Travel from Fes to Merzouga on a private 2-day Morocco tour through Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. Meet Barbary macaques, cross the Erg Chebbi dunes by camel and spend the night in a luxury desert camp.
From
749.99$
This 2 Day Tour from Fes to Merzouga is made for travelers with limited time who still want to experience the Moroccan Sahara. In only two days, the scenery changes from the green Middle Atlas to dry mountain valleys, palm oases and finally the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
The journey south is part of the experience. You pass through Ifrane, continue into the cedar forests around Azrou and may see the famous Barbary macaques living among the trees. From there, the road passes Midelt and descends toward the beautiful Ziz Valley before reaching Merzouga.
At the edge of the Sahara, the rhythm changes completely. Leave the road behind and begin a camel trek across Erg Chebbi. Moving slowly over the sand gives you time to enjoy the silence and the scale of the dunes before arriving at your Luxury Desert Camp.
This itinerary works especially well as a short Morocco weekend tour. It involves long drives, but it combines mountains, forests, desert landscapes and an overnight Sahara experience in one compact journey.
If you have more time after your desert journey, you can also explore our activities to do in Morocco or discover our Morocco day trips from Marrakech and Fes.
Your 2 day Morocco tour begins in the morning when your private driver meets you at your accommodation or an agreed accessible point in Fes. Leaving the city, we climb into the Middle Atlas and make our first stop in Ifrane. The clean streets, parks and alpine-style houses create a surprising contrast with the historic medina of Fes. We then continue toward the cedar forests around Azrou. This area is home to Barbary macaques, and when they are nearby you can watch them moving through the forest while keeping a respectful distance. The journey continues toward Midelt, where there is time for lunch before heading south through mountain landscapes and the Tizi n'Talghamt area. As we approach the Ziz Valley, the scenery changes again. Palm groves appear between rocky hills and dry plateaus, offering one of the most memorable viewpoints on the road from Fes to Merzouga. Later in the day, we arrive at Merzouga beside the Erg Chebbi dunes. Here you leave the vehicle and meet the camel handlers for your camel trek across the sand. The slow ride toward camp is a peaceful introduction to the Sahara. After arriving at your Luxury Desert Camp, settle into your private tent, enjoy dinner and spend the evening around the campfire when conditions allow. Overnight near the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Wake up in the Sahara and enjoy the quiet atmosphere around the dunes. When the sky is clear, you may choose to rise early and watch the morning light spread across Erg Chebbi before breakfast. After breakfast, return toward Merzouga by camel or the arranged camp transfer and meet your driver for the journey back to Fes. We leave the desert through the Rissani area, an important historic trading region connected with old caravan routes. The road continues north through the Ziz landscapes and the dramatic mountain scenery leading toward Midelt. Stop for lunch before continuing through the Middle Atlas, passing Amazigh villages and wide mountain valleys along the way. Depending on timing, another short stop can be made near the cedar forest or in Ifrane before the final drive to Fes. Arrival is usually later in the day, depending on traffic, road conditions and the length of the stops. Your Fes to Merzouga experience ends at the agreed drop-off point.
This tour is a good choice when you want to experience the Sahara but only have two days available. Instead of spending your short trip around one city, you travel from Fes across several completely different Moroccan landscapes and finish your first day among the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
The journey itself is part of what makes the experience memorable. In the morning you are surrounded by the cool forests of the Middle Atlas, while later the same day you are looking across palm-filled valleys and entering the open Sahara. Seeing Barbary macaques near Azrou, crossing the Ziz region and finally reaching Merzouga makes the drive much more than a simple transfer.
The desert night is the real highlight. Your camel trek takes you away from the road and into the dunes, where the atmosphere becomes quieter with every step. Instead of visiting Erg Chebbi for a few photographs and leaving, you remain overnight in a Luxury Desert Camp and experience the Sahara after the day visitors have gone.
Because this is a private tour, you travel with your own group and have a more comfortable rhythm throughout the journey. If two days feel too short, you can customize your Morocco tour with an extra night in Merzouga, more desert activities or a different final destination. You can also combine the trip with our activities in Morocco or explore shorter day trips from Fes and Marrakech.
Yes, especially if your travel schedule is limited and seeing the Sahara is important to you. The journey is fast-paced and includes several hours of driving each day, but you still experience the Middle Atlas, Ziz Valley, Erg Chebbi, a camel trek and one night in the desert.
The road journey normally takes much of the day because Merzouga is several hundred kilometers from Fes. Stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley make the journey longer, but they also turn the transfer into part of the sightseeing experience.
Yes. A camel trek across part of the Erg Chebbi dune area is included to reach the desert camp. The exact route and timing can change according to weather, local conditions and the camp arrangements.
The cedar forests near Azrou are known for their Barbary macaques, and they are often seen during the stop. They are wild animals, however, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. It is better to watch them calmly without approaching or feeding them.
The camp package includes an overnight stay in a private tent, dinner and breakfast. Exact facilities such as a private bathroom, heating or other amenities depend on the camp category selected and should be confirmed when booking.
Yes. You can add another night in Merzouga, include a 4x4 desert excursion, add activities or continue toward Marrakech instead of returning to Fes. Use the Customize Your Morocco Tour page to request an itinerary based on your own dates and travel plans.
4 days / 3 nightsTravel from Fes to Marrakech in 4 days through the Middle Atlas, Merzouga, Zagora and Erg Chigaga. Meet Barbary macaques, cross the Sahara with a camel caravan, experience Berber nomad culture and sleep in a luxury desert camp.
2 days / 1 nightTravel from Fes to Merzouga on a private 2-day Morocco tour through Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. Meet Barbary macaques, cross the Erg Chebbi dunes by camel and spend the night in a luxury desert camp.
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3 days / 2 nightsTravel from Fes to the Sahara on a 3-day private desert journey through Ifrane, the cedar forests, Ziz Valley and Merzouga. Explore the dunes by 4x4, meet local communities, enjoy Gnawa music, join a camel caravan and spend a memorable night in a luxury desert camp.
