Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara: The Classic Route, Day by Day

Crossing Morocco from Marrakech to Fes through the desert is the most popular road trip in the country — and for good reason. In three or four days you see the High Atlas, ancient kasbahs, two gorges, the Sahara and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas.

Day 1 — Marrakech to the Dades Valley

You leave Marrakech in the morning and climb the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), the highest road pass in Morocco. After lunch you visit Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified village seen in many films, then continue through Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley for the night.

Day 2 — Todra Gorges and the Sahara

After breakfast you drive through the winding Dades Gorges and walk inside the Todra Gorges, where the rock walls rise about 300 metres above the river. In the afternoon you reach Merzouga, swap the car for a camel and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Dinner, music around the fire and a night in a desert camp.

Day 3 — Merzouga to Fes

Wake up early to watch the sunrise from the top of a dune, then ride back to Merzouga. The long drive north follows the Ziz Valley and its palm groves, crosses the Middle Atlas near Midelt and passes through the cedar forests where Barbary macaques live. A short stop in Ifrane, often called the "Switzerland of Morocco", before arriving in Fes in the evening.

3 or 4 days?

The route works in 3 days, but the days are long (up to 8–9 hours on the road on day 3). With 4 days, you add a second night in the desert or split the drive, which gives you time for quad biking, a visit to Khamlia (Gnawa music) or simply resting in the dunes. If you can, we recommend 4 days.

Practical tips

• Bring a warm layer: desert nights are cold, even in spring and autumn.
• Pack a small overnight bag for the camp; your main luggage stays in the vehicle.
• The best seasons are March–May and September–November. Summer is very hot in the desert.
• You can do the route in the other direction (Fes to Marrakech) — same highlights.

All our Marrakech–Fes tours are private: you travel only with your group and a local driver-guide, and you can stop wherever you like for photos.