2 Days Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech to Fez

Morocco Travel » Morocco Desert Tours » 2 Days Sahara Desert Tour From Marrakech to Fez

Experience a short Sahara Desert Trip from Marrakech to Fez through Merzouga, 2 days and 1 night desert tour will take you through the High Atlas Mountains to visit the famous kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, Ride a camel to enjoy sunset and/or sunrise over the dunes of the Sahara, spend an overnight under the Berber style tent and drive to Fez crossing the Ziz palms’ oasis and the Cedar’s forest.

Highlights

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Sahara Desert Trip

Day 1: Marrakech→Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah→Dades Valley→Todra Gorge→Erfoud Dunes of Erg Chebbi

Morning departure from your hotel or Riad in Marrakech to Dades Valley, pass through the High Atlas Mountains roads (2260 m) and the Tizin tichka pass. Stopping en route to take pictures of the Berber villages- made up of traditional mud-brick and appreciate the panoramic views of the snaky roads. Continue driving through Ounila Valley to the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. This valley was an important point of the crossing caravans between Marrakech and Ouarzazate. Throughout the valley, there is a striking contrast between the ocher of the earth and rocks and the green plantations, for those who take the time to observe. Visit Kasbar Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most famous of southern Morocco, now classified a world heritage by Unesco. This fortified Kasbah was built a few hundred years on a promontory, to escape the invasions of foreign tribes. If you climb up to the attic of the ruins you can admire the view of the palms and the desert surroundings. To this day only a few families still live there. After mint tea break, drive further east through Dades and roses’ valley to the Erg Chebbi dunes outside of Merzouga sand sea. Along the way, you will stop in Tinghir Berber town to admire the Todra’s oasis that extends on either side of the river. The surrounding mountainous landscapes reveals impressive buttes, mesas, and plateaus. Nearby, you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful canyon and explore the Todra Gorge, then move next on to the desert town of Erfoud, known for its date’s fruits and fossils. As you leave Erfoud you will start to see the beginnings of the giant sand sea of Erg Chebb, looming on the Sahara Desert horizon. Upon reaching Merzouga, switch gears to your personal camel to begin your trek over the sand’s dunes watching the breathtaking sunset and continue to your Bedouin-style camp, before enjoying a warm dinner and a fantastic drums party by the fire.

Day 2: Erg Chebbi dunes→Ziz palms Oasis →Middle Atlas → Midelt → Cedar Forest→Ifrane→Fez

Wake up early and hike to the top of a nearby dune to watch the breathtaking sun-rise over the extensive Erg Chebbi Sand Sea!  this is one of the most things to do in Merzouga Sahara Desert. This senerity of this area has inspired writers and photographers, one of the famous is Paul Bowles, where even memory disappears.” Morocco ends here, surprisingly, the only place that you lose infinity beyond the horizon”. After a healthy breakfast at the camp with Nomads, leave Merzouga towards Rissani where you will visit the livestock auction as well as the “donkey parking lot”.  and discover Sijilmassa ruins. You will stop also to appreciate the panoramic views of the fruitful Oases such as ziz palms oasis. Continue through the Berber villages and Middle Atlas Mountains from which there is some of the most beautiful stretches of cedar and hazel born in Morocco and most important rivers. Landscapes chase in particular in the area of Azrou, Ifrane, popular center for winter sports, known as “the Switzerland of Morocco.” You’ll make a stop in Midelt and then continuation to Fez, the oldest of the imperial cities, the most important historical and artistic center of the country. Here your trip will end with best memories about a very unique Sahara Desert trip from Marrakech to Fez.