This 5-day Morocco tour takes you from Fes to Marrakech. Along the way, you will visit Ifrane, known as the Switzerland of Morocco, and the Cedars Forest.
You will stop for lunch in Midelt and then drive along the Ziz River before reaching the Sahara Desert in Merzouga. There, you will ride camels, spend a night in a luxury camp in the desert, and enjoy sunset and sunrise in the dunes.
You will also visit Rissani’s market and Erfoud, known for fossils. On the way to Marrakech, you will explore Todra and Dades Gorges, visit famous kasbahs such as Ait Ben Haddou and Amridil, and cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass.
Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert via Ifrane and Ziz Valley
The tour begins with an early pickup from the airport or your hotel in Fes. We drive south through Mouzzer to Ifrane, known for its cool weather, snow, and Alpine-style houses.
It is often called the Switzerland of Morocco. Next, we visit the Cedars Forest, where you can see and feed Barbary macaques. Then we drive to Midelt for lunch.
In the afternoon, we continue toward the Sahara Desert, passing through the Tizin and Tilghman passes and along the Ziz River.
When we arrive in Merzouga, you will ride camels across the sand dunes and stop to watch the sunset from a high dune.
Afterward, we reach the luxury desert camp, where you will enjoy dinner, Berber music, and dancing around the campfire under the stars. Overnight stay in the camp.
Day 2: Explore Merzouga and Visit Nomads, Khamlia, and the Wild Lake
Wake up early to watch the sunrise in the desert, followed by breakfast. After breakfast, you will ride camels back to Merzouga, where the driver will meet you. Today, we explore the Merzouga area.
We begin with an off-road drive to an old eyeliner mine, then visit nomads living in woven tents to learn about their lifestyle and share some Berber tea.
Next, we visit the village of Khamlia to enjoy live Gnawa music and dancing. The people here are originally from Mali, Sudan, and Niger. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we walk through the palm grove and then visit the wild lake of Merzouga, also called Flamingo Lake. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 3: Merzouga to Dades Valley via Rissani, Erfoud, and Todra Gorges
After breakfast, we leave the desert and head to the old town of Rissani. It is still one of the main trading centers in the area, with a busy market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After a walk in the market, we drive to Erfoud to visit a fossil workshop.
Then we continue through the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves to reach Todra Gorges. This canyon is formed by the Todra River cutting through red cliffs and is a popular spot for rock climbing. Take time to walk and enjoy the views. Lunch will be at a nearby restaurant.
After lunch, we drive to Dades Valley through Boumalne Dades. We stop at the famous “monkey fingers” rock formations and a viewpoint above the valley. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 4: Dades Valley to Ouarzazate via Rose Valley and Amridil Kasbah
After breakfast, we drive to the Rose Valley in Kalaat M’gouna. In May, the area hosts a Rose Festival where locals sell rose-based products like perfumes, rose water, and oils.
After lunch, we pass through the palm groves of Skoura and visit Amridil Kasbah. Then we arrive in Ouarzazate, a town known for film studios. We visit the Taourirt Kasbah, have dinner, and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 5: Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou and Tizi-n-Tichka Pass
On the last day, we visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site has been used in many movies such as Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, and in TV shows like Game of Thrones.
After the visit, we continue to Marrakech by crossing the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. Along the way, we stop for lunch and photos at scenic spots.
Finally, we drop you off at your hotel or the airport in Marrakech.
End of the 5-day desert tour.
