From Fes to the dunes of Merzouga and back, through the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and the green Ziz valley.
Fes is the closest imperial city to the Sahara, which makes this short trip easy and relaxed. The road crosses the Middle Atlas, where Barbary macaques live among the cedars, and descends the Ziz valley to the desert.
In Merzouga you have time for the dunes, the nomads and a night in a camp before driving back to Fes.
Fes is closer to the great dunes than Marrakech, which makes this the most comfortable way to reach Merzouga in a short time. The road itself is part of the experience: alpine Ifrane, the cedar forests, the high plateau of Midelt and the spectacular Ziz gorges.
The middle day is dedicated entirely to the desert, so you have time to enjoy the dunes without rushing before spending the night in the camp.
Tour highlights
Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco
Barbary macaques in the cedar forest
The Ziz gorges and palm groves
4x4 tour around Erg Chebbi
Camel ride and night in the desert camp
Sunrise from the top of a dune
The route
1Fes
2Ifrane
3Midelt
4Merzouga
Day by day
Day1
Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga
Through Ifrane and the cedar forest to Midelt, then down the Ziz gorges and valley to Erfoud and Merzouga. Night in a riad by the dunes.
Leaving Fes, you climb into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, a surprising town with alpine roofs, and the cedar forest of Azrou, where Barbary macaques live in the wild. After lunch in Midelt, at the foot of the snowy Ayachi, the road follows the Ziz gorges and its endless palm groves past Errachidia and Erfoud to Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes.
Day2
Merzouga: dunes and nomads
Morning 4x4 tour, tea with a nomad family and Gnawa music in Khamlia. Camel ride at sunset and night in the desert camp.
Merzouga is the gateway to Erg Chebbi, a sea of orange dunes up to 150 metres high. By 4x4 you visit a nomad family for tea, the village of Khamlia, where Gnawa musicians of sub-Saharan origin play their hypnotic music, the seasonal lake and the black stone desert. In the late afternoon a camel caravan takes you into the dunes for sunset and the night in the camp, with dinner, drums around the fire and a sky full of stars.
Day3
Merzouga – Midelt – Fes
Sunrise over Erg Chebbi, breakfast and the drive back north to Fes, with a lunch stop in Midelt.
After the sunrise over Erg Chebbi and breakfast, you travel north through the Tafilalet palm groves and the Ziz valley, with a stop at a viewpoint over the gorges. Lunch in Midelt, then the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, Azrou and Ifrane, before arriving in Fes in the evening.
Included
Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, riad or the airport
Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan
Professional driver who speaks several languages
Fuel, tolls and parking
Nights in hand-picked hotels, riads or kasbahs
Breakfast and dinner every night
Camel ride into the dunes at sunset
Night in a desert camp
Not included
Lunches
Drinks
Entrance fees to monuments
Local city guides (on request)
Tips and personal expenses
Good to know
This is a private tour: only your group travels in the vehicle. You can add days, change cities or choose the level of the hotels.
The price depends on the number of travellers and the hotels you choose. Ask us and we will send you the exact price.
Frequently asked questions
Are the tours private?
Yes. Only your group travels in the vehicle, with your own driver. We do not run shared tours.
How much does a tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, the season and the level of accommodation. Send us your dates and we will reply with a clear price.
Can I change the itinerary?
Of course. You can add days, start or finish in another city, or choose different hotels. Every tour can be adapted.
What is the desert camp like?
Our camps in Merzouga have tents with real beds, dinner and breakfast. Luxury tents with private bathroom are available on request.
When is the best time to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. Winter days are sunny but desert nights are cold; summer is very hot in the south.
