3- Days Private Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga

Discover the beauty of Morocco’s Sahara Desert on a private 3-day tour from Fes to Merzouga and back. Explore the Middle Atlas Mountains, meet Berber nomads, ride camels into the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, and sleep under the stars in a desert camp. This experience is ideal for solo travelers or couples looking for a deep, authentic Moroccan journey.

Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Ziz Valley – Rissani – Merzouga

Our driver will pick you up from your hotel or riad in Fes at 8:00 AM to begin your desert journey. We travel through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains, with our first stop in Ifrane, a charming alpine town often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” due to its European-style architecture and clean air.
From there, we continue to the Cedar Forest of Azrou, home to the wild Barbary macaque monkeys. You’ll have time to walk and take photos before the drive continues to Midelt, a town known for its apple orchards. We’ll stop for lunch here.
Afterwards, we drive through the dramatic Ziz Valley, filled with palm trees and fortified villages, continuing on to Erfoud and Rissani. Rissani is a historically rich city, once an important center of Saharan trade caravans. If it’s a market day, we will stop to explore the traditional souk.
We reach Merzouga by late afternoon. You’ll spend the night in a hotel near the edge of the dunes, where you can enjoy a peaceful dinner and prepare for your desert adventure the next day.

Day 2: Erg Chebbi Dunes – Khamlia – Nomads – Camel Trek – Night in Desert Camp

After breakfast, we begin a full day exploring the Erg Chebbi dunes and surrounding desert areas. First, we visit Dayet Srij, a seasonal lake home to migratory birds including flamingos. Then, we head to the village of Khamlia, known for its residents of sub-Saharan African descent. You’ll enjoy a live performance of Gnawa music, a unique spiritual and rhythmic tradition.
We continue off-road to visit the Mifis fossil site and then meet a Berber nomad family living in the desert. You’ll be welcomed into their tent for Moroccan tea and a cultural exchange about their lifestyle.
Later, we return to Merzouga village for a special lunch of Berber pizza, then visit the palm grove of Hassi Labied to walk among green oasis fields surrounded by golden dunes.
In the late afternoon, your camel guide will lead you on a peaceful camel ride into the heart of the dunes. Watch the sunset from the top of the sand before reaching your Sahara desert camp, where your private tent awaits. After dinner, enjoy live music and stargazing by the campfire.

Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes

Wake early to experience a breathtaking sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast, ride your camel back to the village or return by 4×4 vehicle. Then we begin our return trip to Fes, taking a different route through the Middle Atlas Mountains.
We’ll pass through the Ziz Valley again, with plenty of scenic stops for photos or short breaks. Along the way, we pass Berber towns like Zaida and Timhdit, and stop again in Ifrane before arriving in Fes in the evening, where your driver will drop you off at your accommodation.

What’s Included:

• Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Fes
• Private transport in air-conditioned 4×4 or minibus
• English-speaking driver/guide
• 1 night in hotel or riad near Merzouga dunes
• 1 night in private tent at a desert camp (standard or luxury)
• Camel ride (one camel per person)
• Sandboarding in the dunes
• Live Berber music at the camp
• Dinners and breakfasts (2 nights)

What’s Not Included:

• • Lunches during the trip
  • Drinks
  • Entrance fees to monuments (if applicable)
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips for driver and guides (optional)