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4x4 vehicle driving along the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga on a group tour from Fes Small group

3 Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga and Back

From Fes to the Sahara and back in three days, with a camel trek, a desert camp and a full day exploring Merzouga by 4x4. Shared minibus, €175 per person.

  • 3 days
  • Fes
  • Small group
  • From J$ 31,301 (€175) per person
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Overview

Staying in Fes and dreaming of the dunes? Our 3 day desert tour from Fes is a round trip to Merzouga with something many short tours lack: a whole day in the desert itself. Fes is closer to Erg Chebbi than Marrakech is, so you reach the sand on the first evening and still have the second day free to explore before heading home.

Day one crosses the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the cedar forest of Azrou, then drops through Midelt and the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, where you ride a camel into the dunes for a night in a Berber camp. On day two, a 4×4 takes you around the dunes to nomad areas, the Gnawa village of Khamlia and the souk town of Rissani, and you sleep in Merzouga again. Day three brings you back to Fes through the Ziz Valley and Midelt.

It is a shared small-group tour, up to 17 travelers, with a fixed €175 per person and daily departures. Want to end in Marrakech instead? Take the 3 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour.

Highlights

  • Reach the Sahara on day one, with sunset from the dunes
  • Camel trek and a night in a Berber camp in Erg Chebbi
  • 4x4 loop around the dunes, nomad areas and Khamlia
  • Rissani souk and the historic Tafilalet oasis
  • Cedar forest of Azrou and the mountain town of Ifrane
  • Ziz Valley palm canyon in both directions

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt – Merzouga, camel trek and desert camp

    Morning pickup in Fes and a climb into the Middle Atlas. Stop briefly in Ifrane, a neat mountain town with sloping roofs, then drive into the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live among the trees. Continue across high plateaus to Midelt for lunch (not included), then descend into the Ziz Valley and its gorge of palms, passing Errachidia and Erfoud. You arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and switch to camels for a ride of about an hour into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Sunset from a crest, dinner and drums at the Berber camp, and a night under the stars.

    Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Merzouga: 4x4 around the dunes, Khamlia and Rissani

    Watch sunrise over the dunes and ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. Then a 4x4 takes you on a loop around Erg Chebbi, crossing open desert to areas where nomad families still graze their herds, with a stop for tea when possible. Visit Khamlia, a village of Gnawa musicians whose rhythms trace back to sub-Saharan Africa, and the dry lake where flamingos sometimes gather after rain. In the afternoon, explore Rissani, with its old ksour, busy souk and date stalls. Return to Merzouga for a free evening and a second night at the edge of the dunes.

    Overnight: Hotel or camp in Merzouga Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  3. Day 3 Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Fes

    After breakfast, start the drive back north, around 8 hours with stops. The road leaves the desert at Erfoud and climbs through Errachidia into the Ziz Valley, where you stop at a viewpoint over the palm-filled canyon and its earthen villages. Continue across the high plateau to Midelt, a town famous for apples and minerals, for a lunch break (not included). In the afternoon you cross the Middle Atlas and descend through farmland toward Fes, arriving in the early evening. We drop you at your riad or hotel, or at the nearest medina gate.

    Overnight: — (tour ends in Fes) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

J$ 31,301 (€175) per person

Fixed price per person in a small group (max 17 people).

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off in Fes (riad, hotel or nearest medina gate)
  • Shared air-conditioned minibus (max 17 travelers) with an English-speaking driver
  • 1 night in a Berber desert camp and 1 night in Merzouga (hotel or camp)
  • 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • Camel trek at sunset and sunrise
  • 4x4 tour around Erg Chebbi, Khamlia and Rissani

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides and entrance fees
  • Optional activities (quad, sandboarding)
  • Single supplement (on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

What to expect on the 3 day desert tour from Fes

Pickup: around 7:30 a.m. in Fes. Most riads in Fes el-Bali are only reachable on foot, so we usually meet you at the nearest gate, such as Bab Bou Jeloud; we confirm the spot the day before. Return: early evening on day 3.

Pace: two long drives (about 8 hours each with stops) bookend a relaxed desert day. The camel ride lasts roughly an hour each way.

What to bring: a small bag for the camp, warm layers for desert nights and the Middle Atlas from October to April, sunglasses, a scarf, sunscreen and dirhams. Not sure what to pack? See our guide on what to wear in Morocco.

Who it suits: travelers based in Fes, budget travelers and anyone who wants more desert time than driving time.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

How does the shared group tour work?

You share an air-conditioned minibus with other travelers, maximum 17. The route, timings and accommodation are the same for everyone, and the 4x4 day runs in shared four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Is the price fixed?

Yes, €175 per person (about US$197 as of October 2026), no matter the group size. Pay a deposit by PayPal and the rest on arrival.

Is Merzouga closer to Fes or Marrakech?

Fes. It is roughly 470 km from Fes versus about 560 km from Marrakech, which is why this tour can include a full day in the desert.

Can I get my own room as a solo traveler?

Yes, with a single supplement on request. Otherwise we pair you with a traveler of the same gender in a twin room where possible.

Where can I leave my big luggage?

It stays locked in the minibus or at the Merzouga hotel during the camp night. You only need a small bag in the dunes.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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