A four‑day private journey from Marrakech to Fez across the High Atlas, the Sahara, and the Middle Atlas. Cross the Tizi‑n‑Tichka pass to Aït Ben Haddou, walk the Todra and Dades gorges, ride camels into Erg Chebbi at sunset, sleep in a deep‑desert camp, and return north through the cedar forests of Ifrane. Meals, accommodation, desert camp, and a private driver throughout.
Day 1: Marrakech to Ouarzazate – The High Atlas & Aït Ben Haddou
Leave Marrakech early and climb into the High Atlas on the Tizi‑n‑Tichka pass. At 2,260 metres, it’s the highest paved road in North Africa, and the switchbacks are relentless. Bring cash for the roadside mineral and fossil stalls along the route, the quartz and ammonites are real, and the prices are low.
The first real stop is Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO‑listed ksar of earthen towers and narrow alleys. A local guide walks you through its 500‑year history, explaining how Berber tribes built these fortified villages to defend against invasion. You’ll recognise the backdrop from Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy.
From there, continue to Ouarzazate, the film‑studio town known as Morocco’s Hollywood. Dinner and overnight in a comfortable lodge or riad.
Day 2: Ouarzazate to Merzouga – Gorges, Valleys & the Desert Edge
The morning takes you east through two dramatic gorges. First, the Dades Gorge, where you’ll stop for lunch with a view of the winding river and the stratified cliffs. Then Todra Gorge, where the canyon walls close in to barely 10 metres apart, rising 400 metres on either side. You’ll walk along the cold stream, stretch your legs, and feel the temperature drop inside the canyon before emerging into the dry heat beyond.
The landscape shifts quickly after that. Palm groves give way to scrub, then to the orange sand of the pre‑Sahara. By late afternoon you arrive in Merzouga, at a lodge on the edge of the dunes. If there’s daylight left, you can swim. Dinner is served at the lodge, and the sand waits just beyond the window.
Day 3: Merzouga – Full Sahara Day
Breakfast is Moroccan: mint tea, fresh bread, msemen pancakes, olives, honey, soft cheese. The morning is yours to explore the desert on four wheels if you want – a quad or 4×4 excursion across the dunes, or a swim back at the lodge to wash off the sand.
After lunch, a traditional Berber medfouna (stuffed flatbread baked in a clay oven), you’ll visit nomadic families who still move with the seasons. Then, in the late afternoon, you pack a small overnight bag and mount a camel. The trek into Erg Chebbi takes about an hour and a half, crossing a sea of orange waves as the sun drops. You arrive at a deep‑desert camp as the last light fades.
Dinner is a slow‑cooked tagine around the fire. Sleep in a canvas tent, or drag your mattress outside under a sky dense with stars.
Day 4: Merzouga to Fez – Sunrise & the Middle Atlas
Wake before dawn to climb a dune and watch the sunrise. After a granola snack, ride your camel back to the lodge for a proper breakfast and a shower.
Then begins the long drive north to Fez. The road passes through the Ziz Valley, then climbs into the Middle Atlas. You’ll break for lunch in Midelt, a small town known for its apple orchards. By mid‑afternoon the landscape is unrecognisable: cedar forests, alpine air, and the curious Swiss‑style architecture of Ifrane. Barbary macaques gather around an ancient cedar here – one last stop before the final leg.
You’ll reach Fez by early evening, carrying a lot of sand and a very clear memory of the Sahara.
Excluded:
Pickup: From your hotel or Riad.
Drop off: in your hotel/Riad or at the airport.
Infant seats and baby cribs are available upon request — please reach out and request them in advance.
You’ll travel in a private, air‑conditioned 4WD or spacious minivan, late‑model Mercedes, Toyota, or similar, kept very clean and serviced regularly. Your driver is a licensed Moroccan professional with years of experience on mountain passes and Saharan pistes. Friendly, attentive, and discreet, they know every fuel stop, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the journey so you feel safe, comfortable, and never rushed.
Free cancellation up to 14 days before your tour starts. If you cancel within 14 days, you’ll receive a full refund minus a 20% fee.
If you have questions about this tour, want to customize it, or simply need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just reach out to us through
When you travel with us, your money stays in the places you visit; the desert villages, the mountain towns, and the family‑run businesses that make each stop what it is.
Family‑run desert camp – your night in Merzouga is at a camp managed by a Berber family we’ve known for years.
Local guides and drivers – every guide, driver, and camel handler you meet is from the region. They earn fair wages, and we never use commission‑based stops.
Artisan cooperatives – when you buy pottery, fossils, or carpets along the route, we guide you to workshops run by local craftsmen and women‑led cooperatives.
This is not a charity pitch. It’s how we’ve always run our tours. And it means that after your four days from Marrakech to Fez, you’ve left something real behind.
We’ve spent years helping travelers explore the Morocco and have created an extensive library of practical guides covering everything from desert camps and weather to routes, packing, safety, local culture, and itineraries. If you still have questions before booking, our Guides will help you understand exactly what to expect and plan your trip with confidence.
