5-Day desert tour to Fes from Marrakech

On the first day, we will start the tour by picking you up from Marrakech. The drive will take us through small Berber villages and across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains to Ait Benhaddou. This is a beautiful historic Kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ait Benhaddou has been featured in many famous movies, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Kingdom of Heaven.

After visiting the Kasbah, we will continue to Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Africa" because of its famous movie studios. Then, we will follow the Thousand Kasbahs road to Skoura, where we will explore the Kasbah of Amredil. Next, we’ll visit Kelaat M’gouna, the capital of the Valley of the Roses. Finally, we will arrive in Dades, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation:
Standard: Hotel Kasbah Didis or a similar
Superior: Hotel Ksar Sultan or a similar

The second day begins with a trip east to the golden dunes of Merzouga. The first stop is Tineghir, where you can enjoy stunning views of old mud villages and a large palm oasis stretching on both sides of the town. Next, the journey continues to Todra Gorges. Here, you can walk beneath tall red cliffs that rise up to 300 meters, carved by the Todra River.

Afterward, the trip heads south through Jorf and Erfoud. Erfoud is famous as the "Fossil Capital" because many fossils have been found there. A short drive later, the vast sand dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon like a mirage.

Upon arriving in Merzouga, you will check into your hotel/desert camp. Then, you have free time to walk in the nearby dunes and enjoy a beautiful Sahara sunset.

Accommodation:
Standard: Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar
Superior: Mouhou Luxury Desert Camp or similar

The third day will be off-roading deeper into the desert to visit hidden and less-visited places. The first stop is Merzouga’s seasonal lake, but only if there is water during your visit. This magical lake offers amazing views, with tall golden dunes creating a beautiful background. When the lake has water, many birds come here, including graceful flamingos, making a peaceful and unique scene.

Next, you will visit the small village of Khamlia. The people here originally come from Mali and Sudan. This village is famous for its rich culture. After walking around and seeing the village life, you will enjoy a visit to a local band that plays Gnaoua music. This is lively African percussion music full of rhythm and energy, perfect for dancing and feeling the local traditions.

The adventure continues to the Black Desert, a huge volcanic rocky area east of Merzouga’s dunes (Erg Chebbi). This dark desert has many interesting minerals and fossils to see. You will have time to explore some abandoned villages scattered across the desert and stop at several viewpoints with wide views of the endless sand.

Our next stop will be a large nomadic family that still lives a traditional life. They move from place to place with their animals. Here, you can learn about their daily life and customs. They might invite you to share mint tea or even lunch (optional) in their traditional tent or under the shade of a nearby acacia tree, giving you a chance to experience their world.

Before going back to Merzouga, the safari will stop at a quiet desert oasis—a green spot with palm trees. Back in Merzouga, you will ride a camel deep into the desert to reach your camp for the night. The desert views will amaze you, especially the beautiful sunset over the golden dunes.

At the camp, you will be welcomed with hot mint tea and shown to your tent to relax. After dinner, local musicians will play traditional drum music and invite you to try some rhythms. Before you go to sleep, take a calm walk on the nearby dunes and enjoy the amazing starry sky, far away from city lights.

Accommodation:
Standard: Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar
Superior: Mouhou Luxury Desert Camp or similar

The fourth day of the tour will be waking up early to watch a beautiful sunrise over the sand dunes. The rising sun creates amazing shadows and colors across the desert. After enjoying this view, you will have breakfast, take a shower, and then go on a morning camel ride through the desert.

After the camel ride, we will start our journey north. Our first stop is Rissani, an old town that used to be the capital of the Tafilalet region. It was once an important stop for caravan traders. Today, it has the largest market (souk) in the area, full of local goods and busy with lively activity.

From Rissani, we will continue toward the Anti-Atlas Mountains. On the way, we will stop at several interesting places, including the beautiful Ziz Valley, known for its palm trees and river. We will also visit some small Berber villages where you can see traditional life and culture. Our route will take us through the Tizi Ntalghamt mountain pass, which offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape.

Finally, we will arrive in the town of Midelt, where we will spend the night. Midelt sits between the Middle and High Atlas mountains. It is known for its fresh air and peaceful atmosphere, making it a perfect place to rest after a long day of travel.

Accommodation:
Standard: Hotel Taddar or a similar
Superior: Hotel Villa Pomme D'or or a similar

Today, on the last day of the 5-day tour from Marrakech to Fes, we will drive through the beautiful Middle Atlas Mountains. This area is famous for its large cedar forests, where you can see Barbary monkeys playing and climbing trees. They are fun to watch.

Our next stop is Ifrane, a lovely town called the "Little Switzerland of Africa" because of its clean streets and houses with steep roofs like those in the Alps. We will spend some time here to enjoy the calm atmosphere, take photos, and have a relaxing coffee break.

After that, we will continue to the historic city of Fes, where the tour will end.