3 Days Fes to Merzouga Desert Tour

Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert [465 km]

Your 3 days Fes to Merzouga desert tour begins with an early pickup from your hotel or riad in Fes. As the old Medina of Fez fades behind you, the road climbs into the Middle Atlas toward Ifrane. With its neat streets, sloping roofs and cool air, this town looks so European that locals call it “the Switzerland of Morocco.” Before leaving, you can also snap a photo with its famous stone lion statue.

Next, you’ll drive through the cedar forests of Ifrane National Park near Azrou. Here, troops of wild Barbary macaques, an endangered species, often sit right beside the road. After a short stop to watch them, you’ll head south to Midelt, a quiet town surrounded by orchards and famous for its apples. Then you’ll stop there for lunch.

In the afternoon, the road follows the Ziz Valley, one of Morocco’s largest palm oases. Thousands of date palms line the river below old kasbahs, so the viewpoints make great photo stops. By late afternoon, you’ll reach Merzouga, where camels are waiting. You’ll ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the setting sun paints the sand gold and pink. Once at camp, you’ll settle into your private tent and enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner. Finally, the night ends with Berber drumming around the campfire under a clear desert sky.

Day 2: Merzouga Desert Exploration [80 km]

Most guests wake before dawn to watch the sunrise light up the dunes, one of the best moments of this Fes to Merzouga 3 days desert tour. After breakfast, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4 and spend the day exploring the desert around it.

First, you’ll visit Khamlia, a village whose people descend from West African settlers. Today, they keep their heritage alive through Gnawa music, and a short live performance offers a rare look at this spiritual tradition. Next, you’ll meet a nomadic family in their tent, where you can share mint tea and learn how they live in the desert.

If the seasonal Lake Sirji (Dayet Srji) holds water, you’ll also stop to enjoy the view. Depending on the season, you may even see migratory birds such as flamingos resting on the lake. Afterward, you’ll have free time at your hotel or riad. For instance, you can rest, walk the nearby dunes alone or simply enjoy the silence of the desert before your second night in Merzouga.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert – Rissani – Erfoud – Fes [465 km]

After breakfast, it’s time to leave the Sahara and start the drive back to Fes. Your first stop is Rissani, a historic trading town. On market days, its souk fills with spices, dates, handicrafts and fresh produce, so you’ll get a real taste of daily life in southern Morocco.

From there, you’ll continue to Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops. Here, craftsmen cut and polish marine fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old into bowls, tables and decorative pieces. Then you’ll drive north again through the scenic Ziz Valley.

After a lunch stop in Midelt or nearby Zaida, the road returns through the cedar forests of Azrou. If time allows, you’ll also make a short stop in Ifrane. Finally, you’ll arrive back in Fes by early evening. Your 3 days Fes to Merzouga desert tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel or riad.