3 Day Desert Tour to Fes from Marrakech: 2025 Review
So, you’re thinking about swapping the lively squares of Marrakech for the ancient medina of Fes, right? Well, taking the three-day desert tour is, like, a really popular way to do it. Honestly, it’s so much more than just a simple transfer between cities. You kind of get to see a huge part of Morocco that you would otherwise miss, you know. This is, at the end of the day, a proper expedition into the heart of the country’s wildly shifting scenery. We’re talking about going over the big Atlas Mountains, you see, and then literally sleeping under the stars in the Sahara. This piece is basically here to give you a genuine look at what this kind of trip feels like for 2025, so you can decide if it’s really the right fit for you.
Day 1: Over the Mountains to Dades Valley
The High Atlas Mountain Crossing
Okay, so on the first day, you really leave Marrakech pretty early in the morning. Your guide actually picks you up, and soon, you’re more or less leaving the city’s hum way behind you. The road, like, immediately begins to climb and twist through the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Honestly, the views are just incredible right from the start. You’ll probably make a few stops for photos, because, I mean, the way the landscape changes from flat plains to rugged peaks is seriously something to see. Anyway, there are these little Berber villages clinging to the hillsides, and it’s actually a quiet look into a way of life that feels ages away from the city. At the end of the day, you feel very small next to the grand scale of the mountains around you.
Exploring the Famous Aït Benhaddou
By the way, after crossing the mountains, the next big stop is basically Aït Benhaddou. You’ve probably seen this place before, as a matter of fact, even if you don’t know its name. It’s a ksar, which is sort of a fortified village made completely of earth and clay, and it’s been the backdrop for a ton of movies and shows. It is, like, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and when you’re there, you can obviously see why. Crossing the little river and wandering through its old pathways feels, in a way, like you’ve traveled back in time. The view from the very top is really worth the small climb, giving you a full picture of the old buildings and the stark, lovely land around it. Seriously, it’s one of those places that’s almost more amazing in person than in pictures.
Frankly, what struck me most about Aït Benhaddou was the silence inside its walls. Away from the entrance, you can, like, almost hear the history of the place. It’s really powerful.
The Road to the Dades Gorges
Finally, as the afternoon goes on, you’ll keep driving towards the Dades Valley. This stretch is sometimes called the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” and you will, like, see so many of these old fortresses, some in ruins and some still lived in, along the way. The landscape just gets more and more strange and beautiful. You’ll also pass through the Valley of Roses, which, you know, is where they grow the flowers for making rosewater, a pretty big deal in Morocco. The final part of the drive for the day takes you right into the Dades Gorges, with their wild rock formations people sometimes call “monkey fingers.” You, kind of, get to your hotel for the night feeling like you’ve seen a thousand different worlds in just one day, and at the end of the day, you’re pretty tired but also totally amazed.
Read our full review: [Marrakech to Fes Sahara Tour Full Review and Details]
Day 2: Canyons, Camels, and a Desert Camp
A Morning Walk in Todra Gorge
So, you wake up in the Dades Valley, and the second day starts with a short drive to the nearby Todra Gorge. This place is, like, seriously impressive. We’re talking about these massive canyon walls that are incredibly high and, in some places, only a little bit apart. There’s a clean river running through the bottom, and you actually get time to walk along it and just, you know, take it all in. Frankly, the change in temperature is one of the first things you’ll feel; it’s so much cooler down in the canyon’s shade. It’s a very popular spot for rock climbers, obviously, and it’s just a really beautiful and peaceful place to spend a bit of the morning before heading deeper into the desert.
The Camel Ride into Erg Chebbi
Alright, the afternoon of day two is pretty much what everyone waits for. After driving for a few more hours and stopping for lunch, you finally arrive at the edge of the Sahara Desert, near a town called Merzouga. This is where you, like, meet your camels. I mean, leaving the van behind and climbing onto a camel to head into the massive Erg Chebbi dunes is a really special moment. The world, in a way, becomes just the soft sound of camel footsteps on the sand and the amazing, ever-shifting colors of the dunes as the sun gets lower. The shadows get very long, and the sand seems to glow. Seriously, there’s just nothing quite like that feeling of being led through this huge, quiet sea of sand.
