Marrakech to Fes desert tour - 7 days(one week in Morocco)
Marrakech to Fes desert tour: Marrakech (7 days) one week itinerary to Merzouga Sahara.
Note: This trip can be customized also from Tangier and Casablanca.
from €510
Easy tour navigation:
- Comfortable vehicle
- +4 Hours
- +1 People
- Multilingual drivers
Tour info:
- DEPARTURE LOCATION➥ Airport/accommodation in Marrakech.
- RETURN LOCATION➥ Fes/ Airport
- DEPARTURE TIME ➥8 am.
- DURATION➥ 7 days/ 6 nights.
Marrakech to Fes desert tour-7 days(one week) itinerary's includes and excludes:
Includes:
- Pickup & dropoff service.
- English/Spanish speaking driver.
- Accommodation.
- 4 WD vehicle with fuel.
- Breakfast.
- Dinner.
- Camel for each in the desert.
Excludes:
- Plane ticket.
- Travel insurance.
- Monuments fees.
- Lunches.
- Tips.
- Drinks.
Marrakech to Fes desert tour-7 days(one week) itinerary's Highlights:
- Touring Marrakech with a local guide.
- The Fortress of Ait Benhaddou.
- Ouarzazate, Atlas Studios.
- Todgha Gorges.
- Merzouga camel ride.
- Camping at Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Fes, the cultural city.
- The desert tour.
Marrakech to Fes desert tour-7 days(one week) itinerary's overview:
Join the best 7 days tour from Marrakech to Fes desert tour with the best travel agency in Morocco. In the first two days, you will have time to tour and discover the city of Marrakech with a local guide. Thereafter, on the third day, you will pass by many beautiful cities, villages, and Kasbah such as Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate until you arrive at Boumalne and spend the night.
Half of the Fourth day and the whole fifth day will be all spent in the desert of Merzouga. You will ride a camel, do camping and watch a beautiful starry sky. More importantly, you will do a discovery desert tour and go traveling to meet the Berber Nomads and the Gnawa people.
In the last days, you will be traveling to Fes, pass by many other beautiful spots, and go to discover the main attractions in Fes on the last day.
Note: This tour can be customized under your needs, feel free to contact us, and plan your own Morocco 7 days tour from Marrakech!
Marrakech to Fes desert tour: Marrakech one week itinerary to Merzouga
Day 1: Pickup service to accommodation.
The seven days tour starts with your arrival at the airport. We will pick you up heading to your accommodation to relax. If we got time and you arrived early on the day, we would go on a visit to some places in Marrakech.
Day 2: Touring Marrakech.
The second day of our 7 days (one week) Marrakech to Fes desert tour itinerary, you are going tour and explore the main attractions in the red city. After having breakfast, our local guide will come and pick you up and cross the city’s streets. Usually, we start by visiting the gardens of Majorelle and Menara. Here, you will discover the history of these beautiful places where most of the citizens head to relax. Majorelle, for example, is founded by a French artist who chose to settle in Morocco and make of it his home.
Secondly, we take you to visit Bahia and El Badi Palace where you will see some of the greatest Moroccan architecture examples. Eventually, as the city was once settled by Saadian, we will take you to see how they managed to build a kind of unique Tombs to protect their victims. Thereafter, you will head to discover the Koutoubia mosque, one of the oldest and highest towers in Morocco. Finally, we will spend the whole evening exploring the famous square of Jamaa El Fna.
Day 3 : Marrakech to Boumaln Dades.
Today, After having breakfast, we are going to hit the road towards Boumalne Dades. Firstly, we will drive through the High Atlas mountains. As the road is all mountains, Morocco has succeeded to build a pass that allows you to reach the Southeast and travel to the desert. This pass is about 200 km and it is all a curved way until you reach the tip of the High Atlas mountains. Driving through the Tichka pass, you will stop by the highest point of this curved road( about 2260m). It offers one of the best panorama views of the Atlas mountains. In a while, we will continue traveling to the Southeast, this time we will pass by Ait Benhaddou. Here, you will have some time to cross the river and reach the great Ksar that was once a very important stop for traders and camel caravans.
