3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Fes with Hotel & Glamping

Pickup in Marrakech and a Tour of the High Atlas Mountains

At 8:00 AM, your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Marrakech to begin the journey to the desert. In a private vehicle, you’ll leave the city behind and head into the High Atlas Mountains, following the road that crosses the Tizi n’Tichka Pass.

Along the way, you’ll make several stops to take in the views of the mountains and the small villages that dot the roadside. Once you’ve crossed the High Atlas, you’ll head toward Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou

The first highlight of the day will be Ait Ben Haddou, an ancient adobe ksar designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time to explore its narrow streets on foot and discover the traditional architecture that characterizes this historic fortified village.

💙 Howlanders Tip: If you climb to the top of Ait Ben Haddou, you’ll get a great panoramic view of the ksar and the surrounding landscape.

Ouarzazate and Atlas Film Studios

You’ll then continue on to Ouarzazate, a city known for its close ties to the film industry and for being home to some of Morocco’s most important film studios. Here, you’ll stop for lunch and have the opportunity to visit Atlas Film Studios, where sets used in various film productions are preserved.

Keep in mind that lunch is not included in the tour, so you can bring a picnic lunch from Marrakech or ask your guide for recommendations on where to eat at one of the local restaurants.

From Ouarzazate, you’ll continue on to the Dades Valley, passing through Kalaa M’gouna and the Valley of the Roses along the way.

Monkey Toes and a Night in the Dades Valley

Before the day ends, you’ll visit Monkey Toes, a unique rock formation located near the Dades Valley.

Afterward, you’ll head to the hotel, where you’ll have time to settle in and rest. The day will end with an included dinner, and you’ll spend the night in the Dades Valley.

Todra Gorges

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll leave the Dades Valley behind and continue on to the Todra Gorges, one of the day’s main natural highlights.

Upon arrival, you’ll have time to explore this area on foot among its towering rock walls and enjoy the scenery before continuing your journey to the Merzouga Desert.

Arrival in the Merzouga Desert and a camel ride

After visiting the Todra Gorges, you’ll continue your journey to Merzouga, passing through various villages and increasingly desert-like landscapes. Along the way, you’ll stop for lunch before reaching the Erg Chebbi dunes. Although lunch isn’t included in the tour, your guide can recommend local restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine.

Once in Merzouga, you’ll swap the vehicle for camels and begin a roughly 40-minute ride through the Erg Chebbi dunes until you reach the glamping site where you’ll spend the night.

Upon arrival at the camp, you’ll be welcomed with tea and will have time to settle in before continuing to enjoy the afternoon in the desert.

Sunset in the dunes, sandboarding, and ATV riding

In the afternoon, you’ll have time to enjoy the Erg Chebbi dunes and admire the desert’s colors at sunset. You can also go sandboarding on your own, using the boards available at the camp to glide down the dunes at your own pace.

If you’re looking for an even more thrilling experience, you’ll have the option to take a guided ATV tour through the Erg Chebbi dunes, available as an add-on during the booking process. The tour duration is flexible and can be booked by the hour, tailored to your preferences and the schedule for the day.

Plus, sandboarding and the ATV tour are compatible activities, so you can enjoy both on the same afternoon.

Berber dinner and overnight stay at the glamping site

As night falls, you’ll return to the glamping site to enjoy a traditional Berber dinner. Afterward, the evening will continue around the campfire with Berber music, surrounded by the desert landscape.

After dinner, you’ll be able to gaze at the starry sky before retiring to your private tent, where you’ll spend the night in the heart of the Merzouga Desert.

💙 Howlanders Tip: Walk a few meters away from the glamping lights after dinner. From the dunes, you’ll have a better view of the starry sky.

Sunrise in Merzouga and the Ziz Valley

The last day will start early so you can watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Afterward, you’ll return to the glamping site for breakfast and begin your journey to Fez in a private vehicle.

You’ll leave Merzouga behind and continue north until you reach the Ziz Valley, known for its vast palm groves and the small villages scattered throughout the valley. Along the way, you’ll make a stop to take in the scenery before continuing on to the Middle Atlas Mountains.

Middle Atlas and the Azrou Cedar Forest

You’ll continue your journey toward Fez through the mountainous landscapes of the Middle Atlas. Along the way, you’ll stop for lunch before heading toward the Azrou area. Lunch is on your own, but your guide will help you choose a place to take a break and enjoy the local cuisine.

Later, you’ll arrive at the Azrou Cedar Forest, known as the habitat of Barbary macaques. You’ll stop to explore the area and observe these animals before continuing on to Ifrane.

Ifrane

You’ll continue on to Ifrane, a town in the Middle Atlas Mountains known for its distinctive architecture and mountainous surroundings. You’ll make a stop to briefly explore the town before continuing on to the final destination of the trip.

Arrival in Fez

After leaving Ifrane behind, you’ll travel the final stretch of road to Fez, where the 3-day tour from Marrakech to Fez will come to an end.