5-Day Morocco Itinerary: Marrakech, the Sahara and Fes

Five days in Morocco is enough to cross the country from Marrakech to Fes and spend a night in the Sahara on the way. This is the route we recommend most for a short trip: you see the High Atlas, the kasbahs, the gorges and the dunes, and you never drive the same road twice.

Day 1: Marrakech to the Dades Valley

Leave Marrakech in the morning and climb the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest road pass in the country. Stop at the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, then continue past Ouarzazate and through the Valley of Roses to the Dades Valley for the night. Around 320 km and six hours of driving with stops.

Day 2: Todra Gorge to Merzouga

Walk through the Todra Gorge, where the rock walls rise straight up from the river, then drive on to Merzouga at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. In the late afternoon a camel takes you into the dunes for sunset, dinner and a night in a desert camp with Berber music around the fire. About 250 km.

Day 3: A Day in the Desert

Wake up for sunrise over the dunes. Spend the day around Merzouga: visit the nomad families who live at the edge of the desert, the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, and the old market town of Rissani, or simply rest at the camp. This extra day is what makes a 5-day trip far less rushed than a 3-day one.

Day 4: Merzouga to Midelt

Drive north along the Ziz Valley, one of the longest palm oases in Morocco, through the Ziz Gorges and up to Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas. About 260 km.

Day 5: Midelt to Fes

Cross the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques often appear by the road, stop in the alpine-style town of Ifrane, and arrive in Fes in the afternoon. About 270 km.

Is 5 Days Enough for Morocco?

Five days is enough for the desert and two imperial cities, as long as you accept some long driving days. It is not enough for the whole country: Chefchaouen, the Atlantic coast and time inside the medinas need a 7-day or 10-day itinerary. If Marrakech is your only base, a shorter Marrakech desert tour that returns to Marrakech is another option.

Book This Itinerary

This route is our 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes: private vehicle and guide, riads and a desert camp, and every day adjustable to your pace. Send us your dates for a price within 24 hours, or see more routes in our main Morocco itinerary guide.