5 days from Fez to Marrakech via the Merzouga and Ouzina desert

Fez, Marrakech

6 photos

Duration

5 Day

Maximum number of people

Minimum age

Tour type

From Fez

Overview:

This 5-day tour from Fez to Marrakech offers a deep immersion into the contrasts of Morocco, from the green forests of the Middle Atlas to the vastness of the Sahara Desert. The journey begins with stops in Ifrane, known as the “Moroccan Switzerland,” and the forests of Azrou, home to wild monkeys. After crossing the Ziz Valley, you will arrive in Merzouga, where a sunset camel ride will take you to a traditional desert camp. You will experience a magical night under the stars with live Berber music.

The adventure continues with a visit to the village of Khamlia and its Gnawa music, the old Dakar Rally track, and the rock engravings at Taouz. You will have the opportunity to have lunch with a Berber family, get a traditional henna tattoo, and explore the authentic Ouzina desert, where sunsets among the wild dunes are truly unique. On the third day, the tour goes further along nomadic tracks and old barite mines, reaching hidden oases like Bourika and Ramlia, and discovering the Portuguese ruins of Oubahlou, known as the “lost city.”

In the final stretch of the trip, you’ll explore the most impressive valleys and gorges of southern Morocco. You will cross the Todra Gorges, with their vertical walls that attract climbers from around the world, and enjoy the beauty of the Dades Valley. On the last day, you’ll discover the famous Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, passing through the Valley of the Roses and Skoura, until reaching cinematic Ouarzazate and the legendary Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. After crossing the High Atlas through the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, your experience will culminate in the vibrant red city of Marrakech.

Included/Excluded

Transportation and Guide
Accommodation and Meals
Tourist Visits

Meals
Additional Expenses
Travel insurance

Tour Plan

Day 01 Fez – Midelt – Azrou – Ziz Valley – Merzouga (Camel Ride and One Night in the Merzouga Desert)

After breakfast, we depart from Fez for the Merzouga desert, passing through Ifrane (the "Switzerland of Morocco"). There, you'll have 20 minutes to take photos and stroll through the town square. We then arrive at the forests of Azrou, home to wild monkeys. This will be a great opportunity to photograph Moroccan nature. We'll have lunch in the Berber village of Zaida. We continue through the Middle Atlas Mountains, enjoying the scenery of Midelt until we reach the small village of Rich. We then proceed to the Ziz Valley, where we'll make a panoramic stop for photos. In the afternoon, we arrive in Erfoud, where we begin to experience the Saharan air with the Tafilalet oasis. We continue to Merzouga, where we switch to camels for an overnight stay in traditional Berber tents (haimas) in the Erg Chebbi desert.

Accommodation in traditional Berber tents with dinner, breakfast, and a live Berber music performance.

Day 2 Merzouga – Khamlia – Taouz – Dakar Rally Track – Jdaid Village – Lunch with a Berber family – Ouzina Desert and Sunset in the Erg Ouzina Dunes.

We'll wake up early to watch the sunrise from atop a dune, then have a leisurely breakfast. You can choose to return to the hotel by camel or 4x4. We'll continue along the route, or you can relax by the pool or explore the dunes if the weather is nice. You can also take a quad bike or buggy excursion through the Erg Chebbi dunes. Afterward, we'll take the 4x4 to the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnawa people, musicians of sub-Saharan origin (Black Africa). They'll entertain us with music and dance while we enjoy mint tea (Berber whiskey). You can buy a CD of their music for €10 or give them a tip of at least €5. We'll then continue to Taouz, from where we'll travel along the old Paris-Dakar Rally track to see some wonderful rock engravings. We'll pass through the village of Jdaid, where we'll have lunch at a Berber family's home (Berber pizza and tea), and where you can also get a henna tattoo from a specialist (a tip is customary). If you're interested, you can take a stroll through the village of Ouzina and its oasis. In the afternoon, we'll go to the hotel nestled in the Ouzina desert, where we'll spend the night in a beautiful Kasbah Hotel and enjoy this wild and pristine desert in southern Morocco.

Accommodation at Kasbah Hotel Porte de Sahara Ouzina with dinner and breakfast

Day 3 Ouzina – Paris Dakar Rally Track – The Barite Mines – Borika Oasis – Abandoned Village Oubahlou – Ramlia Oasis – Ouzina Desert

In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we'll travel along a dirt track to visit the nomads who live in the Ouzina area. Afterward, we'll go to the barite mines to see the workings and learn how they operate (barite is a mineral extracted there and transported to Europe, where it's used to make glass). Then we'll head to the Bourika Oasis, where we'll have a picnic lunch (Moroccan salad or similar) and grilled chicken. After lunch, we'll visit the Lost City or Oubahlou (the lost city or the Portuguese city), which consists of ancient Portuguese ruins. We'll take a stroll through the site, and in the afternoon, we'll arrive at the Ramlia Oasis, where we can enjoy tea at a café and explore the village and its oasis. In the late afternoon, we'll go to watch the sunset over the Erg Ouzina dunes to experience the tranquility and peace of this wild desert.

Accommodation at Riad Hôtel Porte De Sahara OUZINA with dinner and breakfast

Day 4 Ouzina – Taouz – Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Valley and Gorges – Dades Valley

We will wake up and have breakfast at 9:00 AM. We will then depart from the hotel for a 5-day, 4-night excursion to the Dades Valley, starting from the Ouzina Desert. We will pass through Rissani, one of the oldest cities in Morocco and the capital of the Alaouite dynasty. There, we will stop at the edge of town to take a photo of the "Gateway to the Desert." We will continue on to Erfoud, where there is an opportunity to visit a fossilized marble factory, before heading towards the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. Afterwards, we will arrive at the Todra Gorge. The riverbed has carved out canyons with vertical walls, a paradise for climbers. We will have lunch there and walk to enjoy the gorges. In the afternoon, we will continue to the Dades Valley where we will spend the night.

Accommodation in a hotel with dinner and breakfast.

Day 5 Dades Valley – Rose Valley – SKoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech

After breakfast, we'll depart for the Valley of Roses, where we'll make a stop if you're interested. Then we'll continue our journey towards Skoura (Route of a Thousand Kasbahs). We'll arrive in Ouarzazate, the city of cinema, where we'll stop at the Taourirt Kasbah for a panoramic photo. Afterwards, we'll visit the film studios for another photo stop. Then we'll continue our route towards the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou (an ancient 11th-century fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). We'll cross the Anti-Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tinifift pass. Around noon, we'll arrive at the famous village of Ait Ben Haddou. You'll have free time to visit the Kasbah and have lunch. In the afternoon, we'll return to Marrakech. Crossing the High Atlas Mountains and traveling to the red city of Morocco (Marrakech), transfer to as far as we can go by car, and end of our 5-day, 4-night tour from Fez to Marrakech via the Merzouga and Ouzina deserts