Overview
This Fes desert tour is built for travellers who have two days and want to sleep among real Sahara dunes, not a patch of sand near the city. Merzouga lies about 470 km south of Fes. The road crosses the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, a high, bare plateau around Midelt and the long palm valley of the Ziz before the orange ridges of Erg Chebbi rise out of the flat desert.
We will be straight with you: this is two long days on the road. You leave Fes early, reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, ride a camel out to camp for sunset and come back the same way the next day, arriving in Fes in the evening. If that sounds like a lot of driving, add a night, or carry on south with the Fes to Marrakech desert tour instead. Before you choose, our Merzouga desert travel guide explains what the area holds beyond the dunes.
Highlights
- Stop at Dayet Aoua, a quiet Middle Atlas lake fringed with cedar and oak
- Stretch your legs in Ifrane, a mountain town of steep-roofed houses and tidy gardens
- Look for Barbary macaques in the cedar forest outside Azrou
- Follow the green ribbon of palms through the Ziz valley
- Ride a camel into Erg Chebbi as the sun drops behind the dunes
- Climb a ridge before dawn and watch the sand change colour at sunrise
Itinerary, day by day
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1
Fes → Dayet Aoua → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz valley → Erfoud → Merzouga
Early pickup at your riad or hotel, around 8:00. Within an hour you are climbing into the Middle Atlas, with a first stop at the lake of Dayet Aoua while the morning is still cool. Next comes Ifrane, then the cedar forest near Azrou, where macaques often sit by the roadside. Lunch is usually in Midelt, on the open plateau below the High Atlas. In the afternoon the road drops through the Ziz gorges and follows the palm-lined valley past Errachidia to Erfoud. Soon after, the first dunes show above the palms. In Merzouga you leave the main luggage in the vehicle, mount the camels and ride into Erg Chebbi for sunset. Dinner and a night under the stars at camp.
About 470 km · roughly 9–10 hours including stops · Camel ride about 1 hour · Overnight: standard desert camp in Erg Chebbi (luxury upgrade available)
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2
Sunrise over Erg Chebbi → back north to Fes
Your guide wakes you in the dark so you can climb the nearest ridge for sunrise. Then it is back to the edge of the dunes on camelback or on foot, for breakfast and a shower. In wet years we may pass the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji, where flamingos sometimes feed. The return follows the same road north through Erfoud, the Ziz valley, Midelt and the cedar country, with stops for lunch and coffee along the way. You reach Fes in the evening.
About 470 km · roughly 9–10 hours including stops · Drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Fes
- Air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride to and from camp
- Fuel
- Free time to explore
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Tips for driver and camp staff
- Optional local guides at sites
- Entrance fees
Good to know before you go
What to bring
A small overnight bag for camp, a warm layer (the Middle Atlas and the desert are both cool at night), a scarf, sunscreen and a head torch. Our guide to a night in a Sahara desert camp has the full packing list.
Best season
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable. From November to February, nights in the dunes can approach 0 °C and the Atlas passes may see snow; in July and August desert afternoons often pass 40 °C.
The camp
The standard camp has tents with electricity and shared bathrooms (no Wi-Fi). Upgrade to the luxury camp for a tent with its own private bathroom and Wi-Fi.
Is two days right for you?
It suits travellers short on time who do not mind long drives. With children, or if you prefer shorter days, a 3-day version with an extra night is easier going. As a private tour it costs €780 in total for 2 travellers (€200 per day for vehicle and driver + €45 per person per night). Children pay 5% less than the adult price.
Route map
Questions about the desert tour from Fes
How far is Merzouga from Fes?
About 470 km each way. With stops for photos, lunch and coffee, plan on roughly 9–10 hours on each of the two days.
Is a 2-day desert trip from Fes worth it?
If two days is all you have, yes: you get the Middle Atlas, a sunset camel ride, a night in the dunes and sunrise. The trade-off is time in the vehicle. With one more day, the trip becomes far more relaxed.
Can I finish in Marrakech instead of going back to Fes?
Yes. The 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour follows the same first day, then continues through the Todra and Dades gorges to Marrakech.
Can I add a second night in the desert?
Yes, on a private tour. A second night gives you a free day around Merzouga and splits the driving. Each extra day adds €200 for the vehicle and driver plus €45 per person for the night.
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.
What is the difference between the private and the group tour?
The route is the same. Private means your own vehicle and driver, any start date and stops when you want them. The small-group tour shares the vehicle with other travellers — maximum 17 people, departures every day — from €95 per person. A private tour is priced per group: €200 per day for your vehicle and driver plus €45 per person per night for accommodation. For 2 travellers on this 2-day, 1-night tour that comes to €490 in total (€245 per person).
Reviews of this tour
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor.
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