7 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Fes to Marrakech 7 Days

If you’ve read through our other trips between Fes and Marrakech, you have probably noticed many similarities. Basically, the more time you have for your trip, the more we can spread the activities out, giving you more time to enjoy them. This tour introduces full days to explore the two Imperial cities* – Fes and Marrakech – in addition to a host of other activities along the way.

*Imperial cities were capitals of Morocco at various points in history. Today Rabat is the capital city, but that was not always the case.

• Duration: 7 Days, 6 nights
• Distance: 1,094 km / 680 miles
• Start: Fes
• End: Marrakech
• Type: Private or Group Tour

*This tour can go in reverse if you prefer to start in Marrakech and end in Fes.

Trip Highlights 7 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech

• Explore the Imperial city of Fes which, today, is the artisan capital of Morocco.
• Enjoy gorgeous scenic views driving through the Middle Atlas Mountains
• Visit the wild Barbary macaques in Azrou forest.
• Visit Todra Gorge
• Ride a camel over the dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara
• Camp overnight in the desert with dinner, music, and a private tent
• Enjoy traditional Gnawan music in Khamlia Village
• Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritiage Site near Ouarzazate
• Navigate the Tizi n’Tichka pass
• Spend a day exploring the Imperial city of Marrakech, Morocco’s Red City.
• Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech’s main square

Detailed Itinerary Tour from Fes to Marrakech

Day 1: Fes

Fes was founded by Idris I in the 12th century. It boasts the largest medina in the Arab world, the oldest university in the world, souks with every spice you can imagine, mosques, plazas, potters, and leather tanning. It has become the artisan capital of Morocco, so if hand-made items are your “thing,” you will truly enjoy exploring this city! After a day of exploring, we will have dinner then sleep in a hotel.

Day 2: Fes -> Ifrane -> Azrou Forest -> Midelt -> Merzouga

We will meet you at your hotel or riad at 8am to begin our trip south toward the Middle Atlas mountains. We will travel through Ifrane, Morocco’s “Little Switzerland,” then continue on to the Great Cedar Forest near Azrou. There, if we are lucky, we will see some of the Barbary macaques who live there. We will enjoy lunch in Midelt, then pass through the Ziz Valley where 20 km of date palm trees – more than 10 million trees! – make up one of the largest palm plantations in the world. We will continue driving until we reach Merzouga where we will relax, enjoy some tea, and climb to the top of the nearest sand dune to witness a spectacular sunset. We will have dinner and spend the night in a local hotel.

Day 3: Merzouga, Erg Chebbi, Khamlia Village

The second day will being with a hearty breakfast to prepare us to explore Erg Chebbi, Morocco’s largest dune, which rises some 250 meters above sea level. As we travel, part of our path will trace the track of the old Paris-Dakar rally. We will stop at the Tissardmin Oasis which is a great place to look for fossils. We will pass by a nomadic settlement on our way to a wonderful spot from which to contemplate the incredible landscape of the desert. This will be a great opportunity for pictures. Afterwards, we’ll travel to Khamlia Village where many people originally from the Sudan have settled. We’ll enjoy some Berber whisky, aka mint tea, as we listen to a short concert of spiritual Gnawan music. We’ll drive back to the hotel, trade our vehicle for camels, and ride to the heart of the dunes for an incredible sunset, then continue to our tents to enjoy the night beneath an endless canopy of stars.

Day 4: Merzouga/Erg Chebbi -> Rissani -> Todra Gorge -> Ouarzazate

After breakfast and showers we will drive to the nearby city of Rissan, a bustling city built near the ruins of Sijilmasa where ancient camel caravans stopped for supplies. If it is market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday) we can stop for a visit. Otherwise we will continue on to Todra Gorge where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we will take some time to walk along the Todra river that carved the enormously steep walls from solid rock. Look up while you’re there – you may see people climbing the walls! From there we will drive along the road of a thousand kasbahs (not an exaggeration; there are actually more!) to Ouarzazate to visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, a fortified residence built in the 17th century for the Glaoui family whose powerful members include the pasha of Marrakech during French colonial times. We will relax in our hotel after dinner.

Day 5:Ouarzazate -> Ait Ben Haddou -> Telouet Kasbah -> Tizi n’Tichka Pass -> Marrakech

After breakfast we will had to the 17th century kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You may recognize it fom movies or tv shows. This ancient walled city was once an important stop for camel caravans traveling between the Sahara and Marrakech. Today it is a great example of the traditional earthen architecture commonly associated with Morocco. Next we will visit Telouet Kasbah, once owned by one of Morocco’s richest families and an interesting comparison to the architecture of Ait Ben Haddou. From there we will drive over the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’ Tichka pass, to Marrakech. This part of the journey will offer too many beautiful views to count, and we will stop for pictures are often as you wish. We will stay in a hotel and have dinner.

Day 6: Marrakech

This day is entirely devoted to exploring the Imperial city of Marrakech. It was nicknamed the “Red City” because of the red earthen walls on the buildings. We will visit many attractions including the Menara, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque, and Majorelle Gardens. At sunset we will go to the main square for Jamaa el-Fna, the daily collection of dan ers, storytellers, snake charmers, artisans, merchants, jugglers, and food vendors who gather as part of the ancient tradition of the city. Afterwards we will return to our hotel for the night.

Day 7: Marrakech

This is the last day of the 7 days Tour from Fes to Marrakech. Because we do not know what time your flight departs, we are leaving today open to spend as you wish. Shopping? Another visit to the square? Extra time to relax and talk in a cafe? We will work this day out together.

The Fee Includes in 7 Days Tour from Fes to Marrakech:

• Comfortable, air conditioned vehicle
• English or Spanish speaking guide
• Transfers to and from the airport or train station
• Overnight accommodation at luxury campsite
• Camel ride
• Breakfast and dinner each day
• The Fee Does NOT Include:
• Admission to attractions
• Lunch
• Drinks outside of meals
• Tip for your guide (optional)