5 Days Tour From Fes To Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert

1st day: Fes – Ifrane - Midelt

The 5 days desert tour starts with an early pick up from the airport or your accommodation in Fes. As you start your journey, you will pass through the charming town of Ifrane, where the houses have sloping roofs to cope with the yearly snowfall. This town is famous for its Alpine-style architecture, and it's a popular destination for skiers in winter.

As you continue on your journey, you will come across Azrou, a small town that is 1250 meters above sea level. Here, you can stop for a walk and witness the Barbary apes that live in the oak and cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. These apes are not shy and are often seen playing around the road, so be sure to have your camera ready.

After Azrou, you will drive along the N13 south over the Middle Atlas, passing through Timahdite, a town with a feminine Berber name that begins and ends with the letter "t." This charming town is an excellent place to stop for a quick break and grab a bite to eat.

Finally, you will reach Midelt, which is 1508 meters above sea level and is known as the "apple capital" of Morocco. This charming city lies at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain and serves as the commercial agricultural center for the surrounding area. In addition to its agricultural significance, Midelt is also one of Morocco's principal cities for the mining of several minerals, such as fluorite, vanadinite, quartz, and cerussite.

2nd day : Explore Merzouga region – Nomads – Khamlia – Merzouga lake – Erg Chebbi – palm grove

After enjoying a delicious breakfast in Midelt, the next leg of your journey takes you south over the Tizi-n-Talghemt pass, also known as "the she-camel" pass. As you continue on your journey, you'll descend through the stunning Ziz Valley, which is famous for its palm trees and the length of its oasis. Along the road, you'll also see innumerable "ksars", small villages of individual houses that are a common sight in this part of Morocco.

Your next stop will be the mining town of Er Rachidia, which is known for copper and malachite. From there, you'll reach Erfoud, which is famous for its date festival and the fossils that have been worked into artifacts. While in Erfoud, you can visit the shops, but there's no obligation to buy anything.

Continuing on your journey, you'll reach Rissani before finally arriving at the famous red Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. Once you're there, you can take a camel ride of an hour to an hour and a half, either setting out from the camp or to it. Alternatively, it's also possible to take a 4x4 to the camp.

You'll be spending the night in a luxury camp that offers private bathrooms, king-sized beds, beautiful Moroccan furnishings, and tastefully arranged lamps that enhance the enjoyment of the silence and beauty of the dunes. This is a perfect opportunity to relax and soak up the beauty of the desert before continuing on your journey.

3rd day : Merzouga Sahara – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

Set your alarm early to catch the sunrise over the red Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, it's a sight you won't want to miss. After a delicious breakfast, depart for Tinghir and the Toudgha Gorges.

As you travel, keep an eye out for the "khettarat" water channels that are used for irrigation and take a moment to appreciate their architecture. If you're interested in learning more about the channels, you can refer to Andrew Wilson's work.

Once you arrive at the Toudgha Gorges, take a walk beyond the gorge and explore the village gardens and fields. This is an excellent opportunity to take in the scenery and experience the local culture.

After exploring the gorges, continue on to the Dades Valley, which was once at the bottom of the sea and now features stunning sedimentary rocks like sandstone and limestone. This is a great place to take a break and soak up the natural beauty of Morocco.

Finally, spend the night in a hotel or kasbah, and rest up before continuing on your adventure.

4th day : Dades Valley – Roses Valley – Palm Groves of Skoura – Ouarzazate

After breakfast, the itinerary includes a visit to the Dades Gorges with a short walk. Then, the journey to Ouarzazate continues off-road along the Boutaghar Piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and enjoy a glass of tea with them. This visit provides insight into the harsh living conditions of these nomads in the dry landscape, as they try to raise their goats and children.

The next stop is the Valley of the Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May and the production of cosmetics and toiletry items. In Skoura, the Kasbah Amredhil is a must-see, as it has been beautifully restored and gives a clear idea of life within such housing. Made entirely of adobe, an excellent building material that provides warmth in winter and coolness in summer due to the thickness of the walls. After a 45-minute drive, you will reach Ouarzazate, where you will spend the night in a guest house.

5th day : Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah- Telouet – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

After breakfast, the tour continues to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s seven World Heritage sites, and a popular filming location for Hollywood movies. Some of the buildings in the Kasbah date back to the 17th century.

Next, you will drive through the scenic Ounila Valley, which is full of twists and turns and stunning views of the Berber villages, gardens, and smaller Kasbahs.

Afterward, the tour stops at Telouet, which was once the seat of the last Pasha of Marrakech, El Glaoui. The highest pass in Africa, Tizi-n-Tichka, was controlled from here. The building additions are now ruins, having been abandoned and plundered after Thami El Glaoui fled the country following the French departure in 1956. The traditional interior decoration at the farthest end of the Kasbah is sure to impress.

At the end of the day, after crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, you will arrive in Marrakech. The Morocco desert tour from Fes to Marrakech, which is 5 days long, will come to an end around 6:00 PM.