We begin our 3-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes with a morning pickup from your hotel or riad. We head south through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260 meters), enjoying sweeping views of terraced valleys and Berber villages. Our first major stop is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and one of Morocco’s most iconic kasbahs. You’ll explore its ancient earthen architecture and learn about its role as a filming location for global blockbusters like *Gladiator* and *The Mummy*. We then visit the nearby Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate before enjoying lunch in the city. In the afternoon, we drive through the lush palm oasis of Skoura and continue through the fragrant Rose Valley. We conclude the day in the dramatic Dades Gorge, where we check into a hotel or riad for dinner and an overnight stay—the end of our first day.

After breakfast, we depart Boumalne Dades and drive toward the Sahara Desert. En route, we stop in Tinghir—a historic Berber town whose name means “shoulder” in Tamazight—and visit the breathtaking Todra Gorges. Carved by the Todra River between towering red cliffs, this natural canyon offers excellent walking and photo opportunities. We enjoy lunch at a local café before continuing to Erfoud, known as the “capital of fossils” for its rich deposits of fossilized marble. After a brief visit to a stone workshop, we press on through rocky desert terrain to Merzouga. Here, camels and guides await for a memorable ride across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. You’ll watch the sunset over the Sahara, capture stunning photos, and then proceed to a traditional desert camp. Dinner is served under a sky full of stars, followed by live Berber music, drumming, and dancing around a fire—completing our second night of the 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour.

Wake early to witness a spectacular desert sunrise, followed by breakfast at the camp. You’ll return to the edge of the dunes by camel, where your driver will be waiting to begin the journey north to Fes. We first cross the Ziz Valley near Errachidia—the historic capital of the Tafilalt region—stopping for panoramic views of its vast palm groves. Continuing through the Middle Atlas Mountains, we reach Midelt, Morocco’s “apple capital” and a hub for agriculture and mineral mining. After lunch, we drive through cedar forests and Berber villages, including Imouzzer, and pause in the Azrou forest to observe wild Barbary macaques in their natural habitat. We then visit Ifrane—often called “Morocco’s Switzerland”—a clean, alpine-style town founded by the French in 1929. Its name derives from the Tamazight word for “caves,” and it was ranked the second cleanest city in the world in 2013. Here, we admire the famous stone lion statue, a symbol of the now-extinct Atlas lion once native to the region. After a short walk through the town’s gardens, we continue to Fes, passing through small Berber settlements. Upon arrival, we drop you off at your hotel or riad, concluding our 3-day desert adventure from Marrakech to Fes.