Trip overview
A week in a shared minibus between Fez and Marrakech: a guided tour of Fez, the Merzouga dunes, the road of the kasbahs and a full day in Marrakech. 650 € per person.
- Duration7 days / 6 nights
- Starts inFez
- GroupSmall group · 1–17 people
- DifficultyEasy
- LanguageEspañol
- DeparturesDepartures every Tuesday and Friday from Fez
Highlights
- Fixed departures on Tuesdays and Fridays from Fez
- Fez el-Bali on foot with a local guide
- Ifrane, the Azrou cedars and the Midelt plateau
- Camel ride into Erg Chebbi and a night at the camp
- The Todra Gorge and Dades Valley, both in one day
- Aït Ben Haddou's ksar, then over the High Atlas by Tizi n'Tichka
- A full day in Marrakech with a guided tour in the morning
- Fixed price of 650 € per person with breakfasts and dinners
- Duration
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Departures
- Tuesdays and Fridays
- Group
- Up to 17 travellers
- Route
- Fez – Merzouga – Marrakech
Who it's for
It suits you if…
Solo or with a partner, landing in Fez, flying home from Marrakech or Casablanca, and happy with a fixed price and everything organised.
- A first trip to Morocco
- Solo travellers who want company
Pick something else if…
You want to choose the stops and times or travel only with your own people. The private version covers the desert leg in your own car.
See the 5-day private routeWhen to go
- March – MayGood timeGood temperatures in Fez and in the desert. Book your seat well ahead.
- June – AugustMixedVery hot in Merzouga and Marrakech; the minibus is air-conditioned.
- September – NovemberGood timeMild days and pleasant nights in the dunes.
- December – FebruaryMixedVery cold nights at the camp and possible snow in the Atlas.
Driving time per stage
Times are approximate and include stops for lunch and photos.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Fez and first night in the city
A driver meets you at Fez-Saïss airport or at the train station and takes you to your hotel or riad, which is usually inside the medina or a few minutes from it. Depending on when you land, you may have time for a walk before dinner. Dinner is at your accommodation, and that's where we give you the times for the coming days. Send us your flight number or train time when you book.
Day 2: Fez el-Bali with a local guide and a free afternoon
After breakfast you meet an official guide for a walk through Fez el-Bali, the old medina, for most of the morning. You go in through Bab Bou Jeloud and head down the Talaa Kebira, the main street, past sweet stalls, butchers and workshops. You'll see the inside of the Bou Inania or Attarine madrasa (entry is paid separately), the doorway of the Al Quaraouiyine mosque, Seffarine square with its coppersmiths, and the Chouara tanneries from the terrace of a leather shop. With a guide you don't waste time going round in circles in the maze.
The afternoon has no programme. You can go back into the medina on your own, climb the hill of the Merenid tombs, where the whole city is laid out at sunset, or stay at the riad, because tomorrow starts early.
Day 3: Fez – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
We leave at around 7:30. The road climbs into the Middle Atlas and the first stop is Ifrane, whose slate roofs look like something from an Alpine village. Further on, among the cedars around Azrou, Barbary macaques often appear by the roadside; watch them by all means, but leave the food in your bag. Lunch is in Midelt, at about 1,500 metres, between the Middle and High Atlas.
In the afternoon we drive down the Ziz gorges, with the palm grove below, to Errachidia and then Erfoud. You reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, after 8 or 9 hours including stops. Your case stays on board; all you carry is a small bag for the night. The camel ride to the camp, among the Erg Chebbi dunes, takes about an hour. Dinner is served at the camp and the night is spent in a tent.
Day 4: Merzouga – Todra – Dades – Kelaa M'Gouna – Ouarzazate
Anyone who wants to see the sunrise climbs the nearest dune before breakfast. Then it's back to the village by camel, with a shower and breakfast, and we head west through Rissani and Tinejdad.
The first long stop is the Todra Gorge, next to Tinghir: half an hour on foot along the riverbed, with rock rising more than 200 metres on either side. We carry on through Boumalne Dades to Kelaa M'Gouna, the centre of the Valley of Roses, where cooperatives make rose water and in May the town celebrates the harvest with a festival. The last stretch crosses Skoura, a palm grove dotted with mud-brick kasbahs, before reaching Ouarzazate at nightfall. It's about 370 kilometres, and together with the previous day it's the longest part of the tour.
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Aït Ben Haddou and the Tichka
Before leaving you can see the Ouarzazate film studios from the outside. About 30 kilometres away is Aït Ben Haddou, a mud-brick ksar beside the Ounila river that has appeared in many films and series. You cross the river on foot and climb between the houses to the granary at the top, where the whole Ounila valley is in view.
