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Hairpin bends of the road climbing out of the Dades Gorge on a 5-day desert tour from Fes Small group

5 Day Desert Tour from Fes: Merzouga, Todra and Dades Gorges

Round trip from Fes that combines the Sahara with the gorges of the south: Merzouga camp, Todra, Dades and the quiet road via Er-Rich. Small group, €300 per person.

  • 5 days
  • Fes
  • Small group
  • From J$ 53,659 (€300) per person
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Overview

Most trips from Fes go to the dunes and straight back. Our 5 day desert tour from Fes goes further. After a night in Midelt and a camel trek into Erg Chebbi, it continues west to the Todra and Dades gorges, two of the most spectacular canyons in Morocco, before looping back to Fes on a quiet mountain road via Er-Rich.

That makes this the most complete desert loop we run from Fes. You see the cedar forests and plateaus of the Middle Atlas, the palm canyon of the Ziz Valley, the dunes and Berber camp at Merzouga, the red cliffs of Todra and the winding road of Dades. Driving days stay moderate, with an overnight in Midelt at the start and the end.

It is a shared small-group tour, up to 17 travelers in an air-conditioned minibus, departing daily at a fixed €300 per person. If you would rather finish in Marrakech, the 5 day Fes to Marrakech desert tour follows a similar route one way. To compare all regions, read Merzouga vs Zagora vs Agafay.

Highlights

  • Round trip from Fes with no long driving days
  • Camel trek and a night in a Berber camp in Erg Chebbi
  • Walk the Todra Gorge between 300 m cliffs
  • Night in the Dades Gorge and its hairpin road
  • Quiet return via Tinghir, Er-Rich and the High Atlas foothills
  • Middle Atlas cedars, Ifrane and Midelt

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Midelt

    Pickup in Fes in the morning and a short, scenic drive into the Middle Atlas. Stop in Ifrane, a mountain resort of sloping roofs and gardens, then continue to the cedar forest near Azrou, where you can walk among ancient trees and often spot Barbary macaques. Pass through Azrou, a Berber market town, and cross open plateaus grazed by sheep to Midelt, set between the Middle and High Atlas. You arrive in the afternoon with time to rest or wander the town, known for its apples and mineral shops, before dinner at the hotel.

    Overnight: Hotel in Midelt Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga, camel trek and desert camp

    After breakfast, cross the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and descend into the Ziz Valley, a canyon lined with thousands of palm trees and earthen villages, with a viewpoint stop over the oasis. Continue through Errachidia and Erfoud to Merzouga, arriving early in the afternoon for lunch (not included) and a rest. In the late afternoon, mount your camel and ride about an hour into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Climb a crest to watch the sunset, then walk down to the Berber camp for dinner, drums around the fire and a night under a sky full of stars.

    Overnight: Desert camp in Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  3. Day 3 Merzouga – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Dades

    Rise early for sunrise over the dunes, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast. Head west through Erfoud and Tinejdad, past lines of khettara, the old underground irrigation channels you can spot as rows of craters in the desert. Reach Tinghir, with its long palm grove and earthen villages, and drive into the Todra Gorge. Walk the narrow section between walls rising up to 300 m. In the afternoon continue to the Dades Valley and climb into the gorge past the Monkey Fingers rock formations. Dinner and overnight in a hotel with views of the canyon.

    Overnight: Hotel in the Dades Gorge Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  4. Day 4 Dades – Tinghir – Er-Rich – Midelt

    After breakfast, enjoy the morning light in the Dades Gorge, including the famous hairpin bends at its upper end, then drive back east to Tinghir. From here the route leaves the main tourist road and heads north on a quieter road through the foothills of the High Atlas to Er-Rich, a small town surrounded by orchards and earthen villages along the Ziz. The scenery is wide and empty, with few tourists. Continue up to Midelt, arriving in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

    Overnight: Hotel in Midelt Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  5. Day 5 Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

    A relaxed final morning. After breakfast, drive north over the high plateaus of the Middle Atlas, through cedar and holm-oak forest, to Ifrane for a coffee stop and a walk by its lake. Then descend through farmland and olive groves to Fes, a drive of about 4 hours in total. You arrive early in the afternoon and we drop you at your riad, hotel or the nearest medina gate. There is time left for an afternoon in the medina, a hammam or an evening train to your next stop.

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

Prices

J$ 53,659 (€300) 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
  • 4 nights: 2 hotel nights in Midelt, 1 in the Dades Gorge and 1 in a Berber desert camp
  • 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Camel trek at sunset and sunrise
  • Walk in the Todra Gorge

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Local guides and entrance fees
  • Single supplement (on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Good to know about the 5 day desert tour from Fes

Pickup: around 8:00 a.m. in Fes; for riads in the medina we meet you at the nearest gate. Return: early afternoon on day 5.

Pace: 4 to 6 hours of driving most days, with stops for photos and short walks. No special fitness needed.

What to bring: a small bag for the camp night, warm layers (Midelt sits at about 1,500 m and gets cold, especially from November to March), sunglasses, a scarf, sunscreen, comfortable shoes for the gorges and dirhams for lunches and tips.

Who it suits: travelers based in Fes who want to see both the desert and the gorges, return visitors and photographers who like quieter roads.

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 minibus work?

You travel in an air-conditioned minibus with up to 17 travelers. The itinerary is fixed and everyone shares the same hotels, camp and timings.

Is the price fixed per person?

Yes, €300 per person (about US$337 as of October 2026), whatever the group size. A PayPal deposit confirms your place and the balance is paid on arrival.

Why two nights in Midelt?

Midelt sits halfway between Fes and the south, so it keeps the driving days short. The return via Er-Rich also shows you a quiet side of Morocco few tours visit.

Is a single supplement available?

Yes, on request. Otherwise solo travelers share a twin room with another traveler of the same gender where possible.

Can I upgrade the accommodation?

Yes. A superior upgrade with better hotels and a camp with private-bathroom tents is available for an extra charge, quoted when you book.

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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