7 Days Desert Tour from Meknes
7 Days Desert Tour from Meknes
7 Days Desert Tour from Meknes – Private 7-day tour from Meknes: Volubilis, guided Fes, Merzouga desert with luxury camp, Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and guided Marrakech.
A private week from the imperial city of Meknes to Marrakech via Fes and the Sahara. Roman ruins, the medina of Fes, a full day and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the southern gorges and kasbahs, and a guided day in Marrakech.
Day 1: Meknes – Volubilis – Moulay Idriss – Fes
Pickup at your riad or hotel in Meknes. Short visit of Bab Mansour and the old city, then the Roman ruins of Volubilis (UNESCO) and the holy town of Moulay Idriss. Continue to Fes. Overnight in a riad with breakfast.
Overnight: traditional riad in Fes
Meals: breakfast.
Day 2: Guided tour of Fes
Guided visit of Fes el-Bali: Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, Al-Qarawiyyin and the Chouara tannery. Free afternoon. Overnight in a riad with breakfast.
Overnight: traditional riad in Fes
Meals: breakfast.
Day 3: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Merzouga
Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest (Barbary macaques), lunch in Midelt, the Ziz Valley and Erfoud. Arrive in Merzouga. Dinner and overnight at a hotel at the foot of the dunes.
Overnight: hotel at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
Day 4: Merzouga desert day and luxury camp
4x4 trip to nomad families, the Mifis mountains and Khamlia (Gnawa music), Berber pizza lunch. Late-afternoon camel ride to a luxury camp: sandboarding, sunset, dinner and Berber music. Overnight in a private tent with bathroom.
Overnight: desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes (private tent with bathroom)
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
Day 5: Merzouga – Rissani – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Sunrise over the dunes, then Rissani market, an Erfoud fossil workshop and the Tinjdad palm groves. Walk in the Todra Gorge and continue to the Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Overnight: hotel in the Dades Gorge
Meals: dinner and breakfast.
Day 6: Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech
Rose Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate and the UNESCO ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech, arriving around 6 pm. Overnight in a riad with breakfast.
Overnight: traditional riad in Marrakech
Meals: breakfast.
Day 7: Guided tour of Marrakech and departure
Morning guided visit of Marrakech (Jemaa el-Fna, Bahia Palace, Koutoubia, the souks), then transfer to Marrakech airport or your hotel.
End of the tour: after a guided morning visit of Marrakech, drop-off at Marrakech airport or your hotel.
Included:
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver-guide and fuel
- 6 nights: 5 hotel/riad nights and 1 luxury camp night with private bathroom
- Breakfast every day and dinners in Merzouga, the desert camp and Dades
- Berber pizza lunch in Merzouga
- Local guides in Fes and Marrakech
- Camel ride, sandboarding, sunset and sunrise, 4×4 desert trip, nomads and Gnawa music
- Pickup in Meknes and drop-off in Marrakech
Not included:
- Flights
- Lunches (except Merzouga) and drinks
- Dinners in Fes and Marrakech
- Entrance fees
- Tips
Route, distances and driving times
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Meknes – Volubilis – Moulay Idriss – Fes | 110 km | about 2 h |
| Day 2 | Day in Fes (no long drive) | – | – |
| Day 3 | Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Errachidia – Merzouga | 465 km | about 8 h 15 |
| Day 4 | Day in Merzouga (no long drive) | – | – |
| Day 5 | Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Gorges | 291 km | about 5 h 30 |
| Day 6 | Dades Gorges – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech | 331 km | about 6 h 30 |
| Day 7 | Marrakech – Marrakech airport | 10 km | about 15 min |
Total distance: about 1,207 km. Driving times are approximate and do not include stops for visits, photos and meals.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive on this 7-day tour?
The whole route is about 1,207 km. Rest days in Fes and Merzouga keep the pace relaxed; the longest stage, from Fes to Merzouga, is about 465 km with several stops.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts at your hotel or riad in Meknes and ends in Marrakech, at your hotel or at Marrakech airport.
Where do I sleep?
Nights 1 and 2 in a riad in Fes, night 3 in a hotel at the foot of the Merzouga dunes, night 4 in a luxury desert camp with a private bathroom, night 5 in the Dades Gorges and night 6 in a riad in Marrakech.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel only with your own family or friends, in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a local Berber driver-guide. Every itinerary can be adapted: contact us.
Is there a discount for groups?
Yes. The price depends on how many people share the trip, so families, friends and student groups pay less per person. See our Morocco special offer for details.
7 Days Desert Tour from Meknes: useful information
With Merzouga Packages, “7 Days Desert Tour from Meknes” is a private experience run by a local Berber team that lives in Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. The program adapts to your pace, with pick-up from your hotel or riad, an experienced driver-guide and hand-picked accommodation.
For more ideas, see also these pages: Morocco Tours and FAQ. To learn more about the places you will visit, read the article on Erg Chebbi on Wikipedia.