Then the climb into the High Atlas begins. The Tizi n'Tichka pass is at about 2,260 metres and the road has a lot of bends, so if you tend to get carsick, take your tablet before you get on the minibus. We stop for lunch in a Berber village on the way up, with a few more stops at viewpoints. You reach Marrakech at around 17:00; the minibus drops you at your hotel or riad, where you spend the last two nights.
Day 6: Full day in Marrakech with a guided tour
The morning is a tour of the old part of Marrakech with a local guide. Depending on the day you go into the Bahia, the Ben Youssef madrasa or the Saadian tombs, see the Koutoubia from outside and finish in the souks, which make far more sense with someone who knows the way out. The tour lasts three to four hours and entrance fees are paid separately.
The afternoon is yours. You can visit the Majorelle Garden (it's best to buy tickets online in advance), book a hammam or have a mint tea on a rooftop overlooking Jemaa el Fna while the food stalls are set up. This is your final night on the tour, and the hotel dinner is included.
Day 7: Fly home from Marrakech, or drive to Casablanca airport
After breakfast the tour ends. Depending on your flight time, the driver takes you to Menara, Marrakech airport, about 20 minutes from the centre. If you fly from Casablanca, the transfer to Mohammed V airport is by motorway and takes about three hours. For a very early flight it makes sense to spend the night before in Casablanca; we can book that extra night separately.
What's included
Included (8)
- Pick-up at Fez airport or train station on arrival day
- Transport in a shared air-conditioned minibus, with driver, on every stage
- Five nights in standard hotels or riads: two in Fez, one in Ouarzazate and two in Marrakech
- A night in a tent at an Erg Chebbi camp
- Breakfasts and dinners throughout (6 breakfasts and 6 dinners)
- Camel ride to and from the camp
- Official local guide for the Fez medina tour and for the Marrakech one
- On day 7, a car to the airport of your choice: Marrakech Menara or Casablanca Mohammed V
Not included (7)
- Flights
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entrance fees for madrasas, palaces, gardens and monuments
- Tips for the driver, guides and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Single room supplement
Important information (6)
- Each date only goes ahead if a minimum number of people sign up. We send you written confirmation of your seat, and it's sensible to have it before you buy your flights; if the date didn't fill, you would hear in good time.
- The 650 € is per person sharing a double room. If you travel alone and want your own room there's a supplement, which we tell you when you book.
- For the camp, pack a small daypack with overnight things only; the big luggage is left locked in the minibus.
- Days 3 and 4 add up to more than 800 kilometres of road. If you get carsick, ask for a seat at the front when you book.
- From December to February nights in the desert can drop close to 0 °C and it can snow in the Atlas. Bring a fleece even if you travel in spring.
- Entrance fees are paid in dirhams, in cash. Prices change often, so check them before you travel.
Prices per person
Seat on the group tour
Price per person sharing a double room
Fixed price per person, whatever the size of your 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.
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.
Quad bike in the Merzouga dunes
Guided quad ride around Erg Chebbi, helmet included
Dune buggy in Merzouga
Two-seater buggy with a guide through the dunes, helmet included
Upgrade the accommodation
More characterful hotels and riads, and a superior desert camp
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Leave a reviewFrequently asked questions
What happens if my flight lands in Fez at night?
That's fine: there are no visits on the first day. We meet you at Fez-Saïss airport whenever your flight arrives and take you to your accommodation. If you land very late, dinner may not be available; let us know at booking and we'll arrange something with the hotel.
Can I join in Fez if I'm coming from Chefchaouen or Tangier?
Yes. Many travellers reach Fez by train from Tangier or by bus from Chefchaouen. In that case we pick you up at the station or directly at your accommodation in Fez. You just need to arrive on day 1, ideally before dinner.
How many people are in the group and where are they from?
A maximum of 17. The number varies by date, and in low season the group can be quite a lot smaller. Travellers from Spain, Latin America and other countries usually mix, of different ages. There are couples, friends and quite a few people travelling on their own.
Can I stay longer in Marrakech at the end?
Yes. We book as many nights as you want, in the same hotel or another, and the airport car moves to the day of your flight instead of day 7. From Marrakech you can also go on to Essaouira or into the High Atlas on a day trip.
Is there an extra charge for the transfer to Casablanca airport?
The departure transfer is included, to Marrakech or to Casablanca. What you need to check is the timing: it's about three hours by motorway, so a flight before 11:00 means leaving Marrakech before dawn. In that case we recommend spending the last night in Casablanca.
