Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour: A 4-Day Private Trip Review (2025)
Okay, so you’re thinking about a trip that cuts right across Morocco. A private four-day trip from the old city of Fes, right over to the liveliness of Marrakech, is pretty much a classic for a reason. Frankly, there are a ton of these tours offered, and they all look more or less the same on paper. The big question, really, is what’s it actually like. You know, what’s the feel of the drive, what are the stops like, and is the whole desert camp thing what you see in the pictures? As a matter of fact, I went on one of these private outings and wanted to give you a very real look at what happened over those four days. So, you can sort of decide if it’s the right kind of adventure for you in 2025. It’s, at the end of the day, a very personal way to see a big part of the country.
Day 1: Leaving Fes for the High Atlas Scenery
So, the first morning usually has an early start, which is a bit of a good thing. A driver, like, just appears at your riad in Fes, and then you’re off. Honestly, the first couple of hours are about leaving the city’s intensity behind. The landscape, you know, starts changing almost immediately. You see fewer buildings and more open land, which is a nice change of pace. The first real stop of interest tends to be Ifrane. Now, people call this place the “Switzerland of Morocco,” and seriously, it’s a bit of a strange sight. The buildings have pointed roofs and the whole place feels incredibly different from Fes, almost like a town from the Alps was dropped in North Africa. It’s a pretty neat spot for a quick coffee and to just stretch your legs.
Next, you are basically headed towards the cedar forests near Azrou. This part of the drive is honestly quite memorable. For instance, the air gets cooler, and the scenery becomes full of these huge, old trees. The big attraction here, obviously, are the Barbary macaques. Your driver will likely stop the car, and you’ll find these monkeys are, more or less, used to people. Anyway, watching them go about their business and maybe feeding them a piece of fruit you have on hand is a very charming little break in the drive. After that, you’re pretty much continuing your climb into the Middle Atlas mountains. The roads get windier, and the views become incredibly wide and open. The day often ends in a town like Midelt, which is kind of a stopover place known for its apple groves, but, to be honest, it offers a really good spot to rest before the bigger desert push the next day.
Day 2: Into the Sahara and That First Dune Sighting
Alright, day two is the one everyone really looks forward to. I mean, this is the day you actually get to the Sahara. The morning drive starts out mountainous but, you know, gradually flattens out. You go through the Ziz Valley, and frankly, the sight of millions of palm trees creating a green river through a dry canyon is absolutely stunning. As a matter of fact, you see these amazing old kasbahs popping up on the hillsides. As you get closer to the towns of Erfoud and Rissani, you can sort of feel the atmosphere changing. The air gets hotter, the light looks different, and you just know the desert is near. Your driver will probably stop for lunch here, and then it’s the final leg to Merzouga, which sits right on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Honestly, that first view of the sand dunes is something else. They are just enormous, a literal sea of orange sand that seems to go on forever. You leave your main luggage at a hotel at the edge of the dunes and, well, pack a small overnight bag. Then comes the camel ride. It’s sort of a bumpy and slow-moving procession, but it gives you an amazing viewpoint as you head into the dunes. At the end of the day, seeing the sun go down from the top of a sand dune, with the light turning everything golden and purple, is a moment you won’t quickly forget. You arrive at the desert camp, which is typically a collection of sturdy tents around a central courtyard. The evening is spent having a traditional meal, listening to some Berber music by the fire, and then, you know, just staring up at a sky full of stars. The silence out there is a really big thing, it’s a sound all on its own.
Day 3: Desert Sunrise and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
Basically, you have to wake up pretty early on day three, but it’s definitely worth it. Watching the sun come up over the dunes is, you know, the opposite of the sunset but just as spectacular. The light slowly hits the sand, and the colors change moment by moment. After breakfast, you typically ride the camels back to the edge of the dunes to meet your driver. Then it’s time to hit the road again, this time heading west. You’re now on what’s often called the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs,” and you can clearly see why. You are constantly passing these old, fortified mud-brick structures.
A major highlight of the day is almost always the stop at Todra Gorge. This is a very massive canyon that has been cut by a river. You can, for instance, get out of the car and walk along the riverbed, looking up at these incredibly high rock walls on either side. It’s a very different kind of natural beauty from the wide-open desert. After Todra, the drive continues to the Dadès Valley. The landscape here is again very different, with strangely shaped rock formations people call “monkey fingers.” The day’s drive usually ends at a hotel or riad located in the Dadès Gorge, which often gives you amazing views right from your window. So, it’s a day of very dramatic and changing landscapes.
Day 4: Ait Benhaddou’s Film Set and Over the Mountains to Marrakech
Okay, the last day is still a very full one. You start by driving out of the Dadès Valley towards Ouarzazate. Ouarzazate is kind of known as the Hollywood of Morocco, as a matter of fact, because of the big film studios located there. Just outside the city is the main event of the day, which is the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou. You will definitely recognize this place. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been the backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. You get to walk across a bridge and then explore the old, twisting alleyways of this ancient fortified village. It honestly feels like you’re stepping back in time. You can climb to the top for a fantastic view of the whole place and the surrounding landscape.
After Ait Benhaddou, you are pretty much on the home stretch to Marrakech, but the drive itself is an adventure. You have to cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass. This road, you know, twists and turns its way up to an elevation of over 2,260 meters. The views are just incredible, with lots of small Berber villages clinging to the mountainsides. It’s a bit of a slow drive, but the scenery is really amazing. Once you get over the pass, the landscape begins to change one last time, becoming greener and less stark. Finally, you start seeing the signs for Marrakech. Your driver will typically drop you off directly at your hotel or riad in the late afternoon or early evening, bringing this rather big cross-country trip to a very satisfying end.
A Few Handy Tips for Your Own Trip
Thinking about this kind of trip requires a little bit of planning. Based on my experience, here are a few things that are good to know:
- Packing a Small Bag: Seriously, for the night in the desert, you’ll just take a small overnight bag on the camel. So, have one ready with your essentials like a toothbrush, change of clothes, and any medications.
- Cash is Useful: Right, a lot of places are cash-based, especially the small cafes and shops along the way for lunches or souvenirs. So, having some Dirhams on hand is a very smart move.
- Clothing Layers: The temperatures, you know, can change a lot. It can be quite hot during the day and then surprisingly cool at night, particularly in the desert. So, bringing layers of clothing is a very practical idea.
- Stay Hydrated: Well, you’re in a very dry climate. Always have a bottle of water with you in the car. Most drivers will have water available, but it’s just good to be prepared.
- The Private vs. Group Thing: To be honest, a private tour offers a ton of flexibility. You can, for example, ask the driver to stop wherever you want for photos. You’re not stuck on someone else’s schedule, which is a pretty big benefit, at the end of the day.
Read our full review: [4 Days In Private To The Desert From Fes Finishing In Marrakech Full Review and Details]
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