My Review: The 3-Day Private Sahara Tour from Marrakech to Fes in 2025
So, people are always asking me if the long drive out to the Sahara is really worth it, you know? Honestly, after doing the 3-day private trip that takes you from Marrakech all the way to Fes, I can tell you it’s a completely wild ride. It’s pretty much more than just seeing some sand dunes; in fact, it’s a full-on road trip through some of Morocco’s most mind-blowing scenery. Actually, you see the country change right before your eyes, from the twisting roads of the Atlas Mountains to these ancient mud-brick cities and then, finally, to those massive, golden waves of sand. Anyway, this private tour setup is sort of the best way to do it, to be honest. Basically, you get your own driver and your own 4×4, so you can stop for pictures whenever you want, which is obviously a huge plus.
Day 1: Winding Roads and an Ancient Movie Set
Okay, so that first morning starts pretty early, as you might expect. Frankly, leaving Marrakech felt like shedding a layer of skin; you trade the scooter horns and busy squares for this really open, almost quiet road. The first part of the drive is, like, all about the High Atlas Mountains. Our driver, you know, he was really great and handled the Tizi n’Tichka pass like a pro. This road is, like, a series of serious switchbacks that climb higher and higher, and just when you think you can’t go any higher, there’s another turn. At the top, the air is just a little bit cooler and thinner, and the view back down is honestly kind of staggering. You can more or less see for miles and miles across the rocky peaks.
Then, after the mountains, the scenery changes almost instantly. In fact, it gets drier and the buildings start looking like they’re made from the red earth itself. The main stop for the day is Aït Benhaddou, and frankly, pictures don’t do it justice. It’s a bit like stepping back in time or onto a movie set, which, as a matter of fact, it literally is—they filmed parts of Gladiator and Game of Thrones here. We spent some time just walking through its narrow, sandy alleyways, climbing up to the old granary at the top for a panoramic view. You know, you can almost feel the history there. That night we stayed in a small hotel in the Dades Valley, and seriously, the quiet after a full day of driving was really welcome. The hotel itself was sort of carved into the rock, which was a pretty unique touch.
Into the Gorges of Dades
Alright, so driving into the Dades Gorges is a completely different kind of spectacular. The road itself is famously twisty, often called the “drunken road” for good reason, you know? Basically, from a viewpoint above, it looks like a ribbon someone just tossed onto the mountainside. The rock formations in this area are really unusual, too. Some people call them “monkey fingers” and honestly, you can sort of see why. We actually spent the night here, and it was quite nice. The place was a small, family-run riad, and you could hear the Dades River flowing just outside the window all night. Dinner was a home-cooked tagine, and I mean, it was one of the best ones we had on the whole trip. It’s a very calm place, sort of a perfect rest stop before the big desert day.
Day 2: Walking Through Canyons to Camel Rides at Sunset
So, the second day is what most people are really here for. After breakfast, we actually drove to the Todra Gorges first. These are, in a way, different from Dades; the canyon walls are much closer together and go straight up, which makes you feel very, very small. It’s pretty cool, you know, you can get out of the car and walk along the river at the bottom of the canyon. You sometimes see local families having picnics there, which gives the place a really nice, relaxed feeling. It’s a bit of a short stop, but it’s definitely a good one.
Then, it’s basically back in the car for the final stretch to the Sahara. The landscape slowly starts to flatten out and get more sandy, and you just feel this growing excitement. Finally, you see them: the Erg Chebbi dunes. Honestly, they are just massive, like a sea of orange sand that seems to go on forever. In the small town of Merzouga, we met our camels, which are actually dromedaries with one hump. Getting on a camel is a slightly clumsy experience, but once you’re up there, it’s pretty magical. Our camel guide led us into the dunes, and seriously, the hour-long trek to the desert camp was one of the most peaceful hours of my life. The only sound was the soft padding of the camel’s feet on the sand. We got to the camp just in time to climb a tall dune and watch the sun go down. I mean, the way the colors of the sand changed from orange to pink to deep purple was something I will not forget.
A Night in the Berber Desert Camp
The desert camp itself was surprisingly comfortable, you know? We had a private tent with a real bed and a bathroom, which was definitely a nice touch. It’s obviously not a luxury hotel, but it was much better than just sleeping on the ground. For instance, dinner was another delicious tagine, which we ate in a big communal tent with the other guests. Afterwards, the local Berber guides brought out their drums and started a bonfire. They played music and told stories, and honestly, everyone was just so friendly and welcoming.
But the real highlight, for me, was just walking away from the fire a little bit and looking up. At the end of the day, with no city lights for miles, the number of stars you can see is just unbelievable. You can clearly see the Milky Way arching across the sky. It’s so quiet out there, it’s almost like you can hear the silence, if that makes any sense. Waking up the next morning was also pretty special. You get up before sunrise, ride the camels back out of the dunes, and watch the sun come up over the Algerian border. Seeing the dunes light up again, but this time in the morning, was really beautiful. After that, you head back to a guesthouse in Merzouga for a quick shower and breakfast before the long drive to Fes.
Day 3: From Desert Palms to Alpine Forests
I have to be honest, day three is basically a lot of driving. I mean, the distance from Merzouga to Fes is quite long. Yet, the scenery keeps changing, so it’s not really boring. First, you drive through the Ziz Valley, which is this amazing river of palm trees that cuts through the dry landscape. It’s like a massive green snake winding its way north, and you know, it’s a really stark contrast to the orange dunes you just left. You stop for a few pictures here, of course.
A little later, you start climbing into the Middle Atlas mountains, and things get green again. The biggest surprise on this leg of the trip is probably the town of Ifrane. To be honest, it looks like a town straight out of Switzerland, with its pointy red roofs and neat little gardens. It feels totally out of place, but it’s a pretty interesting stop. Nearby, there’s a big cedar forest, and we stopped to see the Barbary macaque monkeys that live there. You can get pretty close to them, and they are definitely not shy. After that, it’s the last couple of hours of driving before you finally get dropped off at your riad or hotel in Fes. By the way, arriving in Fes is a bit of a shock to the system after the peace of the desert, but it feels like the perfect way to end a really incredible trip across the country.
“Actually, watching the sunset over the Erg Chebbi dunes was the whole point of the trip for me. The silence out there, you know, it’s just something else. It’s a completely different world from the busy cities.”
My Takeaways from the Trip
So, here are just a few thoughts in short form if you’re thinking about this kind of adventure.
- A private tour is totally worth it: Basically, you have flexibility, and your own guide can tell you so much about the places you see.
- Be ready for lots of car time: It’s a road trip, so obviously you spend many hours driving. The views make it good, though.
- Pack layers: The desert is hot during the day but gets pretty cold at night, so you will want a jacket.
- The food is a highlight: Just get ready to eat a lot of tagine. It’s delicious pretty much everywhere you go.
- The camel ride is amazing: It’s not just a gimmick; it’s actually a really great way to experience the dunes and the silence.
Read our full review: 3-Day Private Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes Full Review and Details
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