Most people who plan a trip to the Sahara ask the same question. Should your Morocco desert tour start in Marrakech or in Fes? Both cities are good starting points, and even Casablanca works well. The right choice depends on your flights, your free days, and the scenery you want to see on the road.
This guide gives you the real facts, with real travel times, so you can decide with confidence.
Here is the quick answers before you look at each route in detail:
- Both routes are almost the same distance. Marrakech to Merzouga is around 560 km. Fes to Merzouga is around 570 km.
- So the choice is not about which city is closer. It is about the city you fly into, the landscapes you prefer, and how much city time you want.
- You can also begin your Morocco desert tour in Casablanca if that fits your flights better.
- Many travellers start in one city and finish in the other. This is often the best plan of all.
Starting Your Desert Tour From Marrakech
Marrakech is our most popular starting point. It has an international airport with direct flights from many European cities, so it is easy to reach. From here we do the drive to the desert over two days, with real sightseeing stops on the way.
Day 1: Marrakech to Boumalne Dades (around 10 hours with stops)
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains, with a first stop for panoramic views
- Visit Ait Benhaddou, the old clay village, with lunch here
- Short stop in Ouarzazate, the door to the desert
- Stop in the Valley of Roses
- Arrive at the Dades Gorge in Boumalne Dades for the night
Day 2: Boumalne Dades to Merzouga (around 6 to 7 hours with stops)
- Visit Todra Gorge, with its tall canyon walls next to a small river
- Lunch along the way
- Continue through the desert to Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi
The full distance is around 560 km. This start suits you if you fly into Marrakech and want a day or two in the city first.
Starting Your Desert Tour From Fes
From Fes the total drive is around 570 km and takes about 10 to 11 hours with stops. The road shows you a greener, cooler side of the country. The usual stops on a Sahara tour from Fes are:
- Ifrane, a mountain town known as the Switzerland of Morocco
- The Azrou cedar forest, where you can often see wild monkeys
- Midelt, a good place to stop for lunch
- Errachidia, for a short coffee break
- The Ziz Valley, with a long line of palm trees for a panoramic stop
- Merzouga, where the great dunes begin
This start is ideal if you fly into Fes or visit the north first, and if you prefer green mountains and palm valleys over the film route.
Can You Start in Casablanca?
Yes. Casablanca has the largest airport in Morocco, so many visitors land there.
We are happy to begin your Morocco desert tour from Casablanca as well.
From here we join the same southern route towards Merzouga, adding the road through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley. Just tell us where you arrive and we build the route around it.
The Desert Is the Same Great Ending
No matter which city you choose, the best part is the same. In Merzouga you ride a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, sleep in a desert camp under the stars, and watch the sun rise over the sand in the morning. This is the moment most people remember from their Morocco desert tour.
Because your trip is private, everything is arranged for your group only. You decide when you arrive, how long you stay, and what kind of camp suits you best, from simple Berber tents to more comfortable camps with private bathrooms.
The Best Plan: Go One Way
Here is a tip that many first-time visitors miss. You do not have to return to the same city.
You can start your desert tour in Marrakech and finish in Fes, or the other way around. This way you see the whole country and you never drive the same road twice. It saves time and shows you much more.
At Numidian we arrange this one-way route with a private driver, so you only unpack when you need to. You start in one city, cross the Sahara, and end in the other, ready to fly home.
What About Prices?
There is no single fixed price for a Morocco desert tour, and that is good news for you. The final price depends on a few things:
- How many people are in your group
- Whether you choose a standard or a luxury tour
- The type of hotels you prefer, standard or luxury
- The exact route and the services included
Because every trip is different, we give you a clear quote for your own plan instead of one fixed number that may not match what you want. Tell us your dates, your group size, and your style, and we send you a price.
How to decide, and how we can help
Still not sure? Use this simple guide to plan your Morocco desert tour:
Fly into Marrakech and want city time and the film route, start in Marrakech.
Fly into Fes and want green mountains, monkeys, and palm valleys, start in Fes.
Fly into Casablanca, we can start there too.
Have four days or more, go one way from one city to the other.
If you want a quote for your dates and group size, contact the Numidian team and we will build the plan that is right for you.
