3-Day Tour from Marrakech to Fes with Desert Break

u in the morning, introduce ourselves, and get started on our adventure! The first part of our trip takes the mountain road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, going through the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. You’ll get a first look at the true beauty of Morocco’s countryside and see lots of small Berber villages along the way. Our first stop is Ait Benhaddou: a fortified hilltop that has stood the test of time and become a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to its well-preserved buildings. Ait Benhaddou’s incredible architecture, landscapes, and colours have also been used as the backdrop for a number of Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows, including Gladiator and Game of Thrones. We’ll explore the old streets, meet the families that still live there, and make our way to the top of the nearby hill to check out the beautiful surroundings. It’s well worth the time to explore this site, as it’s a one of a kind location and one of Morocco’s finest. We’ll stop to have lunch and then jump back in the 4×4 to continue onwards to Ouarzazate. Ouarzazate is an old trading outpost that was the last major settlement before the trading caravans headed into the Sahara. It’s recently had a lot of renovation work, with better infrastructure and places to stay, but hasn’t lost its original charm. Once we’ve arrived, we’ll explore the old kasbah buildings and streets before heading to the hotel for dinner. We’ll relax for the rest of the evening and get a good night’s rest before the next part of our tour.

Along the way, we’ll stop off at the Skoura palm grove: a stunning little location tucked away from the usual tourist routes. This grove is packed full of palm trees, fruit trees, and colourful flowers, offering one of the most spectacular views of the landscape. There’s also some fascinating kasbahs to explore while we’re here, too. Our journey continues towards Kelaat Mgouna, which hosts the annual festival of roses. In early to mid-May, the entire city gathers to celebrate, play, and sell handmade rose water and essential oils. You’ll be able to pick up genuine rose oil products here, and we’d suggest a visit if you’re on holiday around May (get in touch with us to ask more information about this festival. It’s really worth the trip!). For visitors outside of this festival weekend, Kelaat Mgouna still offers a fantastic experience, with laid back strolls through fields of roses, incredible views of the surrounding countryside, and friendly locals who’ll welcome you with open arms. We’ll continue down to Boumalne Dades, a small Berber village, then to Tinghir, where you’ll be able to visit the beautiful palm groves. After another short journey, we’ll then arrive at the Todra gorge. Todra gorge is an incredible sight, with bright orange canyon walls hundreds of metres tall and small homes and kasbahs dotted along the route. We’ll stop to have lunch among these imposing canyon walls before continuing towards the edge of the Sahara. After heading through the arid “reg” desert, the sands start to form large dunes. We’ll continue along this route until we reach Erg Chebbi, a small outpost inside the Sahara. We’ll meet some friendly nomads, jump on the backs of camels, and head further into the Sahara to find our camp. After meeting the Berbers living there, we’ll spend the evening watching the sunset, eating food, playing traditional music on the Doumbek (they’ll teach you how to play) and observing the crystal clear stars in the desert sky, before heading to our own personal tents for a night’s rest.

This is one of the most beautiful sights throughout the entire adventure. You’ll see a blast of colour that dances over the dunes, slowly changing from deep reds to brilliant gold. It’s well worth the early start; we promise you won’t regret it! After a traditional Moroccan breakfast, we’ll get back onto the camels, wave goodbye to the Berbers, and head back to the 4×4 to continue on the road towards Fes. This road takes us through the Ziz valley, known for its incredible vistas with bright green fields, contrasting the orange sands of the arid desert. We’ll eventually arrive at Midelt, which sits on the plains between the Atlas mountains. This small city offers some incredible views, friendly locals, and great places to eat. We’ll have lunch here, watch the Barbary apes playing in the trees, and explore the streets. We’ll then continue on the last part of our journey, arriving at Fes later in the afternoon where we’ll drop you off at your chosen hotel, say our goodbyes, and let you continue with your holiday.