Choosing Your Starting Point
One of the key decisions when planning a Morocco desert tour is where to begin: Marrakech or Fes. Both are magnificent imperial cities and popular gateways to the Sahara, but they offer different routes, distances, and experiences on the way to the dunes. Choosing the right starting point depends on your flights, your wider travel plans, and what you want to see along the journey. Understanding how the two compare helps you plan the most efficient and rewarding trip.
The great dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are the usual destination from both cities, but the routes to reach them differ significantly in distance and scenery. Many travellers also choose a one-way tour between the two cities, which cleverly avoids backtracking and lets you experience both. In this guide, we compare Marrakech and Fes as starting points for a desert tour, looking at the routes, distances, highlights, and which might suit you best. Because the two cities sit at almost opposite ends of the classic tourist trail, your starting point also shapes the rest of your Morocco itinerary, from which imperial city you explore first to where you fly in and out, so it is worth thinking through before you book. Our 2 Days Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour can begin from either city to match your travel plans.
Marrakech: The Popular Gateway
Marrakech is the most popular starting point for desert tours, and for good reason. As Morocco’s leading tourist hub, it has excellent international flight connections, a wealth of attractions, and a vibrant energy that makes it a wonderful place to begin or end a trip. From Marrakech, the route to the desert crosses the High Atlas Mountains via the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka pass and passes some of Morocco’s most iconic sights.
The Marrakech route to Merzouga is longer than the Fes route, typically requiring at least three days for a round trip, but it is packed with highlights, including the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the film studios of Ouarzazate, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Dades Valley, and the Todgha Gorge. This makes the journey itself a major part of the experience. For travellers flying into Marrakech or wanting to see these southern highlights, it is the ideal gateway. Our 6 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes showcases the spectacular Marrakech route to the dunes.
Fes: Closer to the Dunes
Fes, Morocco’s oldest imperial city and its cultural and spiritual heart, is the other main gateway to the desert, and it holds a distinct advantage: it sits closer to the great Erg Chebbi dunes than Marrakech. This means a desert tour from Fes can reach Merzouga more quickly and directly, making it possible to enjoy a rewarding desert experience in as little as two or three days without the long drives required from Marrakech.
The route from Fes travels south through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas near Ifrane, where Barbary macaques roam, and follows the beautiful palm-filled Ziz Valley toward the desert. This scenic journey is quite different from the Marrakech route but equally rewarding, offering green mountains and dramatic oasis landscapes. For travellers who want to reach the desert more quickly, or who are exploring the north of Morocco, Fes is an excellent starting point. Our 4 Days Desert Tour from Errachidia to Marrakech makes the most of the direct and scenic route from Fes.
Comparing the Routes and Distances
The main practical difference between the two starting points is distance and travel time to the dunes. Fes is significantly closer to Merzouga, so a tour from Fes involves less driving and can deliver a desert experience more quickly. From Marrakech, the greater distance means longer driving days, but the route passes more famous highlights, making the journey itself a richer part of the experience. Neither is better in absolute terms; they simply suit different priorities.
In terms of scenery, the Marrakech route offers the High Atlas crossing, Ait Ben Haddou, and the dramatic gorges and valleys of the south, while the Fes route offers the Middle Atlas cedar forests and the beautiful Ziz Valley. Both are spectacular but different. If minimising driving time is your priority, Fes wins; if seeing the iconic southern highlights matters more, Marrakech is ideal. Your choice depends on what you value most. Our Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour 3 Days can follow whichever route best matches your interests.
The One-Way Tour: The Best of Both
For many travellers, the ideal solution is not to choose between Marrakech and Fes at all, but to take a one-way tour between the two cities. A tour that starts in Marrakech and ends in Fes, or vice versa, travels through the desert in between, allowing you to experience both imperial cities, the great dunes, and all the highlights of the route without ever backtracking. This is one of the most efficient and rewarding ways to structure a Morocco trip.
A one-way desert tour typically takes three days or more, travelling from one city across the mountains and through the desert to the other, taking in Ait Ben Haddou, the gorges, the Ziz Valley, and the Merzouga dunes along the way. This format is especially convenient if you are flying into one city and out of the other. For travellers who want to see as much as possible, the one-way tour is often the best choice of all. Our 2 Days Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour offers a seamless one-way journey between Marrakech and Fes via the desert.
Which Should You Choose?
To decide between Marrakech and Fes as your desert tour starting point, consider your flights, your schedule, and your priorities. Choose Marrakech if you are flying there, want to see the iconic southern highlights like Ait Ben Haddou and the gorges, and don’t mind the longer drives. Choose Fes if you want to reach the desert more quickly, are exploring the north, or prefer a shorter, more direct route. And seriously consider a one-way tour between the two if you want the best of both worlds.
Both cities are extraordinary destinations in their own right, well worth exploring before or after your desert adventure, so your choice also depends on which you would like to spend time in. Whichever you choose, a desert tour from either Marrakech or Fes leads to the same magical Sahara and an unforgettable night under the stars. The team at Morocco Desert Excursion can help you plan the ideal route. Our 6 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes can be arranged from either city to suit your perfect itinerary.
Plan Your Desert Tour from Marrakech or Fes
Both Marrakech and Fes make excellent starting points for a Morocco desert tour, each offering its own routes, highlights, and advantages on the way to the great dunes of the Sahara. Marrakech is the popular gateway with the iconic southern highlights, Fes offers a quicker, more direct route to the dunes, and a one-way tour between the two combines the best of both. Your ideal choice depends on your flights, schedule, and what you want to see along the way.
The team at Morocco Desert Excursion can craft a tailor-made desert tour from Marrakech, Fes, or as a one-way journey between them, ensuring a comfortable, well-organised, and memorable trip whatever your starting point. From the camel trek and desert camp to the spectacular landscapes along each route, every detail is arranged for an exceptional experience. To plan your desert tour from Marrakech or Fes, get in touch using the button below, and we will craft the perfect Sahara adventure for you. Our 4 Days Desert Tour from Errachidia to Marrakech is the ideal way to begin your journey to the dunes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to start a desert tour from Marrakech or Fes?
Both work well. Marrakech is the popular gateway with iconic highlights like Ait Ben Haddou and the gorges, but involves longer drives. Fes sits closer to the Merzouga dunes, so tours reach the desert more quickly. A one-way tour between the two combines the best of both.
Which is closer to the Sahara desert, Marrakech or Fes?
Fes is closer to the great Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga than Marrakech. A tour from Fes involves less driving and can deliver a rewarding desert experience in 2-3 days, while the Marrakech route is longer but passes more famous southern highlights.
Can you do a one-way desert tour between Marrakech and Fes?
Yes, and it is one of the most efficient options. A one-way tour starts in one city and ends in the other, travelling through the desert in between, so you experience both imperial cities, the Merzouga dunes, and all the route’s highlights without backtracking. It takes 3 days or more.
What do you see on the desert route from Marrakech?
The Marrakech route crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass and passes the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate’s film studios, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Dades Valley, and the Todgha Gorge before reaching the Merzouga dunes.
Useful Resources
For more background on the destinations and experiences mentioned in this guide, explore these authoritative resources: Moroccan cuisine — Wikipedia, Fes, Morocco — Wikipedia, Erg Chebbi — Wikipedia, and Rif Mountains — Wikipedia.
Book Your Morocco Desert Tour
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