7 days tour from Marrakech to Fes

Your 7-Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes begins at 8:30 AM, when your Visit Maghreb driver collects you from your Riad. We leave the bustling energy of Marrakech behind and head south towards the majestic silhouette of the High Atlas Mountains.

As we ascend the winding N9 road, the landscape transforms. We climb through Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides, eventually reaching the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. At 2,260 meters (7,415 ft), this is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. The air here is crisp and cool, offering panoramic views of the winding road below—a perfect photo opportunity.

Instead of rushing straight to the desert, we take the scenic P1506 route through the Ounila Valley to reach the Kasbah of Telouet. This was the ancestral seat of the El Glaoui family, the “Lords of the Atlas” who controlled the salt trade routes. The Kasbah is a stunning paradox; its crumbling red mud exterior hides an interior of exquisite intricate tiles, marble, and painted cedar ceilings that rival the palaces of Marrakech.

After lunch, we follow the old caravan route to Ait Ben Haddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the most famous ksar (fortified village) in Morocco. It is a striking example of southern Moroccan earthen clay architecture. You might recognize its towers and walls from films like Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. We will take a walk through its narrow alleys, crossing the river to watch the sunset turn the mud walls a glowing gold. We finish the day in Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa.”

• Overnight: Charming Riad in Ouarzazate.

• Meals: Dinner included.

Day two of your Marrakech Desert Tour 7 Days takes us deeper into the south. We begin by driving through the Skoura Oasis, a vast palm grove fed by a complex system of irrigation canals. Here, we visit Kasbah Amridil, a 17th-century living museum that gives you a glimpse into how people lived in these fortified homes for centuries. It is so iconic it is featured on the 50 Dirham banknote!

Next, we drive through the Valley of Roses (El Kelaa M’Gouna). In April and May, this entire valley smells of the pink Damask roses that grow in the hedgerows. Even outside of harvest season, it is a lush, green contrast to the red rock around it. We can stop at a cooperative to see how they distill thousands of petals to make pure rose water and oils.

In the afternoon, we enter the dramatic Dades Valley. The geology here is strange and beautiful. We will stop to admire the “Monkey Fingers” rock formations—eroded sandstone cliffs that look like giant hands rising from the earth. We then drive up the famous zigzag road of Tisadrine to the top of the canyon for a breathtaking view.

• Overnight: Boutique Guest House in Dades Valley.

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

After a traditional Berber breakfast on a terrace overlooking the valley, we continue our 7 Day Trip from Marrakech to Fes. Our first stop is the Todra Gorge. These massive limestone cliffs rise 300 meters vertically on either side of a narrow riverbed. It is a paradise for rock climbers and a humbling place to walk. You will often see local women bringing their donkeys to the river for water.

Leaving the mountains, the landscape flattens into the vast pre-Saharan “Hamada” (stone desert). We pass through Erfoud, the fossil capital of Morocco. 360 million years ago, this desert was an ocean. Today, you can visit workshops where they excavate incredible ammonite and trilobite fossils from the marble bedrock—a perfect souvenir from your 7 Days Fes via Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech.

In the late afternoon, the color of the horizon changes. We have arrived in Merzouga. Here, the paved road ends and the sea of sand begins. You will meet your camel caravan and trek into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi as the sun sets, casting long shadows across the sands. You will arrive at your Visit Maghreb luxury camp, where a private tent with a real bed and ensuite bathroom awaits. Enjoy a dinner of tagine followed by drumming around the fire under the Milky Way.

• Overnight: Luxury Desert Camp (Erg Chebbi).

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Unlike shorter tours, this 7 days morocco itinerary gives you a full day to explore the desert culture. We start with a 4×4 adventure to Khamlia Village. The people here are descendants of slaves brought from Sudan and Mali centuries ago. They will share their Gnawa music with you—a hypnotic, spiritual rhythm of drums and castanets that is unique to this region.

Next, we drive off-road across the black volcanic desert to meet a nomadic family. These resilient people live in tents woven from camel and goat hair. We will join them for a glass of “Sahara whiskey” (sweet mint tea) and learn about their way of life herding goats in this harsh environment. It is a humbling and authentic experience.

We also visit the abandoned Mifis Mines, a ghost town on a hill where the French once mined for lead and kohl (eyeliner). The views from here over the dunes and towards the Algerian border are spectacular. In the afternoon, you can try sandboarding down the dunes or simply relax at the camp.

• Overnight: Hotel at the dune line or Luxury Camp (your choice).

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

We wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Sahara—a quiet, spiritual moment. After breakfast, we leave the dunes and head north. We stop briefly in Rissani, a bustling market town that was once a major caravan hub. If it is market day (Sun/Tue/Thu), the souk is filled with donkeys, sheep, and spices.

Our route for this leg of the Marrakech to fes desert tour 7 days follows the Ziz Valley. This is Morocco’s largest oasis, a ribbon of millions of date palms winding through a massive limestone canyon. We will stop at the “Legionnaire’s Tunnel,” carved by French soldiers in the 1920s, before ascending out of the desert heat.

We end the day in Midelt, a high-altitude town nestled between the Middle and High Atlas ranges. Known for its apples and fossils, the air here is fresh and cool. It is the perfect halfway point to rest.

• Overnight: Kasbah Hotel in Midelt.

• Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

Today, the landscape changes dramatically again. We drive into the Middle Atlas Mountains, home to the great Cedar Forests of Azrou. These ancient trees are the habitat of the Barbary Macaque, a species of monkey unique to North Africa. We will stop to see them; they are wild but used to people, and observing their family dynamics is a highlight for nature lovers.

Next, we pass through Ifrane. You might think you have been teleported to Europe! With its alpine chalets, red-roofed houses, and manicured parks, it is known as “Little Switzerland.” It is a favorite ski resort for Moroccans in winter and a cool escape in summer.

Finally, we descend onto the Saiss Plain and arrive in Fes, the oldest of the Imperial Cities. Your driver will drop you at your Riad in the heart of the ancient Medina, where you can rest before tomorrow’s deep dive into history.

• Overnight: Historic Riad in Fes Medina.

• Meals: Breakfast.

Your 7 Days Desert tour from Marrakech to Fes concludes with a full-day guided tour of Fes el-Bali. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest car-free urban zone in the world, a maze of 9,000 alleys.

Your local guide will take you to the Blue Gate (Bab Boujeloud) and into the souks. You will visit the Bou Inania Medersa, a masterpiece of intricate Islamic architecture. You will stand outside the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 AD by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri. It is the oldest continually operating university in the world.

The sensory highlight is the Chouara Tanneries. You will climb to a terrace to look down on the stone vats where men dye leather in saffron, indigo, and poppy, using methods that haven’t changed in 1,000 years. The smell is strong (they give you mint to hold to your nose!), but the sight is unforgettable.

After the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel or Fes Airport, marking the end of your 7 Day Trip from Marrakech to Fes with Visit Maghreb.

• Meals: Breakfast.