Later on the day trip, we will be heading to discover the Ouallywood of Morocco. Ouarzazate is the only city that has an international airport in the Southeast. Here, we will take you to visit the Atlas studios that are the main attractions in the city. They are where they shoot movies and sometimes rent some materials for directors. After that, we hit the road again, the next destinations are Rose valley and the city of Kalaat Mgouna that are famous for cosmetic products.
Finally, we will travel to Boumalne Dades passing by some small Berber villages and valleys on the way. We drop you off, you have dinner and spend the night at this site.
Day 4 : Boumalne Dades to Merzouga.
On the third day of our one week(7 days) Marrakech to Fes desert tour via Merzouga, we are going to explore the Highlight of the tour and probably of all Morocco desert tours. However, before that, We are going to visit some worthy places such as the Toudgha or Toudra canyons that are about 300m and the best place for climbers. Besides, passing by cities like Tinghir and Tinejdad. If we have more time we could stop to visit whether Erfoud or Rissani cities.
Finally, we will have arrived at the Merzouga desert. We will head directly to the camel that will be waiting next to the dunes. Our team of camel men will help you to ride the camel in a safe way. We go crossing the golden dunes in a friendly mood. Most of the time we watch the sunset from the desert camp, yet if it happened that we got a bit late, we will watch it on the way to the camp. When arriving at the camp, you can take the sandboarding and go skiing. At night, you will be served a delicious Moroccan meal and entertained with the Berber drums music under the stars.
Day 5: Merzouga desert tour.
The fifth day of our Marrakech to Fes desert tour, a one-week itinerary via Merzouga is going to be all spent in discovering the desert surroundings. Firstly, before taking the trip, you can wake up early and climb the sand dunes to watch the stunning sunrise. When coming back, you can take a shower then have breakfast in the camp. Eventually, you will take the 4×4 and drive through the desert to meet the Berber Nomads and the original citizens of Merzouga. These people are still living in tents and get their income from raising goats and sheep and selling them in near souks mostly in Erfoud or Rissani.
Thereafter, we will drive to visit M’Ifiss where you will discover one of the oldest mines of kohl in the area. Next, we will take you to a place called Glb Nass in English means the “the people’s heart”, it is one of the unique panoramas that allow you to see the charming views of the desert from a different gaze.
In a while, we will leave heading to Khamlia village that is about 4 km from Merzouga center. Here, you will discover another lifestyle. Definitely, the Gnawas are one of the main parts that make the desert of Merzouga worth to visit. Every year, these people organize a festival they call it the Gnawa festival and it lasts for three days. In these days they show their culture and play different rhythms. When we arrive there, we will head to a place they call it Dar Gnaoua. Here, you will discover their history and listen to their music. Thereafter, we are going to visit the Moroccan National Auto Museum, a place that belongs to an Emirati and it is where he shows different old 4×4 cars.
Day 6: Merzouga to Fes.
On the sixth day of our Marrakech to Fes desert tour itinerary, we are going to travel to the cultural city where we are supposed to end the tour.
Firstly, after having breakfast in the camp or the hotel. We are going to take the car and go to visit Erfoud that is only about 30 to 40 minutes from the desert. In this city, we are going to see different kinds of fossils that the area is famous for. Eventually, we will continue the tour heading to Errachidia dam. It is the main source of water in the whole desert area and Errachidia province. Next, we will carry on heading to Fes, this time we will pass by the two beautiful cities of Midelt and Zaida. Lunch will be served in one of these two.
After having lunch, we will drive again towards the cultural city. The next destination is the beautiful cedar forest next to the city of Azrou. In this latter, we are going to have a walk looking for Barbary macaques. In a while, we will travel to little Switzerland of Morocco, Ifrane city, where you will go on a small trip to explore the Atlas lion statue as the main attraction in the city.
Finally, we will arrive at the last destination of today’s trip, Fes. We will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the nest and relax to our the city the next day.
Day 7: Touring Fes.
On the last day of our Marrakech to Fes desert tour: Marrakech (7 days) one-week itinerary via Merzouga, you are going to tour Fes with a local guide. As known Fes is one of the four Moroccan imperial cities in Morocco and has a great history. Clearly, on this tour, you will go to discover the main available attractions. Firstly, you are going to discover the Chouara tannery, the biggest tannery of all three that are located in Fes. The history of these tanneries goes back deep in history as it was the main place where they used to paint their clothes and make leather products.
