Review: 3-Day Luxury Desert Trip, Fes to Marrakech

So, you are possibly dreaming of endless sand dunes, maybe stunning sunsets, plus perhaps a taste of something exotic? A desert trip from Fes to Marrakech probably sounds like it’s something right out of a storybook. I, too, was pretty captivated by the thought. I just came back from the “3 Days 2 Nights Luxury Desert Trip to Marrakech From Fes,” and, as a matter of fact, I thought I’d share everything about it with you, honestly – what was truly mind-blowing and also what could’ve been even better. It’s more or less a long ride, certainly, but it offers quite a few glimpses into Morocco’s amazing heartland.

Saying Goodbye to Fes

We started things fairly early, like around 8 AM, I believe, from Fes. I remember being slightly sad to say farewell to that old city, with what feels like its maze-like streets and the smell of leather pretty much everywhere. We got into a very comfortable 4×4, which honestly made a huge difference because, to be honest, we were looking at many, many hours on the road. Our driver, whose name was Hassan, was actually super friendly, in a way, and just so knowledgeable about the country’s background. It tends to be an awesome start when you have someone who likes talking and can tell you fun facts along the way. During that first stretch, you may see the landscape gradually changing. You, too, go from pretty urban scenes to places where you see rolling hills and little villages. The Middle Atlas Mountains appear before you, which felt like they’re acting like some kind of natural border.

Ifrane: A Touch of Switzerland in Morocco

Then, totally out of the blue, the scenery changed big time! We stopped in Ifrane, often referred to, pretty much, as “Little Switzerland.” And actually, it really looks the part. It may have that Alpine sort of vibe with its architecture. Apparently, a bunch of people come here to enjoy some skiing during the winter, actually. We simply walked around just a little, took some pics, and basically stretched our legs. This unexpected pause in the mountains made for quite a cool contrast to what I kind of picture Morocco to be usually. Like, honestly, who anticipates stumbling upon a Swiss-style town while heading toward the Sahara?

Cedar Forest and Meeting the Monkeys

Later, we made our way through the Cedar Forest, that actually houses the Barbary macaques. It’s a bit nutty! Just imagine being among tall cedar trees when suddenly, monkeys turn up. It’s very fun to just watch them fooling around and doing monkey things, and the monkeys are pretty used to people, yet it is vital to remember that they’re wild animals. It’s a really very cool chance to observe them in their natural habitat, I think. Be sure to hold onto your belongings; monkeys are cheeky like your mischievous cousin! That tends to be a fantastic experience to enjoy wildlife without necessarily being in a zoo, you know?

Day 1 winds down in Erfoud

We moved further down through the Ziz Valley, which shows endless palm trees all bunched together. So, that provides loads of places to photograph along the way. Next, we arrived at Erfoud, that’s very known for fossils. When you’re there, you should have a short tour around a nearby fossil workshop. This gave everyone there just a bit of context on the ancient past just under their feet. Also, seeing artisans displaying this talent is a great bonus. Getting into our lodging for that evening gave us more desert vibes. A decent place to catch some sleep prior to an even better, next day.

Into the Sahara Desert

The following day started early! With the sun coming up, we headed straight toward Merzouga and, likewise, the huge Erg Chebbi dunes. That bit felt surreal – these sand formations started peeking out, such as something out of a movie, I guess. The transition to these huge, rippling sand mountains, more or less, alerts you to nature’s magnitude.

Camel Trekking Experience

Of course, a camel ride was scheduled! You kind of can’t travel all this way and not actually hop onto a camel, you know? These gentle animals took us further into the desert. As a matter of fact, I found it quite calming as they swayed lightly across the dunes. It is typically pretty magical, watching the sun dip lower, coating everything with various shades of orange and pink. It definitely turned out that way!

Luxury Desert Camp

And can I say, the desert camp? It was “luxury” as they put it! Tents had actual beds and some amenities, and there was very, very nice food offered. It goes to show just how awesome it feels to be in such isolation, but really also feel pampered. People met each other around a bonfire following supper. A lot of music happened plus we viewed what seemed like millions of starry lights above our heads. You tend to feel pretty humbled in these scenarios, which makes you conscious of just how vast life really is.

Going through the Todra Gorge

We were told to wake at daybreak to see what sunrise over the desert truly looks like. It certainly shouldn’t be skipped, I should add. Getting up there very early feels so worth it! After breakfast at camp, we began heading toward the Todra Gorge. What felt like very high cliff faces just squeeze in at that spot, so they stand very close by, and you’re almost stunned, in a way, when facing off with what is around you. You, like, could watch rock climbers, in addition, and you will usually have the opportunity to enjoy walking through part of this valley. Just more of the Mother Nature display, to be sure.

Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou: Movie Settings

Ouarzazate ended up being another key point for exploration; its reputation comes, rather, from the movie studios in that area. You apparently could arrange for a stop there if films interest you; in that case, that might seem cool to experience. Right after Ouarzazate happens Ait Benhaddou, a ksar (that’s like, a fortified village). It is basically quite a grand sight, with lots of towers that look old just stacked alongside one another; plus, surprise – it shows up, similarly, in loads of films and shows too. We went walking around its narrow, winding lanes that seemed very interesting and offered up many scenic photograph vantage points. I believe exploring ancient parts can transport us to a time before now, it feels that way.

Back to Marrakech

The last segment of the trip featured us navigating into the High Atlas Mountains. And just let me say – this section gave very panoramic vistas. We twisted on hairpin roads before they began steadily going upwards, I noticed, with the vista just becoming ever larger plus much wider the more altitude we climbed. When coming to Marrakech in the late evening, I noticed it was quite an adjustment to be thrust once more into that bustle. From desert calmness toward that vibrant intensity showed quite a striking difference.

Concluding thoughts: Luxury desert trip

In some respects, this “3 Days 2 Nights Luxury Desert Trip to Marrakech From Fes” seems to provide something extraordinary. Okay, you’re in transit for decent chunks each day; though, if you don’t mind just taking it slow plus enjoy taking pictures and watching nature roll on by, it will work okay for anyone. So, consider a luxury experience which has very real pampering elements for down time following longish trips. I’m able to certainly say this really showcases something beautiful regarding Morocco beyond simply seeing just town locations. Actually you ought to perhaps assess a travel approach here should any bit here really interest your tastes at all.

• Diverse Landscapes: The transition from urban Fes to the Sahara is worth experiencing.
• Comfortable Travel: A good 4×4 can drastically improve the long drives.
• Cultural Insights: Engage with your driver to learn more about Moroccan history.
• Luxury Camp Experience: Worth it for the unique blend of comfort and desert adventure.
• Iconic Stops: Ait Benhaddou and Todra Gorge offer fantastic photo opportunities.