Night 1
Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga
Luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
A luxury camp among the dunes: a spacious private tent with an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, air conditioning and heating, and dinner served by lantern light.
For couples travelling between Morocco's two great medinas, this private route turns the transfer into the most memorable part of the trip.





Tour overview
For couples travelling between Morocco's two great medinas, this private route turns the transfer into the most memorable part of the trip. A night in a luxury tent among the dunes of Erg Chebbi sits between Fes and Marrakech, with a boutique guesthouse in the Dades Valley on the way out.
Our 3 Day Honeymoon Desert Tour from Fes begins in Fes and ends in Marrakech, covering about 1,050 km by road over three days. Along the way you will experience the Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a night in a desert camp and the cedar forests and Barbary macaques of the Middle Atlas. Each stop is a real visit on foot, with your driver-guide explaining what you are looking at and local people adding their own stories.
Accommodation is chosen for character and location rather than size: one night in a luxury desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi and one night in a kasbah-style guesthouse in the Dades Valley. You travel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, a 4x4 or a minibus depending on the size of your party, with an English-speaking driver-guide who knows these roads well. Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese-speaking guides are available on request.
It is designed for couples: honeymooners, anniversaries, or simply two people who want a few days to themselves. Everything is private, and the accommodation is chosen for atmosphere as much as comfort. The longest day on the road is day 1, with 7.5–8 hours of driving; every other day is shorter, and all of them are broken up by visits and stops. Like all our tours it is fully private, so the plan below can be lengthened, shortened or rearranged to fit your dates.
Highlights
Detailed itinerary
Your journey to the Sahara begins early. South of Fes the road climbs to Ifrane, a mountain town of red roofs and gardens, then into the cedar forest, where Barbary macaques often come close to the road.
After crossing the high pastures and the Col du Zad you stop in Midelt for lunch beneath Jbel Ayachi. In the afternoon the Ziz gorges lead to a viewpoint over a long green ribbon of palm trees.
Beyond Erfoud the dunes appear, and in Merzouga two camels carry you into Erg Chebbi for sunset. A romantic dinner and a night in your desert tent end the day.
Wake together before dawn and climb a ridge near your tent to watch the sun rise over the dunes. Afterwards a camel or 4x4 takes you back to Merzouga for breakfast and a hot shower.
Leaving the desert, you pass through Rissani, heir to the caravan city of Sijilmassa, whose souk is busiest on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beyond it the road crosses a stony plain marked by the round mounds of old khettara wells.
In the afternoon you walk hand in hand through Todra Gorge, between orange cliffs that almost touch overhead, then continue to the Dades Valley, where a quiet guesthouse and dinner for two await.
Your last day together starts with breakfast in the Dades Valley. You drive down through Kalaat M'Gouna, where you can buy rosewater and rose oil, and the palm grove of Skoura.
After passing Ouarzazate, you walk hand in hand through the lanes of Ait Ben Haddou and have lunch with the ksar in view.
In the afternoon you cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass in the golden light and reach Marrakech in the early evening.
The final evening finds you in Marrakech, where the tour ends at your hotel. We can extend your stay or book the drive to the airport.
Good to know
Before you go
Pickup is from your riad or hotel in Fes, or from Fes-Saïss Airport, at around 8:00 am. For riads inside the medina, your driver meets you at the closest gate.
The tour ends at your accommodation in Marrakech or at Menara Airport. On tours that arrive in the evening, we recommend booking a flight for the following day.
A different start or end point is rarely a problem. Because every tour is private, we can begin in one city and finish in another; tell us where you are staying and we will adapt the route and the quote.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route. Days are warm and clear, nights are mild, and in April and May the valleys of the south are green and the roses of Kalaat M'Gouna are in bloom.
Winter is a good time for the desert if you bring warm clothes: skies are bright and the dunes are quiet, but temperatures after dark can fall to around freezing and the High Atlas passes occasionally close for a few hours after snow. In July and August the Sahara is very hot in the afternoon, so we shift the camel trek later, start driving earlier and can recommend a camp with air-cooled tents.
During Ramadan the tour runs as normal. Some restaurants close during the day in smaller towns, your driver-guide will know where to stop, and evenings are especially lively after sunset.
Questions and answers
Yes. You travel only with the people in your own party, in a private vehicle with your own driver-guide. That means you choose the departure date, set the pace and can stop wherever you like along the way.
It varies from day to day. The longest stretch is on day 1, with 7.5–8 hours on the road, and the other days are noticeably shorter. In total the tour covers about 1,050 km. All times are approximate and broken up by visits, lunch and photo stops.
Camps in Erg Chebbi have real beds with sheets and blankets, a dining tent and a fire circle. You choose between two options. Our mid-range luxury camp has private tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and comfortable bedding. Our luxury camp has more spacious tents with air conditioning and heating, high-quality bedding and premium bathroom amenities. Dinner and breakfast are served at the camp.
No. The camel trek is included and most guests enjoy it, but if you prefer, we take you to the camp by 4x4. This is also what we suggest for very young children, pregnant travellers and anyone with back or knee problems.
Yes. The programme on this page is a starting point. We can add nights, swap stops, upgrade accommodation or finish somewhere other than Marrakech. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the route and send a new quote.
Yes. Tell us it is your honeymoon and we will arrange a private tent, a table for two away from the other guests and small touches along the way. If you have a particular idea, such as a photographer in the dunes, ask and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
March to May and September to November offer the most comfortable temperatures. Winter is clear and quiet but cold at night in the desert; in July and August the Sahara is very hot, and we adjust the timings accordingly.
Prices are always quoted on request: the price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the accommodation category, so we quote each request individually. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a detailed quote. You can ask for as many changes as you need before confirming.
Accommodation
Carefully selected riads, guesthouses, hotels and desert camps. The exact properties are confirmed with your quote, in the category you choose.
Night 1
Luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi
A luxury camp among the dunes: a spacious private tent with an en-suite bathroom, hot shower, air conditioning and heating, and dinner served by lantern light.
Night 2
Kasbah-style guesthouse
A family-run guesthouse or kasbah hotel built in the local earthen style, with en-suite rooms, a terrace over the valley and a home-cooked dinner.
Your night in the Sahara
We offer two camps in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Tell us which one you prefer when you enquire.
Available on request
Included in this tour
Gallery
The places you will stand in on this route, in the order you reach them.
Tell us your dates and group size, and we will send you this itinerary with a personal quote. You can change anything you like before confirming.
Quick answers for planning your 3 day Honeymoon desert tour from Fes with Magic Morocco Tours.
3 days in Morocco on this route means about 1,050 km by private vehicle from Fes to Marrakech, with nights in Erg Chebbi dunes and Dades Valley. Spent this way, your 3 days in Morocco leave time to cross the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass and to walk through the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.
The 3 day Morocco itinerary, day by day: day 1, Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga; day 2, Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley; day 3, Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech. As the tour is private, this 3 day Morocco itinerary can be changed before or during the trip.
As a Fes to Merzouga desert tour, this trip reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes on day 1. There you ride a camel into the dunes and spend a night at a mid-range luxury desert camp (luxury camp on request). Shorter and longer Fes to Merzouga desert tour options are on our Tours from Fes page.