After visiting the tanneries, we usually head to explore the oldest existing university in the world. The University of Al Qarawiyyin was founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 and was attracting many people from all over the world to go and study there. Eventually, you will be taken into a visit to the Mellah which is a Jewish quarter. Finally, you will be heading to visit the old medina of Fes and explore its interesting streets. Clearly, there many other attractions in Fes that you will discover with the local guide besides to the history of the city.
The 7 days(one week) Marrakech to Fes desert tour itinerary is recommended:
just speechless!
Muchas Gracias!
The best 7 days!
Unforgettable experience
Last February I finished the tour that my husband and I made for 7 days to the south of Morocco organized by Touring in Morocco. Together with Youssef, we traveled part of this beautiful country, showing us landscapes of great beauty and contrast of colors. At all times he was attentive and concerned to make this trip one of the best trips we have ever booked. He patiently answered our questions from the contrast of their culture with ours. Clearly, he taught us to understand that the importance of time is relative and that time has no value when you are in Pleasant Company.
The choice of restaurants and hotels we visited deserves a special mention because in all of them we could appreciate the human warmth of its people. They taught us that for them the group, as family, friends, or people, is more important than the individual itself. Yes, I'm sure we'll go back to Morocco and this time we'll do it the whole family, and again we'll find out together with Youssef. If at any time you have doubts about visiting Morocco, I assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised: its safety, its people and its landscapes. And I recommend you do it together with professionals like this travel agency, who will make your trip an experience that you will always remember.
Stunning Views
The 7 days from Marrakech to Fes desert tour itinerary via Merzouga offers a set of beautiful views from the Sahara desert to the towers of the Kasbahs and the Atlas mountains.
Hotel Pickup & Dropoff
Book your Marrakech to Fes desert tour itinerary with the best travel agency in Morocco and benefit from the pickup and dropoff service at any point in Morocco.
Professional Guide/driver
Definitely, 7 days tour from Marrakech to Fes requires a professional guide and driver. That is why our travel agency offers you the best Local Moroccan guide and driver to make your trip unforgettable.
Photography locations
If you are a photographer or a picture lover and want seven days from Marrakech to Fes, this desert trip is the best choice for you. You will be travelling through the mountains, the desert, Berber villages, Kasbahs and many more.
Booking Request
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please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or customization concerning this trip. We will be glad to answer any questions you have and the customizations you offer.
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Marrakech to Fes desert tour: Marrakech one week itinerary via Merzouga's overview:
Merzouga desert
The Highlight of the seven days Marrakech to Fes desert tour is definitely the desert of Merzouga. Most of the tourists that book our Morocco tours find the camel ride through the dunes the best attraction and things in their trip. Firstly, Merzouga as a name goes back to one of the first Nomad families that settled in the desert area, the Merzoug family. Some other people say that the word came from “Mrzouqa” that in Arabic means rich or kind of blessed. Merzouga is famous for its golden dunes that are about 30 km from Tighmert to Khamlia village.
Instead of hearing Merzouga, you might hear of Hassi Labied, Takojt, Tanamoust, or many other places that in general are part of the main town. The desert is called Erg Chebbi referring to Whole golden dunes in the area of Merzouga. Yet, If you go deeper to the South, you will find many other but less-visited deserts. On the first hand, there is Znigui desert in about 10 to 15 km from Merzouga. Still, if you go deeper to Ramlia and Jdaid, you will find other deserts that offer charming views as they are surrounded by mountains.
Above all Merzouga desert is the most visited one in the country and that is for many reasons. For example, it offers one of the highest dunes in the world, allowing people to do many activities such as sandboarding. Besides, the Erg Chebbi desert offers the best golden dunes to do many activities such as riding the camel and watch whether the sunset or the sunrise. Furthermore, you can go rent a quad or buggy and cross the dunes, or you can go and spend a night with the Berbers in a desert camp.
Marrakech
Marrakech, the city light or the red city of Morocco is the number one tourist city in the country. In other words, 99% of tourists visiting the kingdom never miss traveling to Marrakech and discovering its streets. The city in its name goes back to the word “Amur N Ukosh” which in Berber refers to the land of god. The city at first was settled by some different small Berber tribes before it becomes an important spot and takes control of the whole country as it became the capital of it in around the year 1147.
