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Extended Desert & Gorges Loop

Dunes, gorges, kasbahs and the Red City in one unforgettable loop, with two nights in the heart of the Sahara.

Sahara · Desert · Adventure

3 to 4 days ≈ 1150 km from Fez to Marrakech 17 h 55
Heads up: the longest leg takes about 7 h of driving. Leave early in the morning and do not overload the schedule.

Cross the Middle Atlas from Fez to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, spend two nights around Merzouga, then follow the road of the kasbahs through Rissani, the Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley to Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou and Marrakech. Four days, one route, and total freedom to set your own pace.

Day-by-day programme

Day 1

Fez → Merzouga: the road to the dunes

Cross the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, stop in Midelt or the Ziz valley and reach Erg Chebbi by late afternoon. Settle in, then climb the dunes for your first sunset.

Day 2

A full day around Merzouga

Visit the old mines, the village of Khamlia and its traditional music, and meet nomad families. At sunset, set off on an extended camel trek deep into the dunes and spend a night under the stars.

Day 3

Rissani, Todra Gorges and Dades Valley

Leave the dunes through the Rissani market and the fossil workshops of Erfoud, then walk between the towering walls of the Todra Gorges. Overnight in the Dades Valley.

Day 4

Valley of Roses, Aït Benhaddou and Marrakech

Drive past the Valley of Roses, visit Ouarzazate (Atlas Film Studios) and the ksar of Aït Benhaddou, then cross the High Atlas to Marrakech. Prefer to return to Fez? Ask us about the loop back north.

Why this tour?

  • Two nights in the Sahara: time to really live the desert, not just pass through it.
  • Five landmarks on a single route: Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorges, Dades Valley, Aït Benhaddou and Atlas Studios.
  • Authentic encounters: nomad families, Khamlia village and the Rissani market.
  • Your pace, your stops: no group, no fixed schedule, your own bookings.
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Stops and rest points

  1. 1
    Fez
    Start
  2. 2
    Merzouga
    7 h drive · 2 nights recommended
  3. 3
    Rissani
    30 min drive · Short stop (2 to 3 h)
  4. 4
    Todra Gorges
    2 h 30 drive · Short stop (2 to 3 h)
  5. 5
    Dades Valley
    45 min drive · 1 night recommended
  6. 6
    Ouarzazate
    2 h 30 drive · Short stop (2 to 3 h)
  7. 7
    Aït Benhaddou
    40 min drive · Short stop (2 to 3 h)
  8. 8
    Marrakech
    4 h drive · Short stop (2 to 3 h)

Must-sees

  • Extended camel trek at sunset and a night under the stars
  • Khamlia village and its traditional music
  • Meeting nomad families
  • Rissani market and the fossil workshops of Erfoud
  • The Todra Gorge
  • The Dades Valley and its cliffs
  • The Valley of Roses
  • The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
  • Ouarzazate's film studios

Route map

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