Route: Fes → Ifrane → Middle Atlas → Ziz Valley → Merzouga Desert → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley → Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou → Marrakech

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Fes
Arrival in Fes airport or train station. Transfer to your riad in the medina. Evening free to stroll through the vibrant streets or relax at your riad. Overnight in a traditional riad.

Day 2: Fes – Ifrane – Middle Atlas – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert
Journey south through the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop at Ifrane (“Little Switzerland”) and Azrou’s cedar forests to see Barbary macaques. Cross Ziz Valley’s palm groves and reach Merzouga. Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Dinner and overnight in a luxury desert camp beneath the stars.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert Discovery
Early sunrise over the golden dunes. Spend the day exploring the desert: visit nomadic families, the village of Khamlia with its Gnawa music, and fossil sites. Optional activities: sandboarding, quad biking, or additional camel rides. Traditional Berber meals at the camp. Dinner and overnight in the desert camp.

Day 4: Merzouga – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley
Depart the Sahara via Erfoud, stopping at fossil workshops. Continue through dramatic landscapes to the Todra Gorges, where a short walk reveals the towering canyon walls. Journey through the Valley of Roses to reach Dades Valley. Overnight in a charming kasbah or riad.

Day 5: Dades Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou
Travel through Skoura’s lush palm groves and stop in Ouarzazate, Morocco’s film capital. Visit a cinema studio if desired. Explore Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar used as a backdrop for many films. Overnight in a riad or kasbah near Ait Benhaddou.

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou – High Atlas – Marrakech
Cross the High Atlas via the winding Tizi n’Tichka pass. Enjoy panoramic stops and mountain views before descending into Marrakech. Evening free to explore the medina or enjoy a rooftop dinner. Overnight in Marrakech riad.

Day 7: Marrakech – Departure
Morning guided visit of Marrakech’s highlights: Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, souks, and Jemaa el-Fna square. Optional visit to Majorelle Gardens if time allows. Transfer to the airport for departure.