Fes: 3 Days Desert Tour from Fes back to Fez

The best part of this three-day trip is the sudden change from Fes city streets to the open dunes of Erg Chebbi. You’ll pass cedar forests, mountain villages, palm-filled valleys, and kasbahs before riding a camel into the Sahara at sunset. I especially like the one-night desert camp and the chance to add a 4×4 or quad-bike outing on the second day.

The main drawback is the long driving time. Day one takes you from Fes to Merzouga, and day three retraces much of the route back, so this is not a relaxed road trip with hours at every stop. Still, at $204 per person, the included transport, two nights of accommodation, meals, and camel ride make it a strong value if reaching the Sahara is your priority.

Key points to know before booking

• Ifrane and Azrou break up the long drive: You’ll see Morocco’s alpine-style town and cedar forest before reaching the desert.
• Sunset camel ride is included: The roughly one-hour ride ends at a camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• The second day gives you choices: Add a 4×4 desert tour, sandboarding, or quad biking, or spend the afternoon resting.
• The Ziz Valley is a major scenic stop: Look for palm groves, fortified villages, and a broad view over the oasis.
• Small groups keep the vehicle manageable: The maximum group size is 14 people.
• The price does not cover lunches or extras: Budget separately for midday meals, drinks, 4×4 tours, and quad biking.

From Fes to the cedar forests of Azrou

Your first morning begins with pickup after breakfast at your hotel or riad in Fes. The exact time and meeting point are sent one day before departure. If you stay inside the Medina, the vehicle cannot usually reach your accommodation, so you’ll meet at a nearby point. Hotels outside the Medina can receive direct pickup.

The road first heads toward Ifrane, a town built by the French in the 1930s with steep roofs and an alpine look. Calling it the Switzerland of Morocco is a little tidy, but the comparison helps you understand the change in scenery. This is a short viewing stop rather than a full town tour, so enjoy the contrast and save your energy for the road ahead.

Near Azrou, the cedar forest offers one of the trip’s more unusual moments. Barbary macaque monkeys live in the area, and you may have a chance to see them near the road. The forest also gives you a break from the dry heat and bare rock that come later.

The Middle Atlas section is pretty in a quiet, changing way. You’ll pass mountain springs, rocky slopes, patches of forest, and Berber villages. The driver is listed as speaking English and French, with Spanish also available, and drivers such as Ali, Mohammed, Bader, Mounir, and Mustapha have been praised for being friendly and helpful with cultural and natural information.

Midelt lunch and the long road south

Around midday, you stop in Midelt. The town sits roughly halfway between Fes and Merzouga and is known for fossils and rocks. Lunch is not included, so you’ll pay separately at the local restaurant stop, and drinks are also your responsibility.

This is a practical pause rather than a major sightseeing visit. That matters because the first day covers a lot of ground. You’ll want a proper meal, water, and a little time to stretch before the road continues toward the desert.

After Midelt, the scenery grows drier and more dramatic. The road passes through the Ziz Valley, where palm groves form a green ribbon below the surrounding rock. Fortified villages and kasbahs appear along the route, giving you a sense of how settlements adapted to a dry climate and limited water.

A panoramic stop overlooking the palm oasis is one of the day’s best photo opportunities. I like this part because it shows that the Sahara is not simply a sea of sand. Morocco’s southeastern region shifts between bare hills, irrigated palms, old villages, and broad open plains.

Arriving in Merzouga and riding into Erg Chebbi

You should reach Merzouga in the late afternoon. After a glass of mint tea, you meet the camel caravan and begin the roughly one-hour ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes.

A camel ride is not a fast way to cross sand. The pace is slow, and the saddle can feel awkward, especially at the beginning. That is part of the appeal. You have time to watch the dunes change color, feel the silence grow, and take in the scale of the sand around you.

The ride is timed for sunset, which gives the arrival a clear sense of occasion. You end at the desert camp, where dinner is served after tea. The evening includes a campfire and traditional music under the stars.

Accommodation is listed as a luxury Berber camp, though the exact tent style can vary. The package also includes a hotel night, usually at Hotel Mamouche or a similar property, so you are not spending both nights in the desert. That two-part arrangement suits people who want the Sahara experience without giving up a more conventional room for the second night.

Sunrise, breakfast, and a day around Merzouga

Set your alarm before sunrise. The early light over the dunes is one of the strongest moments of the trip, and you are already in the right place to see it. After sunrise, you return for breakfast at the camp.

The schedule then moves you to Hotel Mamouche or a similar hotel for the second day’s activities. The change from camp to hotel is useful because it gives you a base for exploring the area and a place to rest during the hottest part of the day.

The optional 4×4 tour covers the desert around Merzouga. The planned stops include nomadic Berber families, Khamlia village, and fossil sites. Khamlia is known for Gnawa music, a Moroccan musical tradition with strong roots in the country’s southern communities. The visit gives the day more cultural substance than simply driving from dune to dune.

