The classic one-way crossing of Morocco from south to north: over the Tizi n'Tichka to Aït Ben Haddou, through the Skoura kasbahs and the Dadès and Todra gorges to a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, then up the Ziz Valley and the Azrou cedar forest to finish in Fes. A 5-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour that strings the Atlas passes, the gorges and the Sahara into a single line between the two great imperial cities.
Day by day
Your 5-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Marrakech to Ouarzazate via Aït Ben Haddou
Climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) over the High Atlas, with Berber village and argan stops, to the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Explore the earthen citadel on foot, then the short drive to Ouarzazate, the 'door of the desert', for the night near the Taourirt kasbah and the film studios. Roughly 4–5 hours of driving over the day.
- Tizi n'Tichka pass
- Aït Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
- Taourirt kasbah
- 2
Day 2
Skoura, the Valley of the Roses & the Dadès Gorges
Head east to the Skoura palm oasis and Kasbah Amridil, then through the Valley of the Roses, famous for its spring rose harvest, into the rose-coloured Dadès Gorges. Walk a stretch beneath the cliffs and the 'monkey-fingers' rock formations and overnight in the gorge. A relaxed day of about 3–4 hours' driving with frequent stops.
- Skoura palmeraie
- Kasbah Amridil
- Valley of the Roses
- Dadès Gorges
- 3
Day 3
Todra Gorge to Merzouga & the dunes
Climb the dramatic Dadès switchbacks for the morning view, then drive to the towering 300 m walls of the Todra Gorge near Tinghir for a walk along the river. Continue east through Erfoud to Merzouga, where camels carry you into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset and a night in a desert camp under the stars. About 5–6 hours of driving across the day.
- Dadès switchbacks
- Todra Gorge
- Erfoud
- Camel trek
- Erg Chebbi camp
- 4
Day 4
Dune sunrise, Rissani & the Ziz Valley to Midelt
Wake for sunrise over the dunes and ride the camels back, then drive west to the Rissani souk before turning north up the long palm canyon of the Ziz Valley and its gorges through Errachidia. Cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass to Midelt, the 'apple town' between the High and Middle Atlas, for the night. A long but spectacular 6–7 hour driving day.
- Erg Chebbi sunrise
- Rissani souk
- Ziz Valley palm canyon
- Tizi n'Talghemt
- Midelt
- 5
Day 5
Azrou cedar forest & Ifrane to Fes
Cross the Middle Atlas plateaux and the Col du Zad to the cedar forests of Azrou, home to troops of Barbary macaques, then the alpine resort town of Ifrane, the 'Moroccan Switzerland', before descending to finish in Fes in the afternoon. Roughly 4–5 hours on the road to close the crossing.
- Col du Zad
- Azrou cedar forest & macaques
- Ifrane
- Arrival in Fes
Good to know
Practical notes
- This is a one-way crossing — start in Marrakech and finish in Fes (or run it in reverse), so it doubles as a desert tour and a city-to-city transfer between the two imperial capitals.
- Days 3 and 4 are the longest on the road (6–7 hours with stops); a private 4x4 with a driver-guide keeps the distances comfortable and lets you stop in the gorges and the Ziz Valley.
- Five days gives one night in the Erg Chebbi dunes — enough for sunset and sunrise; add a day if you want a full rest day in the sand.
- Pack layers: you'll go from snow-tipped Atlas passes and the cool cedar country to hot dunes and genuinely cold desert nights.
Frequently asked
Can you do a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech to Fes?
Yes — a 5-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka to Aït Ben Haddou, runs through the Skoura kasbahs and the Dadès and Todra gorges to a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, then heads north up the Ziz Valley and through the Azrou cedar forest to finish in Fes. You see the desert and end in a different city, so there is no backtracking.
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Fes through the desert?
The full crossing via Merzouga is roughly 1,100 km. Spread over five days the daily drives are mostly 4–6 hours with stops, with days three and four (the gorges to the dunes and the Ziz Valley to Midelt) being the longest at 6–7 hours.
Is 5 days enough to cross from Marrakech to Fes via the Sahara?
Five days is the practical minimum to do the crossing properly with one night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the two gorges and Aït Ben Haddou. If you want a full rest day in the sand or unhurried time in the Ziz Valley, the 7-day version of the crossing is more relaxed.
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