An Evening at the Berber Camp
Eventually, just as the sun is setting, you’ll see your Berber desert camp tucked between some large dunes. The camps are typically more comfortable than you might expect, with, you know, proper tents and beds. After you’ve settled in, a traditional Moroccan dinner is served, usually a delicious tagine. The best part of the whole night, as a matter of fact, is what comes after dinner. You’ll sit around a campfire, and the Berber guides will often play traditional drums and sing. And then there’s the sky. With basically no city lights, the number of stars you can see is just absolutely unbelievable. You can, like, clearly see the Milky Way, and the quiet of the desert at night is something that stays with you.
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Day 3: Sunrise and the Long Road to Fes
Sahara Sunrise and the Return Journey
So, the third day usually starts extremely early, but it’s absolutely worth it, I mean. Your guides will wake you up before dawn so you can climb up a high dune to watch the sunrise over the Sahara. It’s really a magical experience. Honestly, seeing the sun slowly appear and change the color of the sand from purple and pink to orange and gold is just spectacular. After that, you’ll have some breakfast and then, you know, ride your camel back to the edge of the desert to meet your driver. It’s sort of a quiet, reflective ride, a pretty good way to say goodbye to the dunes.
Through the Ziz Valley to the Middle Atlas
Okay, now you have to get ready for a long day of driving, because Fes is quite a distance away. Still, the scenery keeps changing, so it’s not boring at all. You’ll drive through the Ziz Valley, which is, like, this huge, amazing ribbon of green palm trees that cuts through the dry landscape for miles. It’s a really stunning contrast. After that, you start climbing again, this time into the Middle Atlas Mountains. This region feels almost totally different from the south of Morocco. You’ll see, for instance, huge cedar forests. As a matter of fact, you’ll likely stop to see the Barbary macaque monkeys that live in these woods, which is always fun.
Ifrane and the Arrival in Fes
By the way, one of the last stops before Fes is the town of Ifrane. People call it the “Little Switzerland” of Morocco, and frankly, it’s easy to see why. The architecture is, like, all pointy-roofed alpine-style houses, which looks really surprising after everything you’ve just seen. It’s a bit of a strange and interesting place. After Ifrane, it’s the final push to Fes. You’ll typically arrive in the early evening, and your driver will drop you off at your hotel or riad. You get there feeling like you’ve been on a huge expedition, because, you know, you pretty much have. You’ve crossed mountains and desert and seen so many different sides of Morocco in just three days.
Is This the Right Tour for You?
Who This Tour is Perfect For
Honestly, this tour is absolutely brilliant for certain types of people. If you’re a bit adventurous and don’t have a ton of time but really want to see the Sahara, then it’s basically ideal. You cover so much ground and get to see an incredible amount of the country’s diverse landscapes in a very efficient way. It’s also, like, perfect for photographers, obviously, because the photo opportunities are just endless, from the mountains to the kasbahs to the desert dunes. At the end of the day, if you enjoy road trips and are happy to go with the flow, you will probably have an amazing time. It’s for the person who wants to do more than just see the cities and really wants a taste of Morocco’s wilder side.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
On the other hand, it’s only fair to say who this trip might not be for. You see, there is a lot of time spent in the car. Seriously, a lot. If you get restless easily or really don’t like long drives, you might find it a little tough. Also, while the desert camp is a fantastic experience, it is, in a way, still camping. The facilities are good but simple, so if you are looking for five-star luxury every single night, this probably isn’t the right fit. The whole point is more about the experience than, you know, extreme comfort. It’s just good to have the right expectations, because then you’ll really appreciate the trip for what it is: a spectacular and authentic look at the heart of Morocco.
Some Final Practical Advice
Alright, so if you do decide to go, here are a few quick tips. Definitely pack layers of clothing. The desert is, like, very hot during the day but can get surprisingly cold at night, even in the summer. You’ll want a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, obviously. Comfortable shoes are a must for walking around the sites like Aït Benhaddou. And, you know, bring a portable charger for your phone because charging spots can be limited at the desert camp. When choosing a tour, you have a choice between group tours, which are more affordable, and private tours, which offer more flexibility. Anyway, just read the reviews carefully before you book one to make sure it’s a good company.
