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Family riding camels at sunset in the dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga Private

4-Day Desert Tour from Fes: Merzouga, Nomads and the Middle Atlas

A relaxed round trip from Fes to the Sahara: two nights at the dunes, a 4x4 day, Gnawa music, a camel sunset and cedar forests on the way home.

  • 4 days
  • Fes
  • Private
  • From J$ 89,430 (€500) per person
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Overview

Want the Sahara without the marathon drives? This private 4-day desert tour from Fes is a round trip with time to breathe. You spend two nights in Merzouga, one in a comfortable hotel at the foot of the dunes and one in a desert camp, so you can enjoy a full day in the Sahara instead of just a sunset.

On your desert day you explore Erg Chebbi by 4×4, visit a nomad family, listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia and ride a camel into the dunes at sunset. On the way back, an overnight stop in Midelt splits the drive, and you return to Fes through the cedar forests of Azrou, home to Barbary macaques, and the mountain town of Ifrane.

The pace is ideal for families with kids, older travelers and anyone who prefers shorter days on the road. See more ideas on our family trips in Morocco page.

Highlights

  • Two nights in Merzouga: a dune-side hotel and a desert camp
  • Full day exploring Erg Chebbi by 4x4
  • Nomad family visit and Gnawa music in Khamlia
  • Camel ride at sunset into the dunes
  • Ziz Valley palm groves and an overnight in Midelt
  • Azrou cedar forest with Barbary macaques and Ifrane
  • Round trip from Fes, family-friendly pace

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga

    Pickup at your riad or hotel in Fes at 8:00. Climb into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, with its sloped roofs and lakes, for a coffee stop. Cross the cedar-dotted plateaus to Midelt for lunch, with views of the snowy Jbel Ayachi in winter and spring.

    In the afternoon, follow the Ziz Valley south through palm groves and canyons, past Errachidia and Erfoud. Reach Merzouga in the late afternoon and check into a hotel at the foot of the dunes. Climb the nearest dune for sunset, then enjoy dinner and a good night's sleep in a real bed.

    Overnight: Hotel at the foot of the dunes, Merzouga Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2 Merzouga: 4x4 Tour, Khamlia, Nomads and a Camel Sunset

    After breakfast, explore the area around Erg Chebbi by 4x4. Share tea with a nomad family in their tent, visit Khamlia to hear Gnawa musicians, and see the black volcanic plains and fossil sites around the dunes.

    Return to the hotel for lunch and a rest by the pool, if it has one. Late in the afternoon, leave your main luggage, take a small bag and ride a camel into the dunes for sunset. Arrive at the desert camp for dinner, Berber drums by the fire and stargazing.

    Overnight: Desert camp at Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Meals: Breakfast, dinner

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

    Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes, then ride back for breakfast and a shower. Drive to Rissani, the old caravan town of the Tafilalt, and explore its souk and ksar; on market days you will see the famous donkey parking lot.

    Head north along the Ziz Valley, with stops at viewpoints over the palm groves and the canyon, then cross the high plateaus to Midelt. Check into your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy a calm evening in this mountain town known for its apples and fresh air.

    Overnight: Hotel in Midelt Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  4. Day 4 Midelt – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

    After breakfast, drive through the Middle Atlas toward Azrou. Stop in the cedar forest to see the Barbary macaques, the only wild monkeys in North Africa. Keep a little distance and do not feed them.

    Continue to Ifrane for a walk and a coffee, then descend to the Saïss plain and reach Fes around midday or early afternoon. Your driver drops you at your riad or hotel, in time for a stroll in the medina or a hammam. End of tour.

    Overnight: — (end of tour) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

Price per person by group size
TravelersStandard Superior
1 traveler J$ 157,397 (€880) J$ 181,543 (€1,015)
2 travelers J$ 89,430 (€500) J$ 113,577 (€635)
3 travelers J$ 66,894 (€374) J$ 91,040 (€509)
4 travelers J$ 55,447 (€310) J$ 79,593 (€445)
5 travelers J$ 48,650 (€272) J$ 72,797 (€407)
6 travelers J$ 44,179 (€247) J$ 68,325 (€382)
7 travelers J$ 40,959 (€229) J$ 65,106 (€364)
8 travelers J$ 55,447 (€310) J$ 79,593 (€445)

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 at your riad or hotel in Fes
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
  • Fuel, parking and tolls
  • 1 night in a hotel at the foot of the dunes, 1 night in a desert camp and 1 night in Midelt
  • Breakfast and dinner every day (from dinner on day 1)
  • 4x4 tour around Erg Chebbi
  • Camel ride at sunset and sunrise
  • Optional upgrade to superior accommodation

Not included

  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees
  • Local guides (available on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Why families love this 4-day desert tour from Fes

The longest day is the first one, about eight hours with stops. The hotel night before the camp means you arrive rested, and the Midelt stop keeps the return short. Kids enjoy the 4x4, the music and the camels, which are led on foot by a handler.

Pack warm clothes for the evenings, a small bag for the camp night, sunscreen, hats and a headlamp. From the Caribbean, remember that the desert is dry: drink more water than you think and use lip balm. For what to wear by season, see our Morocco packing guide.

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

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes. It has one of the gentlest paces of our desert tours. The camel ride is short, and children can ride with a parent. Let us know their ages so we can book family rooms and tents.

What is the difference between the hotel and the camp?

The hotel at the foot of the dunes has regular rooms and often a pool. The camp is in the dunes, with tents, beds and blankets; superior camps have private bathrooms.

Can we end in Marrakech instead of Fes?

Yes. Our Fes to Marrakech desert tour covers that route, or we can adapt this one. The price is recalculated for the new itinerary.

How is the price calculated?

The vehicle and driver cost is shared by your group, plus accommodation per person per night. The more people, the lower the price per person. You book with a PayPal deposit and pay the balance on arrival.

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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