Overview
This 3 day desert tour from Fes gives you what the two-day version cannot: a whole day in the Sahara without a long drive in it. Merzouga is about 470 km south of Fes, across the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas and down the palm-filled Ziz valley. You drive there on day one, spend day two around Erg Chebbi, and only head north again on day three, after sunrise on the dunes.
The middle day is the reason to choose three days. You hear Gnawa music in Khamlia, eat lunch in the old market town of Rissani, circle the dunes with your driver past nomad wells and black tents, then ride a camel out to camp as the sand turns red. The first night is in a guesthouse at the edge of the dunes, the second in a desert camp. Our Merzouga desert guide covers the area in more detail. Short on time? The 2-day desert tour from Fes does the same road with one night.
Highlights
- Watch for Barbary macaques in the cedar forest near Azrou
- Drop through the Ziz gorges into a valley of date palms
- Listen to Gnawa drums and castanets in the village of Khamlia
- Taste medfouna, the stuffed "Berber pizza", in Rissani
- Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi, where dunes rise to about 150 m
- Two nights at the dunes: one in a guesthouse, one in camp
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz valley → Merzouga
Pickup around 8:00 at your riad or hotel. The road climbs quickly into the Middle Atlas: a coffee stop in Ifrane, with its sloping roofs and clean streets, then the cedar forest outside Azrou, where macaques often wait by the road. Lunch is in Midelt, on a high plateau with the Ayachi range behind it. In the afternoon you cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and follow the Ziz down through its gorges and palm groves, past Errachidia and Erfoud. The dunes appear late in the day. Dinner and the night in a guesthouse facing Erg Chebbi — or straight to camp if you would rather sleep two nights in the sand.
About 470 km · around 7–8 hours on the road, plus stops · Overnight: a guesthouse at the edge of the dunes (or a desert camp)
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2
Khamlia, Rissani and the dunes → sunset camel ride to camp
A slow morning, then a drive around Erg Chebbi. In Khamlia, a village whose families came from south of the Sahara generations ago, Gnawa musicians play for visitors over mint tea. Next is Rissani, an old caravan town with a busy covered market and the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif; this is the place for lunch and medfouna. In the afternoon your driver follows the tracks behind the dunes, past nomad wells and tents and, in wet years, the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji. Back in Merzouga you leave the main luggage in the vehicle, mount the camels and ride into the dunes for sunset. Dinner, drums and stars at camp.
Short drives only, about 3 hours in total · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: standard desert camp in Erg Chebbi (luxury upgrade available)
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3
Sunrise over Erg Chebbi → back to Fes
Climb the nearest ridge before dawn and watch the light come over the sand. Then back to the village on camelback or on foot for breakfast and a shower. The road north retraces the Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar country, with stops for lunch and photos whenever you want them. You are back at your riad in Fes in the evening, in time for dinner in the medina.
About 470 km · around 7–8 hours on the road, plus stops · Drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
Hotels and desert camps on this tour
Standard accommodation is included in the price. You can upgrade to superior hotels and camp for €35 per person per night; choose it in the booking panel.
| Night | Place | Standard | Superior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Merzouga, at the edge of the dunes | Hotel L'Homme du Désert or similar | Hotel Riad Chebbi or similar |
| Night 2 | Desert camp, Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Mouhou Standard Desert Camp or similar | Mouhou Luxury Camp or similar |
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver (our team speaks English, French, Spanish and Italian)
- Fuel
- 1 night in a guesthouse in Merzouga, 1 night in a desert camp
- Dinners and breakfasts
- Camel ride to and from camp
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for the driver, camp staff and musicians
- Optional local guides at sites
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
A small bag for the camp night, a warm layer, a scarf for sun and sand, sunscreen, sunglasses and a head torch. The Middle Atlas can be cold even when Fes is warm. Our guide to a night in the Sahara has the full packing list.
Best season
March to May and September to November are the easiest months. In winter the days are bright but desert nights can fall close to 0 °C, and snow sometimes closes the road near Ifrane for a few hours. In July and August, afternoons often pass 40 °C.
The camp
The standard camp has tents with electricity and shared bathrooms, without Wi-Fi. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi.
Travelling with children
The free middle day makes this route much easier for families than the 2-day trip. Children pay 5% less than the adult price.
Route map
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz valley → Erfoud → Merzouga → Khamlia → Rissani → Erg Chebbi → Fes
Questions about the 3-day desert tour from Fes
Is 3 days better than 2 days for the desert from Fes?
If you can spare the day, yes. The drive each way is the same, but the extra night gives you a full day in Merzouga instead of arriving and leaving within hours. If time is tight, the 2-day Fes desert tour still reaches the dunes.
How much does this private tour cost?
€175 per day for your private vehicle and driver plus €40 per person per night. For 2 travellers that is €685 in total, or €343 per person. Children pay 5% less. A small-group departure is available on request. A 20% deposit confirms the booking, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure.
Can I sleep both nights in the desert camp?
Yes. Tell us when you book and we ride you out to camp on the first evening too. Many travellers prefer the guesthouse first, for a proper shower after the long drive.
How long is the camel ride?
About 1 hour each way, at walking pace. If you would rather not ride, we can take you to camp by 4x4.
Can I end the tour in Marrakech instead of Fes?
Yes. The Fes to Marrakech desert tour starts the same way and continues through the Todra gorge, the Dades valley and Aït Ben Haddou.
Is there Wi-Fi in the desert?
Not in the standard camp, which has electricity but no Wi-Fi. The luxury camp has Wi-Fi and charging outlets. Phone signal in the dunes comes and goes.
What travellers say about our tours
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor, across all the tours we run.
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