Shared 3-Day Desert Tour — Marrakech to Fes (or Fes to Marrakech)
Cross the Sahara one-way between Marrakech and Fes on a budget shared tour.
Overview
This shared 3-day tour runs one-way between Marrakech and Fes (in either direction) via the Sahara — ideal if you want to see the desert and move between Morocco's two great cities without backtracking. Small groups, daily departures, the gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and a night in the desert camp, all at a budget-friendly shared price.
Highlights
- One-way Marrakech ⇄ Fes via the Sahara
- Ait Ben Haddou & the gorges
- Sunset camel trek & desert camp
- Shared small group, daily departures
- No backtracking between cities
Itinerary
Day 1Day 1: Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka → Ait Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Leave Marrakech and climb the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with a tea-and-photo stop. Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, then continue through Ouarzazate and the Valley of the Roses to the Dades Valley for the night. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 2Day 2: Dades → Todra Gorge → Merzouga → sunset camel trek → desert camp
The Dades switchbacks and the towering Todra Gorge (300 m walls) with time to walk the canyon, then east via Tinghir and Erfoud to Merzouga. At sunset, a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes to the desert camp, with dinner and Berber music under the stars. Dinner & breakfast.
Day 3Day 3: Sahara sunrise → Midelt → Middle Atlas → Fes
Wake for sunrise over the dunes, then north through the Ziz Valley, Midelt and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas (Barbary apes near Azrou) to arrive in Fes in the evening. Breakfast.
Tour route map
Included & not included
- ✓Shared air-conditioned transport
- ✓Pick-up in Marrakech (or Fes), drop-off in the other city
- ✓1 night hotel + 1 night desert camp
- ✓Camel trek
- ✓Half board
- ✓Multilingual driver
- ✓Bottled water
- ✗Lunches & drinks
- ✗Entrance fees
- ✗Tips
- ✗Insurance
Pricing
One-way in either direction.
| Group size | Price per person | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Shared group (max 17) | €180 | daily departures |
| Private (upgrade) | €450 | Private tour |
How booking works
Tell us your dates, group size and starting city by the enquiry form or WhatsApp and you hear back personally, usually within a few hours, with a clear all-in price. A small deposit holds your dates and you pay the balance on arrival, so you never prepay in full. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, and we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the night before.
Booking direct with our Berber family
Hotel Les Roches is our own — we were born at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes and have run it since 2004. You deal with the same family that owns the hotel, runs the desert camp and leads the camels, so there is no agency markup, nothing is subcontracted, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
What a night at our camp is like
After the sunset camel trek you reach our private camp as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. The tents are proper rooms — a real bed with warm blankets and an en-suite hot shower — and dinner is a home-cooked tagine under the stars, followed by Berber drums around the fire. With no light for a hundred kilometres the Milky Way is astonishing, and you wake early to climb a dune for sunrise.
What our guests say
★★★★★
We travelled all over Morocco and liked Auberge Les Roches especially. They arranged an awesome overnight camel tour, and the camp was deluxe with its own shower, hot water and toilet. The best people.
Ilya · Google · 2023
★★★★★
The hotel backs onto the desert, which was stunning, and the room was spacious and clean. The hosts even packed us breakfast for our early bus. The nicest vegetable tajine we had so far.
Beck Fa'amausili · Google · 2024
★★★★★
Perhaps the greatest hotel in the area — literally in the desert, with a beautiful pool. The staff is dedicated to making your stay just what you expected. I will definitely return.
Rhonda Vasquez · Google · 2025
Related
Luxury
Frequently asked questions
Which direction does it run?
Both — Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech, departing daily.
Is this the same as the Marrakech round-trip?
No — this one ends in the opposite city, so you don't backtrack.
How big is the group?
Maximum 17 people.
Can I go private?
Yes — ask about the private upgrade.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech, and how long is the drive?
It's about 560 km and 8–9 hours over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which is why the journey is spread over 2–3 days with stops at Aït Ben Haddou, the gorges and the Ziz Valley rather than driven in one go.
How comfortable is the desert camp?
Very — our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi has en-suite tents with real beds, hot showers, private bathrooms, rugs and plenty of blankets for the cool desert night, plus a Berber dinner under the stars.
Are your tours private or shared?
Every tour is private by default — your own vehicle, driver-guide and flexible pace. Shared group departures are offered only on the Marrakech–Merzouga–Marrakech and Marrakech–Merzouga–Fes routes.
Is the tour suitable for families and older travellers?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the camel ride is optional (we can drive you to camp by 4x4 instead), and we adapt for children and any mobility needs — just tell us when you book.
When is the best time of year to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable, with warm days and cool nights. Winter nights are cold and summer is hot at midday, so we run camel treks at sunrise and sunset.
Have a question before you book?
Message the team directly — we usually reply within a couple of hours.
⚡ Spring & autumn dates fill fast — book ahead. · ✓ Free cancellation up to 48h before arrival.