Itineraries · 3 min read
Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara: Route, Stops and Driving Times (2026)
Quick answer
The route from Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara covers about 1,000 km in 3 days: day 1 Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Ziz valley → Merzouga (camel trek, desert camp); day 2 Merzouga → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley; day 3 Dades → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou → Tizi n'Tichka → Marrakech. A 4th day adds a second night in the desert.
If your trip starts in the north, this one-way route turns the journey from Fes to Marrakech into the best part of your holiday.
Day 1 — Fes to Merzouga (≈ 470 km)
Leave Fes through Ifrane, the alpine-style town of the Middle Atlas, then the cedar forest of Azrou where Barbary macaques live. Cross the high plateau to Midelt, descend the dramatic Ziz valley of palms, and continue via Erfoud to Merzouga. Ride a camel at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes and sleep in a desert camp.
Day 2 — Merzouga to the Dades (≈ 280 km)
Sunrise on the dunes, breakfast, then west via Tinejdad to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge. Continue to the Dades Valley for a night in a kasbah hotel — see the Todra & Dades guide.
Day 3 — Dades to Marrakech (≈ 320 km)
The Rose Valley, Skoura and Ouarzazate, then Ait Benhaddou and the climb over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) to Marrakech in the evening.
How to do it
Book the 3-day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech (shared or private). Coming from Spain? The 8-day tour from Tangier includes this route after Chefchaouen and Fes. Going the other way? Choose Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga.
Tips
- Bring your full luggage — the tour ends in Marrakech.
- Pack a warm layer for the Middle Atlas and the desert night.
- Ask for a stop at the macaques and the Ziz valley viewpoint.
Background reading: Erg Chebbi on Wikipedia and our Fes travel guide.
FAQ
How long does it take to go from Fes to Marrakech via the desert?
Three days is the standard, with about 8 hours of driving on day 1 and day 3. Four days is more relaxed.
Is it better to start in Fes or Marrakech?
Both directions work. Starting in Fes suits trips that begin in the north or after Chefchaouen.
Where do you sleep on the route?
Night 1 in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi, night 2 in a kasbah hotel in the Dades valley.
Can I see monkeys on the way?
Yes, Barbary macaques live in the cedar forest near Azrou, on day 1.
Morocco Travels Team
Written by the Morocco Travels team in Marrakech — local guides and drivers who run these routes every week. We update our guides each season with current prices, opening hours and road conditions.
