Experience the very best of Morocco in seven unforgettable days. Cross the spectacular High Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, explore the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, wind through the Dades Valley and the towering Todra Gorge, then ride camels across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi to a luxury desert camp beneath the stars. Journey north through the Ziz Valley and cedar forests to the medieval imperial city of Fes, before returning to Marrakech through some of the country's most breathtaking landscapes.
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Trip at a Glance
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Starts
Marrakech
Ends
Marrakech (Round trip)
Where you stay
Dades Valley · Luxury Desert Camp · Merzouga Hotel · Fes · Marrakech
Why You'll Love This Tour
High Atlas & Tizi n'Tichka Pass
Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
Dades Valley & Todra Gorge
Erg Chebbi Camel Trek at Sunset
Luxury Desert Camp under the Stars
Imperial Fes Guided Tour
Cedar Forest & Barbary Monkeys
Why choose this itinerary
Combines the imperial cities with a proper Sahara leg — Merzouga gets a full desert day, not an overnight dash.
One coherent private journey covering Morocco's cultural north and desert south.
Private vehicle and driver-guide throughout.
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley
Day 2: Dades Valley → Todra Gorge → Merzouga Sahara
Day 3: A Full Day in the Sahara Desert
Day 4: Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Ifrane → Fes
Day 5: Guided Tour of Fes
Day 6: Fes → Cedar Forest → Beni Mellal → Marrakech
Day 7: Marrakech Guided Tour & Departure
Practical Information
Best travel season: spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal, with warm days and comfortable desert nights; summer is hot inland, so early starts help, and winter is crisp and clear.
What you will experience
Every item below is a stop on this itinerary — not an extra to buy.
High Atlas crossing — The road climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with time to stop where the view opens out.
Aït Ben Haddou — Walk up through the earthen ksar on the far side of the river — a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most striking stop on the road south. Explore Aït Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate — The town where the southern routes meet, with the Taourirt Kasbah on its edge and film studios on the outskirts. Explore Ouarzazate
Skoura oasis — A working palm oasis of kasbahs and gardens rather than a viewpoint you look at from the road. Explore Skoura Oasis
Valley of Roses — The valley where damask roses are grown and distilled, harvested in late spring. Explore Valley of Roses
Dades Valley — Red rock, palm gardens and earthen villages along the river — the classic overnight between the mountains and the desert. Explore Dades Valley
Todra Gorge — Walk into the canyon where the limestone walls close to a few hundred metres apart and rise straight up. Explore Todra Gorge
Amazigh villages — Earthen villages in the valleys, built from the ground they stand on and still lived in.
Erg Chebbi dunes — The tall dune sea outside Merzouga — the Sahara most travellers picture, and the landscape this journey is built around. Explore Erg Chebbi
Sunset camel trek — Ride into Erg Chebbi as the light drops, led on foot by a guide from the desert, and reach camp with the dunes still glowing.
Amazigh music — Drums and chant played live in the evening — not a stage show but the way music is made here.
Luxury desert camp — A camp with proper beds, private bathrooms and dinner served under the open sky, set among the dunes.
Sunrise over the dunes — Wake early for first light on Erg Chebbi, when the sand changes colour and the ridges throw long shadows.
Khamlia and Gnawa music — A village south of Merzouga whose community plays Gnawa music — a tradition carried across the Sahara, still performed here.
Tea with nomad families — A stop with families still living in the desert outside Merzouga, over the mint tea that hospitality here is built on.
The Black Desert — The dark, stony hamada on the way to the dunes — a reminder that most of the Sahara is not sand.
Sandboarding — Boards are available at the dunes for anyone who wants to try riding down a face of Erg Chebbi.
A night by the dunes — A hotel on the edge of Merzouga rather than a camp — a bed, a shower and the dunes still on the doorstep.
Ziz Valley — A wide palm valley cut into bare rock on the road south — the viewpoint above it is one of the best stops of the day.
Midelt — The high plateau town between the two Atlas ranges, and the usual break on the long Fes–Merzouga road.
Cedar forest — The cedar woodland of the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques live wild beside the road.
Ifrane — The Middle Atlas town of pitched roofs and gardens, built in the 1930s and unlike anywhere else on the route. Explore Ifrane & Cedar Forest
Fes — The oldest of the imperial cities, and the start of the northern route to the desert. Explore Fes
The Royal Palace gates — The brass gates of Dar el-Makhzen in Fes — the palace itself is closed to visitors, but the gates are among the finest metalwork in Morocco.
The Mellah — The old Jewish quarter of Fes, with balconied houses that face the street — unlike the inward-looking homes of the medina.
Fes el-Bali medina — The walled old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the lanes are too narrow for cars.
Al Quaraouiyine — Founded in Fes in 859 and generally described as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
Chouara Tannery — The stone dye pits of the Fes tanneries, worked by hand much as they have been for centuries.
Souks and craft workshops — Workshops where the pottery, metal and leather sold in the souks is actually made.
Middle Atlas crossing — The greener range between Fes and the desert — upland pasture, lakes and stone towns.
Beni Mellal — A market town below the Middle Atlas, surrounded by the orchards and olive groves of the Tadla plain.
Marrakech — The red city at the foot of the Atlas, and the usual start or finish of the southern routes. Explore Marrakech
Bahia Palace — A nineteenth-century palace of painted cedar ceilings, courtyards and tiled rooms in the Marrakech medina.
Koutoubia Mosque — The twelfth-century minaret that every other tower in Marrakech is measured against.
Saadian Tombs — The sealed royal burial garden in Marrakech, reopened in the twentieth century and richly decorated inside.
Jemaa el-Fna — The main square of Marrakech, which fills after dark with food stalls, musicians and storytellers.
Optional, at extra cost
These are not part of the quote. We can arrange them on request, and they are paid separately.
Majorelle Garden — The cobalt-blue garden villa in Marrakech, planted with cactus and bamboo.
What's Included
Everything below comes from this itinerary: what the price covers, and what it does not. Nothing is listed that the itinerary does not state.
Send your request: Free. No payment, no card details, no obligation.
We confirm your trip: We check your dates, group size and availability, then send you the itinerary and the final price in writing.
20% deposit: Paid only after you have approved the confirmed trip. It secures your booking.
80% on arrival: The remaining 80% is paid when you arrive in Morocco.
Cancel more than 7 days before the trip and there is no charge. Within 7 days, 50% is charged.
FAQ
Is this a private tour?
Yes — every departure is fully private for your party alone. You travel with your own dedicated English-speaking driver and set the pace together, with no strangers joining your group.
What is the accommodation like?
Handpicked hotels and riads with private rooms throughout, plus one unforgettable night in a luxury tented camp on the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with real beds and en-suite bathrooms.
How much time is spent in the Sahara?
Two nights near the dunes — the first in the luxury desert camp reached by camel, followed by a full day exploring Merzouga (nomad families, Gnawa music, sandboarding and more) with a second night at a desert hotel.
When is the best time to take this tour?
It runs year-round. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal, with warm days and comfortable desert nights. Winter is crisp and clear; summer is hot inland, so we start early and plan around the heat.
How do I confirm my booking?
Message us on WhatsApp to lock in your dates and we'll tailor the details to you. Sending the request is free. Once we have confirmed your dates, itinerary and final price, a 20% deposit secures the booking and the remaining 80% is paid on arrival in Morocco.