Desert from Fez or from Marrakech: how to choose your Sahara route

Almost every trip to the Moroccan Sahara ends in the same place: the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. What changes is the road. Starting in Fez or in Marrakech is not just about where your flight lands: each city opens a route with different landscapes.

The route from Fez: the Middle Atlas and the Ziz valley

From Fez the road crosses the Middle Atlas, with cedar forests and mountain towns, then drops into the Ziz valley, a long ribbon of palm groves that announces the desert. It is the most direct way to Merzouga from the north of the country.

If you are short on time, the 2-day route ending in Fez goes to the desert and back. It is intense, with many hours on the road, but it lets you see the dunes without reshaping your whole trip. With two more days, the 4-day desert route also starts and ends in Fez, at a calmer pace: a full day around Merzouga and a visit to the Todra gorges before heading back.

The route from Marrakech: the High Atlas and the kasbahs

From Marrakech the journey begins by crossing the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. On the other side come the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, lined with earthen kasbahs. The road is longer than from Fez, but the scenery changes all the time.

The 3-day route ending in Marrakech makes the round trip through the south. If you would rather finish somewhere else, the 4-day Sahara route starts in Marrakech and can end back in Marrakech or in Fez, which is handy if your trip continues in the north.

How many days do you need?

• Two days: only from Fez, and only if you accept long driving days.

• Three days: the reasonable minimum from Marrakech.

• Four days: more time in the desert and unhurried stops, from either city.

How to decide

Choose Fez if you arrive in the north or want the shortest road to the dunes. Choose Marrakech if the High Atlas and the kasbahs of the south appeal to you. And if you are not sure, tell us your dates and where you arrive, and we will help you fit the route into your trip.