Why do a loop rather than a round trip
Most tours to Merzouga depart from Marrakech, do the round trip, and return by the same route.
It works, but it also means crossing the Tizi n'Tichka pass twice, in both directions, with the same bends and the same landscapes already seen on the way out.
The Fès-Merzouga-Marrakech tour avoids this problem.
You descend from one imperial city, cross the desert in the middle of the journey, and head up towards the other.
Every kilometre of road is covered only once.
For a traveller visiting both cities anyway during their trip, this is often the most logical option: rather than managing a Marrakech-desert round trip then a separate journey to Fès, everything is done in one continuous loop.
Two routes with almost nothing in common
From Fès, the road descends through the Middle Atlas: cedar forests around Ifrane, then the town of Azrou, before reaching the Ziz valley and its palm groves stretching for dozens of kilometres to Erfoud.
The landscape changes gradually, with no abrupt break.
Towards Marrakech, it is the reverse.
The road climbs the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at over 2,200 metres, before descending towards Ouarzazate and the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs.
The Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is on this stretch, a few hours from Marrakech.
Two mountain ranges, two valleys, two atmospheres.
It is also this contrast that makes the loop interesting for those who have time to do it in both directions rather than choosing a single route.
Merzouga, the hinge of the tour
Merzouga sits at the end of both routes, almost equidistant: about 460 km from Fès, about 560 km from Marrakech.
This is where the night at the desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes takes place, generally in the middle of the tour.
Three days is enough for the standard version: one day's drive from Fès, a night in the desert, one day's drive to Marrakech.
Those who want to linger longer at the Todra Gorges or spend more time at Ait Ben Haddou generally add a day.
To place the precise stages of the Marrakech-desert stretch, our Marrakech-Merzouga itinerary page details each stop.
Who is this loop for?
If your trip includes Fès and Marrakech anyway, this option saves a wasted journey.
If you are only visiting one of the two cities, a simple round trip from that city remains simpler and often cheaper.
To plan for: both driving days remain long, between 8 and 10 hours depending on stops.
This is not a format for those who want to minimise time in a vehicle.
This format particularly suits couples and small groups arranging a private tour, as the pace of both driving days can then adapt to everyone's wishes: a longer photo stop, a detour to a kasbah, or simply fewer kilometres before nightfall.
Practical tip
If your return flight departs from Marrakech, do the loop in the Fès-to-Marrakech direction: it saves a return trip to Fès just to catch your flight.
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