir we enter the Todra Gorge, a canyon with almost vertical walls, and walk beside the river. In the afternoon we continue to Boumalne and drive up into the Dades Valley on a road full of bends, between rock formations. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in the valley. About 5 hours of driving spread over the day.

   Hotel in the Dades ValleyBreakfast and dinner

3. 3

   Day 3: Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech

   After breakfast we drive down the Valley of Roses. In Kalaat M'Gouna you can visit a rose water cooperative, with no obligation to buy. We continue to the Skoura palm grove, with earthen kasbahs among the palms, and pass through Ouarzazate, the film city, to Aït Ben Haddou.

   We walk up through the ksar to the granary at the top of the hill, which looks over the Ounila river valley. After lunch we cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka, with its bends and Berber villages, and come down to Marrakech. You reach your accommodation at nightfall, after about 7 or 8 hours on the road with stops.

   Tour ends in MarrakechBreakfast

What's included

Prices per person

Private

The vehicle and driver are paid per day and shared between the travellers, so the price per person goes down the more of you there are. Accommodation is charged per person per night (2 nights).

• Standard: Comfortable hotels and riads, standard desert camp
• Superior: More characterful accommodation and a superior desert camp
• Children aged 3 to 11: 3% less than an adult.
• Groups of more than 7 people travel in two vehicles. The booking calculator takes this into account.

Small group

Payment and cancellation

You pay a 15% deposit when you book. The rest is paid on the first day of the trip, in cash or by bank transfer. You can also pay it by PayPal or card, with a 5% surcharge.

Private: free up to 48 hours before the start. Group: free up to 10 days before departure. If you cancel in time, we refund the full deposit.

Extras you can add

Chosen when you book and added to the total. You can also ask for them later, subject to availability.

Frequently asked questions

Destinations on this trip