Riads, kasbahs and hotels
Traditional houses with private room and bathroom, in the medinas or overlooking the valley.
- Private room
- Dinner and breakfast
3 Days Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga
3 days from Fez to the Merzouga desert
Three days to experience the desert properly: two nights in Merzouga and a whole day to explore Erg Chebbi.
From €150 per person Book now
Highlights
- Cedars and macaques
- Ziz Valley
- Tour around Erg Chebbi
- Visit to nomad families
- Gnawa music
- Camel trekking
- Night in a desert camp
- Sunrise in the dunes
Trip overview
With one more day than the express getaway, this tour is a completely different experience. You reach Merzouga on the first evening and sleep in a hotel on the edge of the dunes; the second day is all about the desert and ends with the camel trek and the night in the camp.
Your driver will show you how the local nomads live — where they cook, how they travel, where they find water — take you to hear Gnawa music in Khamlia and drive the tracks that circle Erg Chebbi. It is the perfect balance between road and real experience.
Ideal for: couples, friends and families leaving from Fez who want to enjoy the desert without feeling they are racing the clock.
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Home
- Fez
- End
- Fez
- Type
- Private
- Departures
- Every day
- Language
- English / Spanish
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day1
Fez → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
We leave Fez in the morning and climb into the Middle Atlas. Ifrane surprises with its Central European feel; a little further on, among the Azrou cedars, the macaques come up to you fearlessly. After lunch in Midelt the road descends through the Ziz gorges, where a vast palm grove follows the river. We reach Merzouga at sunset.
- Stroll around Ifrane
- Azrou cedar forest
- Midelt
- Legionnaire’s Tunnel and the Ziz Valley
- Sunset facing the dunes
-
Day2
Tour around Erg Chebbi → Camel trek and night in the desert
An unhurried day. We circle the dunes on desert tracks to visit a nomad family and share tea in their tent, about twenty kilometres from the border. In Khamlia we are welcomed with Gnawa rhythms. After lunch and a rest at the hotel, we set off by caravan into Erg Chebbi to watch the sunset and sleep in the camp.
- Tea with a nomad family
- Khamlia and its music
- Old mines and the black desert
- Sunset caravan
- Dinner, campfire and stars
-
Day3
Merzouga → Midelt → Fez
After sunrise we ride back to the village, where a shower and breakfast are waiting. The return to Fez follows the Ziz Valley and crosses the Middle Atlas again; we stop for lunch in Midelt and to stretch our legs wherever you like.
- Sunrise in the desert
- Ziz Valley
- Lunch in Midelt
- Middle Atlas
Timings and the order of visits may be adjusted according to the season, road conditions and your preferences.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English- or Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Accommodation every night
- Dinners and breakfasts
- One camel per person in the desert
- Night in a camp with private tent
- Turban and sandboarding in the dunes
- Photo stops whenever you like
What’s not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
We choose small places with character, where a home-cooked dinner is part of the experience. In the desert you can choose between two types of camp.
Standard camp
Private tent with beds, blankets and shared bathrooms. The simplest and most authentic option.
- Private tent
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
Luxury camp
Spacious tents with a large bed, private bathroom and shower, electricity and dinner served at the table.
- Private bathroom
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
A tip from our team
The Rissani souk, half an hour from Merzouga, comes alive on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. If your second day falls on one of them, ask us to include it in the excursion.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
It is completely private: the vehicle, the driver and the itinerary are just for you and your companions. You will not share the trip with strangers, so we can stop wherever you like and adapt the timings.
Can I change the itinerary of “3 days from Fez to the Merzouga desert”?
Yes. What you see is our standard proposal. We can add a night, change the start or end point, include a guided visit or adjust the stages to your flights. Tell us what you need and we will send you a tailor-made version.
What is the difference between the standard and the luxury camp?
In both you have a private tent, dinner, breakfast and an evening of drums by the campfire. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with shower inside the tent and more refined décor; in the standard camp bathrooms are shared and you shower in the morning at the hotel in the village.
How long is the camel trek?
About an hour and a half each way, at a gentle pace and accompanied by a camel handler. We set off a couple of hours before sunset to arrive in good light. If anyone cannot or would rather not ride, let us know and we will find an alternative.
How do I book and how do I pay?
Send us the form or write to us and we will confirm availability and the final price within 24 hours. We accept online payment (Visa, MasterCard and PayPal), as well as cash or card in person.
When is the best time of year for this tour?
You can travel all year round. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) have the mildest temperatures. In winter the days are sunny but desert nights are cold, and in summer it is best to start early and make the most of the vehicle’s air conditioning.
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