3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Fes to Marrakech
Take a 3-Day Sahara Desert tour from Fes to Marrakech and have an unforgettable experience in Africa. Visiting the Sahara Desert is a highlight of every Morocco Itinerary, so don’t miss it.
See the diverse landscape on the way, explore the Moroccan Sahara, and enjoy camel rides, beautiful sunsets, and luxury camping under the stars.
In this guide, you’ll find all the information you need to know about the 3-day Merzouga Desert tour from Fes to Marrakech.
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Best Time to Visit Morocco Sahara Desert
Morocco is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit the Sahara Desert is in the cooler months, from October to April. During the day, temperatures can be between 20-30°C, and the night/early morning temperatures can fall to around 10°C. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees, so we do not recommend a visit during the hottest months (July and August).
When we visited in March, the weather was quite cool, so bring a light jacket and jeans. Don’t forget to use sunscreen during the day!
TIP
In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
Recommended post → Ultimate Morocco Itinerary
Sahara Desert Tour in Morocco
Looking for an unforgettable experience in Morocco? Most Merzouga desert tours start and end in Marrakech. But you can also do a 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes or vice versa.
We decided to do the 3-day Sahara desert tour from Fes to Marrakech, as we arrived in Fes from Chefchaouen (Blue City). This is a great way to experience a fantastic adventure in Morocco, visit incredible places, and get from one city to another in the best possible way.
During the tour, you can visit the famous Ait Benhaddou, Ifrane, Ziz Valley, Todgha Gorge, Tizi n’Tichka, Erg Chebbi, Dades Gorge, and many more. You can see the diverse scenery, stay in a desert camp in Merzouga, and enjoy the camel ride through the dunes.
We did our amazing 3-day desert tour with Desert Day Tours.
3 Days Fes To Marrakech Desert Tour
Day 1: Fes to Merzouga Desert
Our driver (Youssef) picked us up at the hotel in Fes at 8 AM. We were excited to start our tour. Our first stop was the charming small town of Ifrane in the Middle Atlas region, also called the “Little Switzerland of Morocco”.
There was a cozy café there, but the prices were a little overpriced. After a delicious coffee, we saw the lion statue and enjoyed the cool weather. During our visit in March, the temperature was just 2 degrees in Ifrane.
Then, we visited the Barbarian apes in the cedar forest. These monkeys were friendly, and compared to our experience in Bali, they didn’t try to steal anything from us. After that, we continued our journey and enjoyed the beautiful and varied scenery. On the way, we had lunch at a local restaurant.
Our driver stopped at the best photo spots on the way, and the most beautiful place was the Ziz Valley.
Merzouga – Night in the Desert Camp
Then, we finally arrived in Merzouga, a small village in the Sahara desert on the edge of Erg Chebbi. Another driver was waiting for us with a four-wheel drive vehicle to take us quickly and comfortably to the campsite.
After that, we did a camel ride up to the Erg Chebbi dunes and climbed the highest dune to watch the magical sunset and enjoy the panoramic views.
Here are all your hotel options in the Sahara Desert.
Then, we finally arrived at the glamping we had booked in advance. The staff were kind and friendly and greeted us with welcome drinks and snacks. Afterward, we ate a delicious dinner, enjoyed music and traditional Berber drums, danced around the fire, and gazed at the beautiful stars.
We stayed at the Dihya Desert Camp. Our luxury tent was fantastic, with a comfortable bed and a private bathroom (with hot water). We were not cold at all in our tent at night.
Day 2: Merzouga to Dades Valley
We woke up early in the morning to watch the beautiful sunrise (which we didn’t see due to the weather), but it was still a fantastic view. After that, we had breakfast at the campsite, then continued our 3-day Sahara desert tour.
On this day, we visited beautiful places like the Rissani market, Tinghir, Todra Gorge, Monkey Fingers, Dades Gorge Road etc. On the way, we had lunch at a local restaurant. After several hours of travel, we arrived in the Dades Valley before sunset.
We stayed at the Riad Dades Paradise. The hotel staff were friendly and welcomed us with fresh mint tea and Moroccan pastries. After that, we had a delicious dinner and then went to sleep.
Day 3: Dades Valley to Marrakech
Before we left for Marrakech, we had breakfast at our hotel. Every Sahara desert tour from Fes to Marrakech will stop at the stunning Ait Benhaddou. If you start your desert tour from Marrakech, you can see this beautiful attraction on your first day.
The Ait Benhaddou is a well-preserved historic kasbah, the most famous place in Morocco, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a stop on the former caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara. In addition, it has been the filming location of many famous movies, such as The Mummy, Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Indiana Jones, Game of Thrones, etc.
There is no entrance fee to Ait Benhaddou.
Spend a few hours wandering through the village, enjoying the spectacular views, buying some souvenirs, and visiting the nearby Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate.
The entrance fee to Atlas Studios is 80 MAD (8 USD) per person.
After that, we had lunch near Ait Benhaddou. On the way to Marrakech, we enjoyed the view of the High Atlas Mountains. Then, we passed the Tizi n’Tichka, the highest mountain pass (2260 m above sea level) in North Africa. We arrived in Marrakech before sunset. We visited many beautiful places and had fantastic experiences during our 3-day tour.
Make the most of your visit to Morocco and join a multi-day Sahara desert tour from Fes to Marrakech or vice versa.
Recommended post → Things to Do in Marrakech
Morocco Sahara Desert Tour Price
The cost depends on whether you are on a private or group tour, whether you are departing from Fes or Marrakech and where you are arriving, the length of the tour (2-3-5 days), and whether you are staying in a luxury or standard tent.
A 3-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech starts from around 210 USD per person.
The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, an English/French-speaking driver/guide, 2-night accommodation (one at a hotel, one at a desert camp), 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, sandboarding, a camel ride at sunset & sunrise, fuel, and transportation by air-conditioned minibus.
Where to Stay
Wondering where to stay after your desert tour? Whether you’ve finished your tour in Marrakech or Fes, you’ll find great accommodation options in both cities for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Marrakech
- Luxury: Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
- Mid-Range: Sakkan or Riad Ksar Fawz & Spa
- Budget: Riad Paradis Blanc
Recommended post → Best Riads in Marrakech
Best hotels in Fes
- Luxury: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
- Mid-Range: Hotel & Spa Dar Bensouda or Riad Alassala Fes
- Budget: Riad Fes Baraka
Recommended post → Best Riads in Fes
We hope you found our guide to the 3-Day Merzouga desert tour from Fes to Marrakech useful and will inspire you to visit the Sahara in Morocco. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM: – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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