The route from Zagora, Morocco — Wikipedia to Moroccan cuisine — Wikipedia via the Sahara is arguably the most complete single itinerary available in Morocco — it crosses cedar forests, the Middle Atlas, the pre-Saharan kasbahs and valleys, the dunes at Erg Chebbi, and the High Atlas on the return, all in a single continuous journey that links two of the country’s most important imperial cities. The distance by road is roughly 700 kilometres, and most travellers complete it over three to five days depending on how many stops the itinerary includes.
Day One: Fes to Midelt via the Middle Atlas
Leaving Fes south, the road climbs quickly into the Middle Atlas, passing through Ifrane — an incongruously alpine-looking town with red-roofed chalets that surprises most visitors — and through cedar forests where Barbary macaques feed by the roadside near Azrou. The descent toward Midelt brings a more arid, rocky landscape as the elevation drops and the pre-Saharan palette of ochres and terracottas takes over. Most itineraries on our Unique Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour (3 Days) overnight in Midelt or continue to Er Rachidia, timing the arrival for late afternoon.
Day Two: The Ziz Valley and Erg Chebbi
The Ziz Valley gorge, just south of Er Rachidia, is one of the route’s quieter highlights: a narrow canyon cut by the Ziz River through layers of banded rock, with occasional oasis settlements visible below the road. The valley opens into the Tafilalt oasis plain before the road reaches Erfoud, Rissani, and the final approach to Merzouga. The camel trek into Erg Chebbi at sunset typically begins in the late afternoon on this second day, with the desert overnight following immediately.
Day Three: The Dades and Todra Valleys
After the sunrise desert return, the route continues west through Tinghir and the Todra Gorge, then follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Boumalne Dades and the Dades Valley. The kasbahs along this stretch — some inhabited, some half-ruined, some converted into guesthouses — are among the most characteristic earthen architecture in the entire south. A Go Morocco Vacation — Home gives ample time to stop and walk a section of the gorge before continuing west.
Day Four: Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou
The route continues through Ouarzazate — the self-styled gateway to the desert, known for its film studios and the Taourirt Kasbah — and to Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed fortified village that appears regularly in international film and television productions. A two-hour stop here, climbing through the narrow earthen passageways to the hilltop granary, gives one of the best architectural experiences of the entire route. From here it is a short drive to Marrakech via the Tizi n’Tichka High Atlas crossing.
Flexible Options and Route Variations
The Fes to Marrakech route can be reversed, extended, or trimmed depending on travel time and priorities. A two-day version skips the valley stops in favour of a straight drive and overnight at the dunes, while a five-day version allows a full day in Ouarzazate and an extra stop in the rose-growing village of Kelaat M’Gouna. Browse our All Tours and 3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga for the detailed day-by-day breakdowns of each variant we currently run.