Marrakech is a great place where many different cultures and contrast colors meet. With the Marrakech to Fes desert tour: Marrakech one week itinerary via Merzouga, you will be discovering a lot of unique places and attractions. First of all, there is the square of Jamaa El Fna that was in the past a place for people to meet, make circles, and tell stories. Nowadays, as the square turned to be more famous worldwide, people from different places in Morocco go there, whether to show their skills or to sell different products. The best thing to do in this place is to go upstairs in a cafe and watch the square from up above, the views are just outstanding with lights and different shows.
Secondly, as known, Morocco is famous for having some of the best mosque towers in the world. In Marrakech, there is the Koutoubia tower that was founded in 1147 by Almoravids representing one of the best examples of Moroccan architecture. Furthermore, there are both two Majorelle and Menara gardens that are worth the visit as they have different stories. For example, the Majorelle garden is owned by Jacques Majorelle who took about 40 years to build this masterpiece.
Ait Benhaddou Kasbah:
When talking about Morocco, most of the people think of mud architecture. Clearly, kasbahs are the best examples of that kind of architecture. Definitely, the Kasbahs of Ait Benhaddou is the best and most visited of all. When taking this desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, and right after crossing the High Atlas mountains, you will arrive at this phenomenal ksar. Firstly, the Kasbah belongs to Thami EL Glaoui’s family. This latter is a really famous family that used to have many different properties in Morocco and some researches say that they were one of the richest families in the history of the country. Besides to Ait Benhaddou, they have many other properties such as Telouet and Tamdaght kasbahs.
The ksar of Ait Benhaddou was built in a specific way to be a defense castle and protect the inhabitants that are mostly all traders. Not to mention that the kasbah was once one of the main trading points in the Southeast. Camel caravans that used to take the 52 days trip to Toumboctou, in this place, they usually come to sell the salt as the main good that they bring. That is why the small river in front of the kasbah is called “Ouad Lmelh” and Lmelh in Arabic means salt.
Ait Benhaddou is getting famous year after year because of its unique design with great towers and high walls. In fact, it is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987. Moreover, many well-known movies and series have been shot in Ait Benhaddou, taking the examples of parts of Gladiator and Lawerence Of Arabia.
Ouarzazate
After visiting the beautiful Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, we head directly to the city of Ouarzazate that is about 30 km. To start talking about the city and its history, it is necessary to explain the word Ouarzazate in itself. The word consists of two parts, “Ouar” and “Zazate”, the first one means Without, and the second means noise, so it is the place without noise or the city without noise. In the last years, many choose to start their Morocco desert tours from this city as it is the only in the south that offers an international airport. Many like to call it the gate to the Sahara desert as it is halfway from Marrakech.
When visiting Ouarzazate, you should definitely pass by of the two main attractions in the city, the Atlas Studios. In about 7 km from 5 to 7 from the center of Ouarzazate lies the both Oscar and CLA Atlas studios. They are the main places where they shoot movies or even rent some materials for the staff. However, the Oscar studios are more visited by tourists as it offers more things to see such as cars made of wood, huge statues that make you feel like you are in Egypt.
What many people don’t know is that in Ouarzazate lies the biggest and largest concentrated solar power plant station of solar energy in the world. This reflects the importance of solar and nonpolluting energy for Morocco. Besides, in Ouarzazate lies one of the best and massive Kasbahs that is kind of in the shape of a maze. Though it is less visited by tourists, yet, it offers beautiful views with its great walls, towers, and about 300 rooms.
Merzouga desert tour.
Marrakech to Fes desert tour is your chance to explore the Sahara of Merzouga in the best way. Clearly, on the fifth day, you will be traveling through the desert surroundings and explore the main attractions and secrets of the Moroccan Sahara. Firstly, you will be discovering the lifestyle of Berber the original citizens of Morocco and Merzouga. In fact, 90% of people living in Merzouga are originally Nomads, it is to say that in the near past, they used to have tents and certain amounts of herds. After Merzouga became of the most visited places and deserts in Morocco, people started to settle down and started to make travel agencies, hotels, and riads.
