Camel Ride Trips3-Day Fes to Merzouga Desert Tour, Round Trip from Fes
The best Sahara desert tour from Fes if you want to return to Fes. Cross the Middle Atlas through Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley to Merzouga, and spend two nights by the Erg Chebbi dunes: one in a hotel facing the sand and one in a desert camp after a sunset camel ride. On day three, drive back to Fes over the Atlas.
What is the best 3-day desert tour from Fes?
This round trip from Fes to Merzouga. Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes are the closest real Sahara dunes to Fes, about 470 km or 7 to 8 hours with stops. A 3-day tour splits the drive and gives you two nights in the desert, with a full day to enjoy the dunes, the Gnawa village of Khamlia and a camel trek to a desert camp. If you only have two days, see the 2-day Fes to Merzouga tour. If you want to continue south instead of returning, the 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour ends in Marrakech.
- 1 night hotel facing the Erg Chebbi dunes
- 1 night desert camp in the dunes
🏜 Local desert team
We are based in Rissani, next to Merzouga, so the camels and camp are run by our own people.
🚙 Private vehicle
Air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with your own English-speaking driver-guide.
🕒 Two nights, no rush
A full day around the dunes, so you are not in the car every day.
🛏 Three comfort levels
Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury hotels and desert tents.
3-Day Fes to Merzouga Itinerary
- Day 1
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Midelt → Ziz Valley → Merzouga
Your driver-guide picks you up at your riad or hotel in Fes at 8 a.m. and heads south across the Middle Atlas Mountains. On the way, he shares the history of Morocco and of the Amazigh (Berber) people of North Africa.
Stop in Ifrane, the alpine-style town known as the 'Switzerland of Morocco', then in the cedar forest near Azrou, one of the largest in Morocco, where you can watch and photograph wild Barbary macaques. Cross the highlands, where nomad families graze their flocks, to Midelt for lunch.
In the afternoon, follow the Ziz Valley, a long canyon of palm groves and earthen villages, with stops at panoramic viewpoints. Continue through Erfoud to Merzouga, at the edge of the Sahara.
🛏 Overnight: Hotel or kasbah facing the Erg Chebbi dunes, dinner included
- Day 2
Merzouga: Khamlia, the lake and a camel trek to the desert camp
After breakfast, explore the desert around Merzouga with your driver. Visit Khamlia, a village whose families descend from sub-Saharan Africa, and listen to Gnawa music, a spiritual tradition of drums and iron castanets. Nearby, the seasonal Merzouga lake attracts birds, and in some years pink flamingos.
In the late afternoon, ride a camel with an experienced cameleer into the Erg Chebbi dunes, the highest in Morocco, and watch the sunset from the top of a dune. At the camp, enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, drums and Berber stories around the fire, and a night under a sky full of stars.
🛏 Overnight: Desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, dinner included
- Day 3
Merzouga → Rissani → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Zaida → Azrou → Fes
Your camel guide wakes you before dawn for sunrise over the Sahara, often the highlight of the trip. Ride back by camel to the hotel for breakfast and a shower.
Drive north through Rissani and Erfoud, back up the Ziz Valley and over the Tizi n'Talghemt pass to Midelt. Stop for lunch in Zaida, known for its roadside barbecues and mint tea. Before arriving in Fes in the evening, make a last stop in the Azrou cedar forest to see the Barbary macaques again.
🏁 Drop-off at your riad or hotel in Fes in the evening
Photos from the Merzouga desert
Choose Your Comfort Level
Choose the level that suits you. The route and guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change.
Basic
- Clean 2–3 star hotels and guesthouses
- Simple traditional riads
- Standard tent in a desert camp
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Mid-Range
- Selected 3–4 star hotels
- Traditional riads with character
- Comfort desert tent with private bathroom
- Private rooms, breakfast included
Luxury
- Premium 4–5 star hotels and boutique riads
- Suites available on request
- Luxury desert tent with en-suite bathroom
- Breakfast included, selected dinners
Included & Not Included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide
- 1 night in a hotel facing the dunes
- 1 night in a desert camp
- Camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Gnawa music in Khamlia
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Fes
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments and museums
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Activities not listed in the itinerary
Questions About the 3-Day Fes to Merzouga Desert Tour
How far is Merzouga from Fes?
About 470 km, or 7 to 8 hours with stops in Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. The 3-day tour gives you a full day in the desert between the two drives.
Is a 3-day desert tour from Fes worth it?
Yes. It is the best way to see the Sahara from Fes without rushing: two nights in Merzouga, a camel trek, a night in a desert camp, sunset and sunrise over the dunes, and Gnawa music in Khamlia.
What is the difference between the 2-day and 3-day tours from Fes?
The 2-day tour has one night in the desert and two long driving days. The 3-day tour adds a night in a hotel facing the dunes and a full day around Merzouga.
Where do we sleep?
One night in a hotel or kasbah facing the Erg Chebbi dunes and one night in a desert camp. You choose Basic, Mid-Range or Luxury.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast and dinner on both nights. Lunches and drinks are not included.
What time does the tour start and end?
Pickup at your riad or hotel in Fes at 8 a.m. on day one. You are back in Fes in the evening of day three.
Can we end in Marrakech instead of Fes?
Yes. See the 3-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour, which continues through the Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley to Marrakech.
Can I choose a different hotel level?
Yes. This tour is available in Basic, Mid-Range and Luxury. The route, driver-guide and local guides stay the same; only the hotels, riads and desert camp change, along with the price.
Other tours from Fes: 2-day Fes to Merzouga, 3-day Fes to Marrakech and 5-day Fes to Marrakech.
Your Journey, Your Pace, Your Morocco
Tell us your dates and we'll prepare this private tour around you, with clear pricing and no obligation.