Marrakech to Marrakech through the Sahara Desert and Fes: 9-Day Loop Tour
A nine-day loop through the High Atlas, the Sahara, Fes and the Atlantic coast
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Tour at a Glance
Duration
9 days and 8 nights
Tour Type
Private tour for your group only
Starts and Ends
Starts and ends in Marrakech
Overnight
Riads and hotels, with a night in a desert camp
Highlights
Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, the Merzouga dunes, Fes, Rabat and Casablanca
Price
On request. Contact us for a free quote
A Loop from Marrakech to the Sahara and Fes
This Marrakech to Marrakech tour is a nine-day loop that returns to where you started. You spend a full day in Marrakech, cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, follow the Roses Valley and the Todra Gorge to the Sahara, and spend a day around the Merzouga dunes with a 4×4 tour, a visit to Khamlia and a camel ride.
You then travel north through the Ziz Valley and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas to Fes, spend a full day in its medina and drive back to Marrakech via Rabat and Casablanca. It is a good choice if you want to start and finish in the same city.
Tour Highlights
- Marrakech: Jemaa El Fna, the medina, the Koutoubia and the Saadian Tombs
- The High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass
- Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”
- The Roses Valley and the Todra Gorge
- The Sahara dunes of Merzouga, a 4x4 tour and a camel ride
- Khamlia and its traditional music
- Ifrane, the cedar forest and Barbary macaques
- Fes, the spiritual and cultural city of Morocco
- Rabat and Casablanca on the way back
Day-by-Day Itinerary
This itinerary can be modified and designed according to your requirements and needs. Contact us to adapt it.
Day 1
Arrival in Marrakech
We pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can make your first contact with Moroccan culture in the famous Jemaa El Fna square.
Day 2
Full Day in Marrakech
You explore Marrakech with a local guide. The highlights include Jemaa El Fna square, the old medina and its souks, the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia Palace, the Majorelle Gardens, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Koranic school. The rest of the day is free to shop in the souks or relax.
Day 3
Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
Your driver picks you up early in the morning in Marrakech, and you head south over the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n’Tichka pass, at about 2,260 metres, with views of Berber villages, kasbahs and oases along the way.
You stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified village (ksar) that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 and a location for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. In the afternoon you continue to Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa”, where you spend the night.
Stops on Day 3
- Marrakech
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Ouarzazate
Day 4
Ouarzazate, Roses Valley, Todra Gorge and Sahara Desert
After breakfast you leave Ouarzazate and follow the Roses Valley and the Dades Valley on the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs”, with plenty of chances for photos. You visit the Todra Gorges, a canyon whose rock walls rise up to about 160 metres, and continue through Tinghir, Erfoud and the palm groves of the Tafilalet oasis to reach the Sahara dunes of Merzouga in the late afternoon.
Stops on Day 4
- Ouarzazate
- Roses Valley
- Todra Gorge
- Sahara Desert
Day 5
Merzouga, Khamlia and a Desert Camp
After breakfast you enjoy a 4×4 tour of the Merzouga dunes and visit Khamlia, a village whose people originally come from sub-Saharan Africa, where the local community entertains you with traditional music. In the afternoon you ride a camel into the dunes for the sunset and spend the night in a desert camp.
Stops on Day 5
- Sahara Desert
- Khamlia
- Sahara
Day 6
Merzouga, Ziz Valley, Midelt, Azrou and Fes
You wake early to watch the sunrise over the dunes and ride back to Merzouga. From there you drive north through the Ziz Valley and its gorges, over the Tizi n’Talghamt pass and through Midelt, with a stop for lunch on the way. You cross the Middle Atlas, stop at the cedar forest near Azrou, where you may see Barbary macaques, and pass through Ifrane before reaching Fes at the end of the day.
Stops on Day 6
- Merzouga
- Ziz Valley
- Midelt
- Azrou
- Ifrane
- Fes
Day 7
Full Day in Fes
You spend the day exploring the medina of Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On a walking tour of its narrow lanes you visit the famous tanneries, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, the madrasas and the Nejjarine fountain. In the afternoon you drive to the Jewish quarter (the Mellah) and the gates of the Royal Palace, visit a pottery or tile workshop and finish at a viewpoint with a panoramic view over the whole medina.
Day 8
Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech
After breakfast you drive back to Marrakech on the motorway, passing through Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, and Casablanca, its economic city, and arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon. Overnight in a riad or hotel.
Stops on Day 8
- Fes
- Rabat
- Casablanca
- Marrakech
Day 9
Departure from Marrakech
Transfer to the airport. End of our services.
What Is Included
Included
- Private tour for your group only
- Driver-guide and private 4x4 or minivan transport with fuel
- Accommodation with breakfast and dinner (bed and breakfast in Fes and Marrakech)
- City tour guide in Fes and Marrakech
- Camel ride into the dunes
- A night in a desert camp, with dinner and breakfast
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers
Not Included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Museum and monument entrance fees
- Tips
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Contact us to confirm the details for your dates and group size.
What to Bring
- Warm layers, as desert nights can be cold in winter
- Sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes
- Comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag
- Cash for lunches, drinks and tips
- A camera and a power bank
Is This Tour Right for You?
This tour suits travellers who want a complete circuit through the south and the north and prefer to start and end in the same city. It includes long drives on several days.
For a shorter trip to the Sahara, see our 3-day tour.
More Tours You May Like
Compare our other longer tours.
Ten days of adventure from Marrakech, including Sahara camel trekking and off-road desert tracks.
Ifrane, the cedar forest, the Ziz Valley and a camel trek in the Sahara.
A snapshot of Morocco’s historic cities: Casablanca, Fes, Rabat, Meknes and Marrakech.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why start and end in Marrakech?
Marrakech has a major international airport, so you can fly in and out of the same city. The loop takes you south to the Sahara, north to Fes and back via Rabat and Casablanca.
Do I sleep in a desert camp?
Yes. On day 5 you ride a camel into the dunes for the sunset and spend the night in a desert camp, and the next morning you watch the sunrise and ride back to Merzouga.
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts in Marrakech with an airport pick-up on day 1 and ends in Marrakech with a transfer on day 9.
Is accommodation included?
Accommodation as described in the itinerary is arranged for you, with the meals listed in the included section. Contact us to confirm the details for your dates and group size.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Yes. The itinerary can be modified according to your requirements, and we can start from any airport, hotel, town or city in Morocco. Tell us what you need on our contact page.
When is the best time to go?
The tour runs all year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, summer is very hot in the desert and winter nights are cold, so bring warm clothes.
What should I bring?
warm layers, as desert nights can be cold in winter, sun protection, sunglasses and a scarf for the dunes, comfortable shoes and a small overnight bag, cash for lunches, drinks and tips and a camera. Read our tips in the Morocco FAQ.
How do I book or get a price?
Fill in the form at the bottom of this page or email travelstomorocco@gmail.com with your dates and the number of people, and we will reply with a free quote.
Plan Your Trip
Helpful pages before you book:
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Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you a free quote for this trip.
Email: travelstomorocco@gmail.com | Phone: +212 6 62 38 50 95
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