3 Days Desert Trip From Fes Back To Fes

The best part of this three-day loop from Fes is the sharp change in scenery. You leave the city early, pass through cedar forests and mountain towns, cross the Ziz Valley, and finish among the orange dunes of Merzouga. The camel ride at sunset and the sunrise from the sand give the trip its big payoff.

I like the route for two clear reasons: the variety is excellent, and the price includes transport, two nights, two breakfasts, two dinners, and the camel ride. You also get time for Khamlia, Rissani, or the Tafilalt palm groves. The drawback is the long road time, especially on the return to Fes, so this suits you best if you can handle a full schedule.

Key points at a glance

• A full change of scenery: Move from Fes to Ifrane, cedar forests, high mountain roads, oases, and Sahara dunes in three days.
• Two different desert nights: Sleep first in a traditional kasbah, then at a Berber desert camp after the camel ride.
• Sunrise is part of the plan: You can rise early on both desert mornings for views over the Merzouga dunes.
• A smallish group: The minivan holds no more than 17 people, with an air-conditioned vehicle and professional driver.
• Culture beyond the dunes: Choose from Gnawa music in Khamlia, historic towns, palm groves, or quiet time near the tents.
• A useful price point: At $197.73 per person, the fare covers several costly pieces of a desert trip, but not lunch or drinks.

From Fes to Morocco’s mountain country

Pickup is at about 7:30 am from your hotel or riad, or from Fontaine Batha at the listed meeting point. That early start matters. The distance to Merzouga is considerable, and the day combines several sightseeing stops with a long drive.

Your first major change comes in Ifrane. Built by the French in the 1930s, the town has a very different feel from Fes and is often called Morocco’s Switzerland. The stop is brief, about 40 minutes, so think of it as a useful introduction to the mountains rather than a full town tour.

From Ifrane, the road reaches the cedar forests around Azrou. Azrou means The Rock, and the area is known for its Barbary macaques, properly macaque monkeys. You may see them near the road and forest, where they live in their natural setting. This is one of the more memorable stops because it breaks up the drive with wildlife and trees before the scenery turns drier.

The mountain road includes winding stretches, springs, streams, and rugged rock walls. If you get carsick, choose a seat near the front of the minivan and bring water. The air-conditioned vehicle helps, but the road still takes time.

Midelt and the long road toward the desert

Around midday, you stop in Midelt for lunch. The town is known as the City of Apples and sits between the Middle Atlas and the start of the High Atlas. Lunch is not included, so keep Moroccan dirhams available for the meal and drinks.

This is a practical stop as much as a sightseeing one. After several hours on the road, you will want food, a short break, and a chance to stretch your legs. Since lunch is at your own cost, the final price of the trip will be a little higher than the advertised fare.

After Midelt, the road changes again. The mountains begin to give way to broad, dry country, and the Ziz Valley provides one of the strongest viewpoints of the day. From above, you can see palms and mountains arranged around the Ziz River. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, which is enough for photographs, but not enough for a walk through the oasis.

The Ziz Valley is worth understanding as more than a quick photo stop. In this dry part of Morocco, the palms mark the water source and the settled communities that depend on it. The contrast between green palms and bare rock helps explain why the desert route has always followed valleys and oases.

Merzouga’s first night in a kasbah

You reach Merzouga in the afternoon, after another stretch of road and at least one panoramic stop near a palm-filled oasis. The first night is in a traditional kasbah, with dinner and Saharan music included.

This arrangement gives you two different types of accommodation. The kasbah night is easier and more settled after the long drive. The second night, at a desert camp, is the more unusual experience. You should not confuse the two, since the camel trek happens on Day 2 rather than immediately after you arrive.

Dinner is included on both nights, as are both breakfasts. Lunch is not included, and drinks are also extra. Check what is available at each stop rather than waiting until the last minute, particularly on the long driving days.

A guide named Mohammed is specifically associated with this tour and is described as patient, attentive, and willing to answer questions. If he is assigned to your group, you can expect a driver-guide who takes an active interest in keeping the group comfortable. The tour information does not promise that every departure will have Mohammed, so treat his name as a useful point to confirm rather than a guaranteed feature.

A full day around Merzouga

Day 2 gives you the most flexibility. You can get up early for sunrise, have breakfast, and then decide how to use the daytime before the camel trek.

The possible outings include Rissani, Merzouga, the palm groves around the Tafilalt Oasis, and Khamlia village. Khamlia is known for Gnawa music, which gives the day a cultural focus rather than making it only a sand-and-camel outing. You can also stay near the tents and rest.

That choice matters. The first day is heavily tied to transport, and Day 3 is mostly a return drive. Day 2 is your only real chance to choose the pace of the desert portion. If you want more history and local life, use the time for the towns and oasis. If the long drive has worn you down, resting near the camp may be the wiser choice.

The schedule does not give exact times or guarantee every optional activity, so ask your driver what can fit before setting your expectations. The inclusion of choices is useful, but it is not the same as a fixed guided visit to every place named.

