Camel Ride Trips5-Day Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech
The quickest way from the Strait of Gibraltar to the Sahara and Marrakech. Sleep in blue Chefchaouen, see Fes with a local guide, ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend a night in a desert camp, then follow the gorges and kasbahs over the High Atlas to Marrakech.
What is the 5-Day Desert Tour from Tangier to Marrakech?
It is a private, one-way tour by Camel Ride Trips that starts in Tangier (airport, ferry port or hotel) and ends in Marrakech after 5 days and 4 nights. It visits Chefchaouen, Fes with a licensed local guide, Ifrane and the cedar forest, the Ziz Valley, the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga with a night in a desert camp, Rissani, the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Skoura, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou. You travel with your own English-speaking driver-guide.
- 1 night Chefchaouen
- 1 night Fes
- 1 night Sahara camp
- 1 night Dades Valley
How much driving is there on the 5-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour?
The whole route covers about 1,400 km by road. Times below are approximate and include short stops for photos, lunch and visits.
| Day | Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tangier → Chefchaouen | about 120 km | 1–2 hours with stops |
| Day 2 | Chefchaouen → Fes guided tour | about 200 km | 3–4 hours with stops |
| Day 3 | Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Ziz Valley → Merzouga | about 460 km | 7–8 hours with stops |
| Day 4 | Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley | about 260 km | 4–5 hours with stops |
| Day 5 | Dades → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech | about 340 km | 5–6 hours with stops |
Ferry pickup
We meet you at Tangier port, the airport or your hotel.
Sahara night
Sunset and sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Private 4x4
Air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own driver-guide.
Fes guide
A licensed local guide for your visit of the Fes medina.
5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Itinerary
- Day 1
Tangier → Chefchaouen
Your private driver meets you at Tangier airport, the ferry port or your hotel. Leave the coast and drive through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen.
Check into your riad, then explore the blue lanes, small artisan shops, cafés and quiet squares at your own pace.
Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
- Day 2
Chefchaouen → Fes guided tour
After a last walk through Chefchaouen, drive south to Fes, Morocco's oldest imperial city.
Meet your licensed local guide for an afternoon in the UNESCO-listed medina: the Royal Palace gates, old madrasas, the leather tanneries and busy artisan workshops.
Overnight: Riad in the Fes medina
- Day 3
Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Stop in Ifrane, with its European-style houses and parks, and in the cedar forest of the Middle Atlas, home to Barbary macaques. After lunch, pass Midelt and descend into the palm groves of the Ziz Valley.
Reach Merzouga in the late afternoon and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. At the desert camp, enjoy dinner and Berber music by the fire under the stars.
Overnight: Sahara desert camp, dinner included
- Day 4
Merzouga → Rissani → Todra Gorge → Dades Valley
Wake up for sunrise over the dunes, have breakfast and return to Merzouga by camel or 4x4. Visit Rissani, an old caravan town with a traditional market.
Walk inside the Todra Gorge between its high cliffs, then follow the Dades Valley past rock formations and kasbahs, with stops at the viewpoints.
Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Valley, dinner included
- Day 5
Dades → Skoura → Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Drive through the Valley of Roses and the Skoura palm groves to Ouarzazate, with an optional visit to the Atlas Film Studios. Explore Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage earthen ksar.
Cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with views over Berber villages, and arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Tour ends at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 4 nights in hotels, riads and a desert camp (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury)
- Daily breakfast
- Dinners in Merzouga and the Dades Valley
- Vegetarian and vegan meal options
- Licensed local guide in Fes
- Camel ride and sandboarding
- Photo and rest stops with free time
- Airport, ferry port, hotel and riad transfers
Not included
- International flights and ferry tickets
- Lunches and drinks
- Dinners not listed above
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Questions About This Tour
Can I go from Tangier to the Sahara and Marrakech in 5 days?
Yes. This route covers Chefchaouen, Fes, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou, and ends in Marrakech on day 5.
Can you pick me up from the ferry in Tangier?
Yes. We meet you at Tangier Med or Tangier Ville port, Tangier airport or your hotel, so this tour suits travelers arriving by ferry from Spain.
How many nights are in the desert?
One night in a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, with a sunset camel ride, dinner, Berber music and sunrise over the dunes. For two desert nights, choose our 7-day Tangier to Marrakech tour.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and dinners at the desert camp and in the Dades Valley. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
How much driving is there on the 5-day Tangier to Marrakech desert tour?
The whole route covers about 1,400 km by road. The longest day is Day 3, Fes → Ifrane → Cedar Forest → Ziz Valley → Merzouga: about 460 km, 7–8 hours with stops. All times are approximate and include short stops.
How much does the 5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour tour cost?
The 5-Day Tangier to Marrakech Desert Tour tour starts from €880 per person at Mid-Range level, based on 2 travelers sharing. The price depends on your group size and comfort level (Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury). Message us on WhatsApp at +212 669 576 091 for an exact quote.
How do I pay for this tour?
Send a 20% deposit by PayPal, Payoneer or international bank transfer (SWIFT) and your tour is confirmed automatically. Pay the remaining 80% on the first day of the tour, in cash (EUR, USD or MAD) or online. Cancel 11 days or more before the tour for a full refund of your deposit. See our booking terms.
More tours from Tangier: 7-day Tangier to Marrakech, 11-day Tangier to Marrakech and 6-day Tangier to Merzouga.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.