PRIVATE TOUR — 5 DAYS FES EXCURSION TO MARRAKECH DESERT TOUR

OVERVIEW

The 5 day version is the off-the-beaten-path one. You get the full desert experience of the 4 day tour — Khamlia music, the M’Fis mines, a Berber nomad family, a night in a luxury camp — and then on the way back to Marrakech you take the off-road route through the M’Goun mountains, stopping at a Berber family living in a mountain cave near Bou Tharar, the Rose Valley around Kalaat M’Gouna, the palm oasis at Skoura, and the Glaoui Kasbah of Telouet.

This is the trip for travellers who’d rather see remote Berber villages than tick off another famous monument. The whole route is run in 4×4 vehicles because much of it isn’t paved.

Every itinerary is fully customisable to suit your preferences and pace.

DURATION: 5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
START: FES
END: MARRAKECH
TOUR STYLE: PRIVATE

HIGHLIGHTS

– Spotting Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou
– A camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes
– Sunset and sunrise over the Sahara
– A night in a luxury desert camp
– A full day exploring the Merzouga desert
– Meeting Berber nomad families — one in the desert, one in a mountain cave
– The Todra and Dades gorges
– A guided hike of the Monkey Fingers Canyon (optional)
– The Rose Valley around Kalaat M’Gouna
– The palm oasis and Amridil Kasbah of Skoura
– The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
– The historic Telouet Kasbah (former Glaoui stronghold)
– Crossing the High Atlas Mountains

ITINERARY

DAY 1: FES → IFRANE → ZIZ VALLEY → MERZOUGA

Pick-up at your hotel or riad in Fes in the morning. The drive south includes a stop in Ifrane (the Switzerland of Morocco), the cedar forest near Azrou for Barbary macaques, and the Ziz Valley with its palm groves.

You’ll arrive in Merzouga in the afternoon. Camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes to a luxury camp, with a stop on a high dune for sunset. A cup of tea on arrival, then dinner, then drumming around a campfire under a sky full of stars.

Approximate driving distance/time: 500 km / 7 hours 30 minutes

DAY 2: MERZOUGA DESERT EXPLORATION

After breakfast (and sunrise if you’re an early riser), the day is spent exploring the Erg Chebbi region.

First stop is Khamlia, a small village south of Merzouga famous for its Gnawa music — performed by descendants of Sub-Saharan communities who settled here generations ago. Then off-road to M’Fis, an abandoned village with old galena mines (galena was once used to make kohl).

Then to a Berber nomad family living near the Erg Chebbi dunes — tea in their tent, time to talk, see how they live.

After lunch, transfer to a riad with views over the dunes. Optional swim, then sunset either at the riad or on a walk out to the dunes themselves. Dinner and overnight at the riad. (You can also choose to spend this second night at the luxury camp instead of the riad — let us know when booking.)

Approximate driving distance/time: 57 km / 1 hour 15 minutes (off-road)

DAY 3: MERZOUGA → RISSANI → TODRA GORGE → DADES VALLEY

After breakfast, the drive west toward the Dades Valley. Stops along the way include Rissani (souk if it’s a Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday), the Tinghir oasis, and the Todra Gorge — a deep slot canyon with cliffs around 300 metres high. You’ll have time to walk through it.

The road continues to the Dades Valley with photo stops on the way. Overnight at your hotel in the heart of the valley. Dinner included.

Approximate driving distance/time: 310 km / 5 hours

DAY 4: DADES VALLEY → BOU THARAR → KALAAT M’GOUNA → SKOURA → OUARZAZATE

After breakfast, you can either take a slow walk in the Dades Valley or join an optional guided hike through the Monkey Fingers Canyon — a half-day hike past dramatic limestone columns and rock formations.

The day’s drive then heads off-road south to Kalaat M’Gouna. On the way, we stop to visit a Berber nomad family living in a mountain cave near Bou Tharar — a different setup from the desert nomad family on day 2, and worth the detour. Tea in their cave, conversations, time to look around.

Then on to Kalaat M’Gouna, known for its Rose Valley — if you’re travelling in spring, the valley is in full bloom. From there, we continue to Skoura, a large palm oasis that was once a major caravan stop on the route between sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean. We visit the Amridil Kasbah, one of the oldest in the area, with over 300 years of history.

After Skoura, transfer to your hotel in Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight.

Approximate driving distance/time: 144 km / 3 hours

DAY 5: OUARZAZATE → AIT BEN HADDOU → HIGH ATLAS → TELOUET KASBAH → MARRAKECH

After breakfast, a quick tour of Ouarzazate — Taourirt Kasbah and Atlas Studios. Then on to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed kasbah used in The Mummy, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. You’ll have time to walk up through it.

After lunch, the road climbs into the High Atlas with a stop at the historic Telouet Kasbah — a former stronghold of the El Glaoui family, sometimes called the Palace of Glaoui. The interior decoration is among the most elaborate in southern Morocco.

We continue over the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass and down into Marrakech in the afternoon. Drop-off at your accommodation ends the tour.

Approximate driving distance/time: 204 km / 4 hours

IMPORTANT NOTES

– Driving times don’t include stops for lunch and sightseeing.
– This tour can be done in reverse via the 5 Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour.
– 4×4 vehicles are used throughout because the off-road sections require them.
– Dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan, allergies) can be accommodated — please mention this when booking.
– Your luggage stays with you throughout. When you ride camels, a 4×4 transports it to the camp so it’s there when you arrive.
– The guide may suggest stopping at a small Berber shop where you can try on traditional outfits and take photos — free, no pressure to buy.
– Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, and good walking shoes are recommended.
– Let us know in advance if you’d like to do the guided Monkey Fingers Canyon hike.
– Three accommodation categories are available — let us know your preference when booking.
– Optional extras: Fes guided tour, day trip to Chefchaouen, day trip to Volubilis and Meknes, professional photographer, romantic desert dinner, desert proposal setup, quad biking, buggy driving, Marrakech guided tour, hot air balloon, Essaouira day trip, Ouzoud Waterfalls, Ourika Valley.