Sahara Desert Tours · Chefchaouen & North

5-Day Morocco Tour: Marrakech to Chefchaouen via the Sahara Desert

5 days / 4 nights
Easy
Private or small group (from 2, up to 16 people)
Marrakech (hotel / riad pick-up)

At a glance

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Difficulty: Easy
Group: Private or small group (from 2, up to 16 people)
Start: Marrakech (hotel / riad pick-up)
End: Fes or Tangier
Max altitude: ≈2,200 m (Tizi n'Tichka Pass)
Price: On request (depends on dates & group size)

Overview

Few routes show Morocco’s contrasts as clearly as this one. In five days you travel from the ochre walls of Marrakech over the passes of the High Atlas, through the desert south to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, and then north through cedar forests to Fes and the blue mountain town of Chefchaouen. It is an ideal first trip to Morocco for travellers who want both a real desert experience and the country’s most photographed town.

The Sahara is the turning point of the journey. After a day of kasbahs and gorges – Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the Dades Valley and the Todra Gorges – you reach Merzouga in the afternoon and ride a camel into the dunes as the light turns orange. Evening at the camp means a traditional dinner, drums around the fire and a sky full of stars, followed by a comfortable night in a tent with its own bathroom. Early risers are rewarded with a sunrise over the sand before the camel ride back.

From the desert you head north through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes, then into the Rif Mountains for a night in Chefchaouen and its blue-washed lanes. On the last day you either return to Fes for a guided tour of the medina or continue to Tangier. A professional driver-guide and an air-conditioned vehicle are with you throughout, and Berber hospitality is part of every stop.

Highlights

Camel trek at sunset and a night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi
Sunrise over the Sahara dunes
Chefchaouen's blue-washed streets in the Rif Mountains
Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah (UNESCO) and Ouarzazate
The Tizi n'Tichka pass across the High Atlas
The Dades Valley and the Todra Gorges
Fes medina, the heart of imperial Morocco
Music around the campfire and Berber hospitality

Day-by-day itinerary

1
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Valley
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel or riad in Marrakech and the road climbs into the High Atlas to the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at about 2,200 metres. On the southern slopes you stop at Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar of earthen kasbahs, then continue to Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara, to see Taourirt Kasbah. An optional detour through the Valley of Roses leads on to the Dades Gorges and your riad for the night.
2
Day 2: Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (camel trek & desert camp)
After breakfast you drive past Berber villages and oases to the Todra Gorges, a narrow canyon framed by towering rock walls. The road then continues through Erfoud to Merzouga, where camels wait at the edge of Erg Chebbi. Ride into the dunes as the sun sets, then settle into the desert camp for dinner and music around the campfire. Tonight you sleep in a comfortable tent with an ensuite bathroom.
3
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes
Get up early to watch the dunes change colour at sunrise, then ride your camel back to Merzouga for breakfast. The long drive north follows the Ziz Valley and its palm groves before climbing into the Middle Atlas, where the cedar forest is home to Barbary macaques. After a stop in the mountain town of Ifrane, you continue to Fes for the night in a riad in the medina.
4
Day 4: Fes – Chefchaouen
Leave Fes and drive through the rolling foothills of the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen, the Blue City. Once you have checked in to your riad, the rest of the day is free to explore its compact medina on foot: the blue alleys and stairways, the central Outa el Hammam Square and the Kasbah Museum with its garden. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
5
Day 5: Chefchaouen – Fes or Tangier
After breakfast you have two ways to end the trip. Drive back to Fes for a guided city tour taking in the Royal Palace, the Borj Sud viewpoint, the Bab Boujloud gate and the lanes of Fes el-Bali, or continue north through the Rif Mountains to Tangier, the port city on the Strait of Gibraltar. The tour finishes with a drop-off in Fes or Tangier.

What’s included

Air-conditioned transport throughout
Professional driver-guide
4 nights' accommodation in riads and a desert camp
Breakfast every day
Dinner and breakfast at the desert camp
Camel trek in Erg Chebbi (one camel per person)
Hotel / riad pick-up in Marrakech
Applicable taxes and service charges

Lunches and dinners (except at the desert camp)
Monument and attraction entrance fees
Travel insurance
Tips for the driver-guide
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Optional activities

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Light clothing for the day
Warm layers for the desert night and the mountains
Swimwear
Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
A scarf to protect against sand and wind
Small daypack
Camera
Basic toiletries

Good to know

Pick-up is in the morning at your hotel or riad in Marrakech; the tour ends in Fes or Tangier on day 5.
Days 1–3 include long scenic drives, broken up by regular stops for visits, photos and breaks.
The desert camp has tents with ensuite bathrooms; nights in the Sahara can be cold, especially in winter.
The tour runs all year; spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable seasons.
Prices are on request and depend on the season, group size and accommodation; we reply to booking requests within 24–48 working hours.

Questions about this tour

Yes. It combines the Sahara, the High Atlas, Fes and Chefchaouen in one route, which makes it a well-rounded introduction to Morocco.

It is a comfortable camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes with private tents and ensuite bathrooms. Dinner, breakfast and an evening of music around the fire are included.

Yes. On day 5 you can either return to Fes for a guided city tour or continue from Chefchaouen to Tangier through the Rif Mountains.

It is easy to moderate, with some walking in the medinas and light hiking. The camel trek is gentle and suitable for most travellers.

Layers: light clothes for the day, warm layers for the desert night and the mountains, sun protection, a scarf against sand and comfortable walking shoes.

Generally yes, for anyone with reasonable mobility. Let us know about any special needs when booking so we can plan accordingly.

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Summer is hot in the desert, winter can bring rain in the north, and desert skies are clear most of the year.

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