A Real-Talk Review of the 2025 Marrakech to Fez Sahara Trip

So you’re thinking about that three-day trip from Marrakech over the dunes to Fez, right? It honestly gets advertised everywhere, and the pictures look pretty much out of this world. I recently did this exact tour, and frankly, I want to give you the real story for your 2025 plans. Basically, it’s not all just perfect sunsets and chill camel rides, I mean, there’s a ton of driving involved. Still, this whole experience is, in a way, one of those things you just have to do when you’re in Morocco. It is something completely different from the busy city life, you know? This is, more or less, what you can genuinely expect from day one to day three.

Day 1: Leaving Marrakech and Hitting the High Atlas Roads

The first morning is, sort of, an early one. Your driver will likely find you near your riad, and honestly, you’ll be sharing a van or 4×4 with a few other travelers. As a matter of fact, the drive out of Marrakech is a sight in itself, watching the city’s red walls disappear in the rearview mirror. You then start to go up, and well, you really do go up. The Tizi n’Tichka pass is apparently one of the highest in North Africa, and the views are kind of staggering. The road twists and turns a lot, so, if you get carsick, you may want to prepare for that. The van usually makes plenty of stops for pictures and coffee, so you get to stretch your legs, which is pretty great. Anyway, the air gets cooler and cleaner the higher you climb, which is a really welcome change from the city heat. We stopped at a women’s cooperative making argan oil; frankly, it was a little touristy but still sort of interesting to see.

A Stop at Aït Benhaddou: A Real-Life Movie Set

Okay, the main stop on the first day is obviously the famous ksar of Aït Benhaddou. At the end of the day, this place is literally a UNESCO World Heritage site, and you can totally see why. It’s a group of earthen buildings walled in together, and it looks almost exactly like you would picture an ancient desert city. It’s actually a bit like walking back in time. You’ve probably seen it in movies like Gladiator or TV shows, and you know, it feels just a little surreal to be there in person. We had a guide, and frankly, he was okay, but the best part was just getting lost in the narrow, reddish-brown alleyways by myself for a little bit. You just climb up to the top of the main structure for a completely incredible view of the surrounding dry, rocky area. Seriously, it’s a very photogenic place.

Driving Through Valleys to the First Night’s Stay

After Aït Benhaddou, you get back in the van for more driving, this time passing through Ouarzazate, which they call the door of the desert. There’s a big film studio there you can see from the road, but honestly, we just drove by. The scenery then changes quite a bit, becoming greener as you get near the Skoura Oasis and then the Dadès Valley. You see, this area is known for its roses in the spring, and even without the flowers, the landscape is very striking with all the palm groves and old kasbahs. The first day ends with you arriving at a hotel or an auberge, typically tucked away in the Dadès Gorges. The place we stayed was fairly simple but clean, and the dinner was a tagine, which was pretty much what I expected. The gorge walls rising up around you are, well, very impressive. To be honest, you’ll be pretty tired at this point, as it’s a very long day of sitting in a car.

Day 2: The Main Event—Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi Dunes

The second day is, like, what everyone is really here for. After breakfast, there is a bit more driving, and on the other hand, the scenery gets flatter and more desert-like. You will likely stop at the Todra Gorges, which are these huge canyons with a little river running through them; frankly, they are just amazing to walk through. But really, the anticipation is all about seeing the Sahara. And then, finally, you see it. The Erg Chebbi dunes, these giant waves of orange sand that just seem to appear out of nowhere. It’s almost an unreal sight, you know? At a small outpost in Merzouga, you basically leave your big bags and just get on your camel for the trek into the desert. Honestly, riding a camel is a sort of clumsy and funny experience at first, but you get used to it. The ride into the dunes during the golden hour before sunset is absolutely the highlight. The quiet out there is something else—just the soft steps of the camels on the sand. The sunset itself was, I mean, just breathtaking. There aren’t really words for the way the colors of the sand and sky change so dramatically.

I think what really got me was the quiet. In a world that’s always buzzing with noise, the profound silence of the desert at night, under a sky full of stars, is just something you feel deep in your bones. It’s pretty humbling, actually.

Arriving at the Berber camp was really cool. The tents are more or less comfortable, with actual beds. Dinner was another good meal, and afterward, the local guys who run the camp played drums around a campfire and told some stories. It feels just a little bit staged, of course, but everyone has a good time. But frankly, the absolute best part of the night was just walking away from the fire, lying on a sand dune, and looking up at the stars. I have seriously never seen so many stars in my life. The Milky Way was so clear, it was like a cloud painted across the sky. You know, you feel very small in a very good way out there. It’s just you and this immense, silent universe.

Day 3: Sunrise and the Long Road North to Fez

You have to get up very early on the last day, well, before the sun. This is so you can see the sunrise over the Algerian border, and you really don’t want to miss it. Watching the first light hit the tops of the dunes and slowly spill down into the shadows is kind of magical. It’s a completely different and more gentle kind of beauty than the fiery sunset. After that spectacle, you hop back on your camel for the ride back to the starting point, where you get some breakfast and can even take a quick shower. And then, I mean, you get ready for the longest drive of all. The trip to Fez is, to be honest, a marathon. It’s at least seven or eight hours in the car, so just be prepared for that. Anyway, the views are very different on this leg. You pass through the Ziz Valley, which is full of palm trees, and then you start climbing into the Middle Atlas mountains. This region feels almost like a different country, a little like Switzerland or Colorado in some spots, with cedar forests and cooler air. You even stop to see some Barbary macaque monkeys by the side of the road, which is a pretty fun break in the drive. Finally, late in the evening, you get dropped off in Fez, feeling totally exhausted but also incredibly full of these new memories.

My Honest Takeaways for Your 2025 Tour

Okay, so that’s the play-by-play. Now for some straight talk and tips to help you decide if this trip is right for you. It’s an incredible experience, for sure, but there are definitely some things to keep in mind.

• The Drives Are Really Long: I can’t say this enough. You will spend a lot of time in a van. Just think of it as part of the deal for seeing so much of the country in a short time. Bring a book or download some podcasts, you know?
• Pack Smart and Light: You’ll just take a small overnight bag with you to the desert camp. Pack things like sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, and some warmer clothes for the night, as it gets surprisingly cold in the desert.
• Manage Your Expectations: This is a pretty popular tourist route, not some undiscovered expedition. The camps are comfortable but not exactly luxurious (unless you book a luxury version, of course). The food is good and traditional but a bit repetitive. It’s basically an adventure, not a resort vacation.
• Bring Some Cash: You’ll need it for things like tips for your driver and guides, drinks, and any souvenirs you might want to pick up along the way. Don’t expect to use your card much outside of the bigger towns.
• Is it Worth It? Yes, absolutely. For all the driving, the payoff of seeing the dunes, riding the camel, and sleeping under that sky is something I will really never forget. It’s an efficient way to experience a huge, iconic part of Morocco.

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