The nomadic family visit may be especially meaningful if you want a look at life beyond the main tourist route. The tour description does not specify the family, length of visit, or refreshments, so treat it as an optional cultural stop rather than a fully detailed village tour.

Sandboarding, quad bikes, or a quiet afternoon

Sandboarding is another optional activity. The dunes provide the setting, and the idea is simple: climb a slope, strap on a board, and ride down. The climb back up is often the harder part, so you can try a few runs without turning the entire day into a race.

Quad biking is available for an additional charge. You can choose when to take the quad tour, and sunset is possible according to the arrangements described for the activity. That flexibility is useful. If the camel ride already gives you a quiet sunset, you might prefer quads at another time, or you can choose a more active end to the day.

You can also skip the extras. The plan allows for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time at the hotel or a guided walk in the dunes. This choice makes the trip work for mixed groups, since one person can chase speed and another can sit out with a drink.

Remember that 4×4 tours and quad biking are not included in the $204 price. Ask about the cost and payment method before setting out. One guest needed an alternative payment arrangement after running short of local currency, so carrying enough cash for optional activities is sensible.

What the $204 price really covers

At $204 per person, the package includes an air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, an English or French-speaking driver, two accommodations, two breakfasts, two dinners, and the camel ride. Spanish-speaking support is also listed.

That is a fair package price for a three-day trip covering the distance between Fes and Merzouga. The included camel ride and desert camp are the expensive-feeling parts of the experience, while the vehicle and driver remove the need to organize a long independent journey through the mountains and desert.

The price is less generous if you plan to add every extra. Lunches, drinks, 4×4 touring, and quad biking all come separately. A pair who wants the full action-packed version should calculate those costs before booking.

The small-group limit of 14 is another point in the tour’s favor. This is not a private trip, but a small group is easier to manage at pickup points, meal stops, and the desert camp. Your experience will still depend on the final group size and the vehicle used that day.

Day three, returning from Merzouga to Fes

After breakfast at the hotel, you meet your driver and begin the return trip to Fes. The route retraces the southern road, including the changing views between desert, valley, mountains, and the northern plains.

This is the least flexible part of the schedule. You are covering the same long distance in reverse, and there is no detailed list of new stops for the return. If you have only three days available, this is the cost of seeing the Sahara from Fes.

Some people may prefer to continue from Merzouga toward Marrakech or another southern destination, but that is not what this package offers. The round trip makes sense if Fes is your base and you need to return there.

Drivers are an important part of this final day. Specific drivers associated with the trip include Bader on the Fes to desert route and Mohammad on the return, along with Ali, Mohammed, Mounir, and Mustapha on other departures. Feedback about their kindness, clear communication, and explanations of Moroccan life has been especially strong. Driver assignments can change, so do not assume a particular person will be on your departure.

Who should book this desert trip?

I’d choose this tour if you are staying in Fes, have three days, and want a straightforward way to reach Erg Chebbi without arranging several buses, taxis, and overnight stops yourself. It suits first-time visitors who want the major sights in one organized package.

It also works for couples and friends with different interests. One person can book the quad ride, another can choose sandboarding, and someone else can relax at the hotel or walk in the dunes. The included camel trip gives everyone a shared centerpiece.

You should think twice if you dislike long road journeys, want extended time in each town, or prefer a private itinerary. Day one and day three are demanding, and the return route does not introduce many new activities.

The overall score is 4.8 from 55 ratings, and the strongest pattern is clear: the camp welcome, the drivers, the desert setting, and the optional activities. The practical caution is equally clear: keep cash available, expect extra charges, and prepare for substantial time in the vehicle.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if the Sahara is your main goal and you value convenience over a leisurely pace. You get the Middle Atlas, Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, a sunset camel ride, a desert camp, sunrise, and a free-choice day around Merzouga for a moderate price.

Skip it if you want to linger in each stop or avoid a long return drive. For most people with a short stay in Fes, though, this is a practical and well-priced route to the dunes, especially when the friendly driver service and included desert night are more important than having a private vehicle.

FAQ

How long is the tour from Fes to Merzouga and back?

The tour lasts three days and returns to Fes on the third day.

What languages are available?

Drivers are listed as speaking English, French, and Spanish.

Is hotel pickup included in Fes?

Yes, pickup is included. For riads or hotels inside the Medina, you will use a nearby meeting point because vehicles cannot reach all Medina streets. Accommodations outside the Medina can receive direct pickup.

What accommodation is included?

The package includes two nights of accommodation: one night at a Sahara desert camp and one night at Hotel Mamouche or a similar hotel.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The roughly one-hour camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes is included, and it is scheduled for sunset on the first day.

Are meals included?

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

Are quad biking and the 4×4 desert tour included?

No. Quad biking and the 4×4 desert tour are optional activities that cost extra.