The camel ride to the Berber camp

In the late afternoon, when the heat has eased, you ride camels into the dunes. The timing is sensible. A midday camel ride would expose you to the strongest heat, while the later departure gives you softer light and a better chance of seeing sunset.

The ride ends at a Berber campsite away from the settled town. This is the emotional center of the trip. You trade the road and minivan for sand, open sky, a traditional meal, and time with the camp hosts.

Dinner includes a dish called Madfona, along with other traditional desert food. Berber hosts also share cultural information, and the evening includes desert music. The exact entertainment is not specified beyond the cultural program, so expect an evening centered on food, music, and the setting rather than a tightly scheduled stage show.

You should pack for comfort rather than style. Closed shoes help with sand, and a warm layer is sensible because desert temperatures can change after dark. The tour data does not give details about private rooms, bathrooms, or tent types, so ask the provider if those points affect your decision.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the return to Fes

The next morning begins early if you want the best view of sunrise over the dunes. You can return to the camp afterward, have breakfast, take a refreshing bath, collect your belongings, and begin the drive back to Fes.

This sounds simple, but the timing is important. You are leaving the desert on the same day, and the trip back takes about eight hours. Sunrise is worth prioritizing, but you should expect a demanding travel day afterward.

The return route is not presented as a second sightseeing itinerary. Its purpose is to get you back to Fes. That makes the tour efficient for people who need a round trip, but less appealing if you want slow travel or several nights in the desert.

The tour finishes back at the starting meeting point. Confirm the precise drop-off arrangement with the provider if your accommodation is elsewhere in Fes, since the stated end point is the same meeting point used at the start.

What the $197.73 price really covers

At $197.73 per person, this is a strong-value package for the number of major pieces included. You are paying for:

• Two nights of accommodation
• An air-conditioned minivan
• A professional driver
• A camel ride
• Two dinners
• Two breakfasts
• A sunset experience in the dunes

The price does not include lunch or drinks, and you should budget for those separately on both driving days. It also does not mention personal purchases or optional costs, so do not assume every activity around Merzouga is included.

The value is best if you want a ready-made connection between Fes and the desert. Booking transport, accommodation, meals, and a camel excursion separately can take more time and may cost more. The tradeoff is control: you follow a set three-day structure and spend a great deal of time in the vehicle.

The group limit is 17 people. That is not a private tour, but it is more manageable than a large coach. Your experience will also depend on how full the departure is and how the driver handles stops.

The main strengths and the honest drawbacks

I like the range of scenery more than any single stop. Ifrane and Azrou provide forest and mountain air, Midelt marks the transition, the Ziz Valley shows how water shapes the region, and Merzouga supplies the dunes. You get a broad view of southeastern Morocco in a short time.

The two-night setup is another strength. Spending the first night in a kasbah means you do not have to reach the desert camp immediately after the long drive from Fes. The second night then gives you the special desert setting, including the camel ride, dinner, and sunrise.

The main weakness is the pace. Day 1 is long, Day 2 is active if you choose extra outings, and Day 3 is largely a drive back to Fes. You will have memorable stops, but you will not have much time for unplanned wandering.

The tour also uses broad promises such as a world-famous sunrise and authentic desert hospitality. The setting can certainly be striking, but weather, light, energy levels, and camp conditions vary. Go for the overall experience, not a guarantee of a perfect photograph.

Who will get the most from this trip

This trip suits you if you have three days, want to see the desert from Fes, and prefer one organized booking. It is especially useful if you want the practical parts handled for you, including the long-distance vehicle, accommodation, meals, camel ride, and return to the city.

It also works well for first-time visitors who want a sample of several Moroccan regions. The route gives you mountains, forests, oases, music, macaque monkeys, and dunes without requiring you to arrange separate transfers.

You may want a longer trip if your priority is quiet time in the desert, detailed visits to historic towns, or a slower pace. The itinerary allows choices around Merzouga, but only one main desert day is available before the return journey.

Most travelers can participate, and the activity is near public transportation at the meeting point. The operator offers pickup, but you should confirm the exact pickup location and time when booking. Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.

Should you book the Fes desert loop?

Book it if you want a practical, fairly priced route from Fes to Merzouga and back, and you are happy to trade slow travel for strong scenery and a packed schedule. The camel ride, Berber camp, two desert sunrises, and changing mountain-to-oasis route give you plenty for three days.

Think twice if eight-hour driving days sound miserable or if you need detailed control over accommodation and daily timing. For the right kind of visitor, this is a sensible first taste of the Sahara, with enough cultural stops to keep it from being only a dune photo trip.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately three days, with pickup from Fes at about 7:30 am on Day 1 and the return to the starting meeting point on Day 3.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Fontaine Batha, 3259+V8P, Fes, Morocco. Pickup is also offered from your hotel or riad.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Fes.

What accommodation is included?

Two nights of accommodation are included. The first night is described as a stay in a traditional kasbah, and the second is at a Berber desert campsite.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The camel ride to the Berber campsite is included.

Are meals included?

Two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Lunch and drinks are not included.

What vehicle is used?

The tour uses an air-conditioned minivan with a professional driver.

How many people can join?

The group has a maximum of 17 travelers.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded.