Private Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes: 6 Days

Marrakech to the Dades Valley

We leave Marrakech after breakfast and climb the Tizi n'Tichka road over the High Atlas, the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. At Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified ksar on the old Sahara-to-Marrakech caravan route and one of Africa's most-filmed locations, we walk through the six kasbahs and cross the river on stepping stones. We continue through the Skoura palm grove and the rose-growing valley of Kelaat M'Gouna to the Dades Valley, arriving as the canyon walls turn ochre.

About 6 hours on the road, roughly 310 km, plus stops

Dades Paradise or similar, Dades Valley

Dades Valley to Merzouga

We start with the Dades Gorge, where the road switches back up a cliff face past rock formations known locally as the monkey fingers. We then drive east to the Todra Gorge for a morning walk between limestone walls that narrow to about ten metres. The road continues across the stony plateau to the dunes at Erg Chebbi, a sand sea that wind has piled up to 150 metres high, and we arrive at camp as they turn from gold to deep rust at dusk.

About 4.5 hours on the road, roughly 260 km, plus stops

Tiziri Desert Camp or similar, Erg Chebbi

Merzouga Day Trip

A day with almost no driving. Sandboard the ridgelines barefoot while the sand is still cool, visit Khamlia, a small village whose families trace back to sub-Saharan communities and who still perform Gnawa music on iron krakebs and the three-string guembri lute, or ride out to a nomad family for tea. Dinner is a shared tagine at the camp with Berber drumming afterward, under a sky with none of the light pollution to dull it.

Short 4x4 excursion only

Tiziri Desert Camp or similar, Erg Chebbi

Merzouga to Fez

North through the Ziz Valley's palmeries, a roughly 70-kilometre ribbon of oases threading between ochre canyon walls that once carried caravans north from the Sahara, and over the Middle Atlas cedar forests around Ifrane and Azrou, where you'll likely see Barbary macaques at the roadside. We arrive in Fez by early evening.

About 7.5 hours on the road, roughly 460 km, plus stops

Riad Fez Mahal or similar, Fez medina

Fez Guided Visit

A full day with a local guide through the medina, one of the largest car-free urban spaces in the world. Start at the Chouara tannery, where hides are still dyed by foot in vats of saffron yellow, poppy red and indigo blue. Walk to the Bou Inania madrasa, built in 1350–55 and the only madrasa in Morocco ever granted the status of a full Friday mosque, then through the metalwork and leather souks.

No driving today

Riad Fez Mahal or similar, Fez medina

Fez Departure

Free time in the medina this morning, then a private transfer to Fez airport or your onward transport.

Airport transfer only