5 days trip from Marrakech to Fes

Marrakech to Ouarzazate, via the High Atlas and Aït Ben Haddou

Your 5 days trip from Marrakech to Fes begins with a drive into the High Atlas. We climb to the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres, stopping for photos of the sprawling Berber villages, then reach the legendary Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village that has served as a set for films like Gladiator.

After a guided visit, we continue to Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa”, where you can visit the Atlas Film Studios and the Taourirt Kasbah before settling in for the night.

Overnight in a riad in Ouarzazate, with dinner and breakfast

Ouarzazate to the Dades Valley, via Skoura, the Valley of the Roses and Boutghrar

We head east to the Skoura oasis to explore the 17th-century Amridil Kasbah hidden among the palms, then enter the Valley of the Roses, famous for its annual rose festival.

Next, an off-road trail leads to Boutghrar, a rugged landscape where you’ll have the rare chance to visit nomadic families who live in mountain caves: a window into a disappearing way of life. We end the day following the Dades River into the heart of the gorges, famous for their “Monkey Fingers” rock formations.

Overnight in a riad in the Dades Valley, with dinner and breakfast

Dades Valley to Merzouga, via the Todra Gorge and Rissani

After breakfast we explore the Todra Gorge, walking beneath 300-metre limestone walls above a crystal-clear river. We then head for the edge of the Sahara, stopping in Rissani, birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty, to explore its traditional souk, one of the most authentic in the south.

At the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, you’ll mount your camel for a sunset trek deep into the sand, reaching our luxury desert camp for a night of Berber music and Saharan dining under the stars.

Overnight in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast

A day in the Sahara: nomads, Khamlia and Merzouga

A full day to soak up the spirit of the desert. We cross the black stone desert (hamada) to visit a nomadic community, sharing tea and learning about their resilience, then head to Khamlia, a village whose people descend from sub-Saharan Africa, for an evocative performance of Gnaoua music.

After a traditional madfouna (“Berber pizza”) lunch, we explore the Merzouga palm grove and the seasonal lake where flamingos often rest. The afternoon is free to enjoy the dunes at your own pace, or to try an optional quad bike ride.

Overnight in a hotel in Merzouga, with dinner and breakfast

Merzouga to Fes, through the Middle Atlas

The last day of your 5 days trip from Marrakech to Fes is a grand tour of the Middle Atlas. We pass through the Ziz Valley, with its date palms and fortified villages, and stop for lunch in Midelt, before reaching the high cedar forests of Azrou to meet the wild Barbary macaques.

We continue to Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” for its European-style architecture and clean streets, and descend into the imperial city of Fes as the sun sets, where your driver drops you at your riad.