Fes, Sahara Desert & Marrakech in 5 Days

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Fes, Explore the Medieval Medina

Welcome to Fes, the oldest imperial city of Morocco. It has the most complete medina in the Arab world and is home to one of the world’s largest pedestrian zones (no cars!). Much of the city hasn’t been touched in hundreds of years, taking visitors back to medieval times. Divided into three major points of interest, you’ll explore the two medina quarters, Fes el Bali and Fes el Jdid, and the modern French-influenced Ville Nouvelle. Spend a half-day with your guide, delving into the frenzy of the maze-like alleyways. Start in Fes el Bali at the impressive Bab Boujeloud Gate and work your in.

Browse leather goods in a shop next to the Chouara Tannery before heading upstairs for a view of the 11th-century dye pots, a technique, and process that’s little changed over the centuries! Visit the oldest operating university in the world, Al-Qarawiyyin University (859 ACE), and catch a glimpse of the decorated interior of the Mosque (non-Muslims cannot enter). Explore the Al Attarine Madrasa and marvel at the intricate zellij (mosaic tilework). Visit Fes el Jdid to check out the Mellah (Jewish quarter and cemetery), and if there’s time, catch the sunset from the vantage point of the Merenid Tombs.

Day 2: Transfer to Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, Overnight at a Desert Camp

Start your day bright and early and travel south toward Merzouga. Along the way, you’ll climb up and over the Col du Zad pass (7,146 feet or 2,178 m) through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas mountains. Enjoy sightings of the local Barbary macaque monkeys before stopping for lunch in Midelt (the ‘apple city’), relishing the nearby Moulouya River. Continue over the Tizi n’Talremt pass and into the Ziz Valley, known for its hidden oases and palm tree clusters. Along the road, you’ll see many fortified houses known as ksars—built to protect precious wares, including gold, salt, and spices.

Continue on to Erfoud, known for its date festival and fossil mining. Here, you can visit a local collective to learn more about the process and meet some local artisans. Continue to Erg Chebbi, an extensive sea of sand dunes covering an area of 13.5 square miles (35 square km). Never stationary, the massive dunes shift and travel depending on the changing wind! Upon reaching Merzouga, climb atop your camel to ride through the dunes to your already-prepared-for-you camp. Climb a nearby sand dune to watch the sunset before returning to camp for a delicious dinner, relaxing by the campfire.

Day 3: Transfer to Ouarzazate via Desert Towns & Oases

Catch the sunrise before renting a sandboard to test your skills. Leave the dunes and head to Khemliya to experience a traditional Saharan village—its people are originally from Mali. Continue west to pass through a dramatic gate into Rissani. A market town, Rissani holds a livestock auction and is home to a donkey parking lot, a site worth visiting! Make your way to the desert town of Tinghir before reaching the 984-foot (300 m) deep Todra Gorge. You’ll have time to explore the gorge and relax in the cool water of the shallow Todra River.

Travel through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs (an old fortress or fortification). Though many kasbahs are now in disrepair, local families still live in some of them. You may even come across nomads herding their animals. Head west to Kelâat M’Gouna. Known for its Festival des Roses, here you can see extensively cultivated farmland bordered with fragrant rose bushes. Continue west to Ouarzazate, a gateway to the Sahara Desert made popular by the film industry. Join a studio tour and discover how the nearby desert landscapes have been featured in many films.

Day 4: Transfer to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou & Tizi n’Tichka Pass

Rise early and continue on to Morocco’s most famous kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Aït Benhaddou. It’s estimated the old ksar (a walled town) dates from the 11th century when it held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route. Stop and explore the narrow streets and passageways of this traditional mud-brick city. From there, travel the winding road over the High Atlas mountains, noting the highest peak, Mount Toubkal (13,671 feet or 4,167 m). Stop near the top of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (7,415 feet or 2,260 m) to admire the view over the mountain range.

Stop at an argan oil cooperative in Taddert to learn how olives are processed before making your descent down the High Atlas and into the changing scenery. Upon arriving in the Red City of Marrakesh, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you like. Orient yourself around Marrakesh’s main square, Jemaa el-Fna, and visit the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque to its west. At 253 feet (77 m), the minaret is hard to miss. Wander the attached gardens, dotted with fountains, pools, flowers, and palm trees, perfect for a late afternoon stroll when the late-day sun glows on the minaret.

Return to Jemaa el-Fna Square and discover the lively activity: musicians, performers, snake charmers, and bustling stalls. Grab something to eat, or choose a nearby café and enjoy the show!

Day 5: Explore the Red City, Depart Marrakesh

As Morocco’s second-largest city, Marrakesh can be a shock to the senses, and unlike Fes, Marrakesh has Berber roots rather than Arab. Meet your guide and start your tour by browsing the stalls in the spice market, Souk el-Attarin, or Souk Smata, for your choice of slippers, rugs, and leather goods. Visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa School of Islam and admire the fine example of Moroccan architecture and intricate craftsmanship. As you walk Marrakesh’s alleys, notice the Fondouks—medieval inns that provided merchants with shelter and supplies—that have been converted into homes and shopping areas.

Depending on your flight details, you may wish to visit a few sites south of Jemaa el-Fna. Consider the 500-year-old Saadian Tombs, the extensive courtyard and sunken gardens of the 17th-century El Badi Palace, or the intricate woodwork and painted ceilings of the 19th-century Bahia Palace. Or, stick closer to Jemaa el-Fna and visit the Almoravid Kouba, the Marrakesh Museum, housed in the 19th-century Dar Mnebbi Palace and home to a collection of sculptures and Moroccan artwork, or the Museum of Moroccan Arts, known for its extensive woodwork collection. If time allows, take a respite in the Majorelle Gardens before transferring to the airport for your return flight home.

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