Our 4-day journey from Marrakech to Fes was arranged through Blue Men of Morocco, with a private driver who took us through the countryside to visit the myriad sights and towns near the edge of the Sahara Desert. We left the chaos of Marrakech through Tichka Pass on day one, and were immediately transported to more serene surroundings. We arrived for a late lunch at Ait Ben Haddou, where the approach to the massive Kasbah evoked imageries of ancient kingdoms, but not the compulsion to climb to the top. A 4-hour detour along rough, bumpy roads led us to Telouet, where the dilapidated ruins concealed some of the most impressive tile and stuccowork we’ve seen. Bypassing the Hollywood-city of Ouarzuarzate after the long drive, we found respite over dinner and a comfortable bed at the Jardin de la Skoura. We awoke early the next morning to back-track to Ozuarzate for a visit to Taourirt Kasbah and a guided tour of the movie sets at Atlas Film Studios, known for such films as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. In the afternoon, we continued through Dades Valley and Todra Gorge without a lunch break before disembarking at Haven La Chance in Merzouga. Our driver got a break on the third day, as we spent the morning touring Berber villages and scavenging for fossils, followed by a sunset camel ride into the dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert. The sky was too cloudy for a sunset photo, but we enjoyed the quiet evening with the Berber guide in our private bivouac, learning to play tribal drums and dining on chicken tagine under the stars. The next morning, we hiked up the dunes again to watch the sun rise before returning to our hotel on camelback. Our final day of driving was long and grueling, with brief stops to buy dates at the market in Rissani, take panoramic shots of Ziz Valley, chase Barbary apes in Alnif, and hunt for bathrooms in Ifrane before our late arrival in Fes. Heavy rains, hail, and lightning made for a thrilling drive into the city, but we were relieved when the road trip came to an end in Riad Idrissy.