Secondly, we will take you to discover another lifestyle. The Gnawa people is something that makes Merzouga desert special. Historicals say that these people were brought from countries such as Gabon and Mali. Some say that the word Gnawa came from a Berber origin. There is a story that says that these tribes of Gnawas used to celebrate and make noise most of the time, so Berber used to tell them to go to sleep and they say, Gen Awa, as a result, they took the name since then. Others say that the word is originally Agnawa and it means the slave.
Further, on the desert tour, you will pass by a small museum in the small village of Tanamoust. Here, you will see different 4×4 cars that are owned by an Emirati who has a Ksar next to the museum. Also, the tour takes you to visit some of the oldest Oases in the area that are located in Hassi Labied.
Atlas mountains, Tichka pass, Toudra Gorges
The 7 days(one week) from Marrakech itinerary takes to visit and pass by one of the longest mountain ranges in the world. Some like not to call them mountain chains as they are separated by wide distances. In Morocco, you can divide these chains into three main parts, the High, Middle, and Anti Atlas mountains. The High Atlas mountains are what covers both the countries of Algeria and Tunisia. When taking the 7 days desert tour, you will drive through the High Atlas mountains first and some small parts of the Anti. Then, on the way to Fes, you will drive by the Middle Atlas mountains.
In the past, It was hard for people to cross the mountains and travel whether from Marrakech to the Southeast or vice versa. However, in 1936 French and Morocco have succeeded to build one of the longest curved roads in Morocco. The pass that is about 200km is home to many different villages and kasbahs, for example, on this tour, you will be taking a break to discover a cooperative of Argan oil. Besides, you will do another stop on the highest panoramic peak of the pass(2260m) where you can see charming views of the Atlas mountains.
Toudra or Toudgha Gorges is a place on the way from Boumalne Dades to Merzouga desert. This place is famous for its canyons that are around 300m. Definitely, Toudgha is one of the best places in Morocco to d climbing. Clearly, what makes this place more beautiful is having a sping in between the canyons. Nomads and Berbers that live in the area bring their herd to drink from this place, or even you can find some of them selling some stuff such as carpets.
Ifrane and cedar forest
Our Marrakech to Fes desert tour allows you to discover both the sites of Ifrane and the cedar forest. Firstly, little Switzerland as many people prefers to call lies in the Middle Atlas mountains offering one of the best atmospheres and climates. When visiting this city, you will feel a huge difference in its weather, you can say that it is the coldest city in the country. Every winter, it dresses in with and invites people from in and outside of Morocco to come and do snowboarding. Besides being a good place for skiing, Ifrane was counted as the first cleanest city in Morocco and Africa.
The Atlas lion statue is the main attraction to visit in Ifrane as it honors the extinct Atlas lion. There is a story that says that it was built by a German to get his freedom. Not to mention that Ifrane is an important site where the Atlas lion, The national soccer team, head to train and get ready for competitions. Furthermore, in Ifrane lies one of the most expensive universities in the kingdom, known as Al Akhawyin university.
Not far from Ifrane is the cedar forest. This beautiful place was once home to many different animals that unfortunately have extinct. Nowadays, tourists go there, walk, and look for the Barbary macaque.
Fes
Fes is the second-largest city in Morocco and the cultural capital as they call it. Located in the Northeast of the country, Fes is the last destination of our desert tour from Marrakech. Definitely, this city played a big role in the country’s history and helped in developing it. No to mention that is one of the Moroccan imperial cities besides Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat the current capital.
The cultural city was founded in the 8th to the 9th centuries and was one of the main ports for traders. When you visit and tour the city with the local guide you will definitely be amazed by the details and the colors. This city represents Moroccan architecture in the best way. Starting from the gate (Bab) Boujloud that was built-in 1913 and seen as the main gate to Fes as the city has 11 gates. The name Boujloud came from the word Bab el Junud, in English the father or soldiers.
In Fes, you will visit other places such as the Chouarra tanner. This latter is the biggest and oldest of all the tanneries in the city that are three. It was built in the 11th century as a place to make leather products and tread animals’ skin barefoot and paint it in different colors. in the past, they used to paint their products with spices, yet nowadays, they use chemical products. Furthermore, Fes is home to the oldest existing university in the world that was actually built by a woman. As it is known, Morocco was a homeland for many Jewish people, and in Fes as man,y other big cities, there is a specific place where these people used to live. In Morocco, they call these places Mellah Quarters. Finally, this city offers some of the best Hammams.
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