3-day private tour · Fes → Sahara Desert
3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga & Back
A private 3-day desert tour from Fes to the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga and back — a sunset camel trek and night in a Sahara camp, a full day exploring nomad villages and Gnawa music, then home to Fes through the Ziz Valley.
About This Tour
3 days - 2 Nights · Fes → Sahara Desert
This private 3-day desert tour from Fes to Merzouga and back is the best way to explore the southeast of Morocco without changing cities at the end. You’ll cross the Middle Atlas to the great Erg Chebbi dunes, spend the heart of the trip among nomads and oases, and still return to Fes — ideal if that’s where your flights are based.
The pace is relaxed: a sunset camel trek and night in a Sahara camp, a full 4x4 day exploring the desert around Merzouga, and a scenic drive home through palm valleys and cedar forests. Fully private, with standard, luxury or mixed accommodation options.
Tour Highlights
The best of this journey
Photo Gallery
3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga & Back
Tour Itinerary
Day by day, 3 days
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Iti1
Day 1: Fes → Middle Atlas → Azrou → Merzouga desert
At 8:00 am your private Fes desert tour sets off south, passing the pretty town of Ifrane — the “Switzerland of Morocco” — before a stop in the Azrou cedar forest to watch its wild macaque monkeys in their natural habitat.
You’ll continue toward Merzouga through the palm groves of the Ziz Valley and the fossil town of Erfoud. Reaching the Erg Chebbi dunes, you’ll climb aboard a camel for the ride to your desert camp, where dinner and a starry Sahara night await.
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Iti2
Day 2: Merzouga 4x4 desert day — Erg Chebbi, nomads & Gnawa music
It’s worth waking early on day two for the extraordinary beauty of a Sahara sunrise and the deep silence of the dunes. After breakfast at camp, you’ll set out on a full 4x4 desert tour around Merzouga.
You’ll visit the seasonal Lake Sirji, the village of Khamlia where sub-Saharan Gnawa music is played, the old mines known to nomad families, and the great souk town of Rissani. There’s time to meet a nomad family and take in the shifting landscape before a second night near the dunes in a small hotel or riad.
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Iti3
Day 3: Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Fes
Today you say goodbye to the desert — but with a camera full of memories. The road back to Fes passes through Erfoud, famous for its fossils and marble, then follows the sweeping palm groves of the Ziz Valley up to Midelt, the “city of apples,” where you’ll stop for lunch.
From there you’ll cross the cedar forests near Azrou once more before arriving back in Fes around 6 pm, where your driver drops you at your accommodation.
What the Price Includes
Everything covered in the price
Price Includes
- ✓ Door-to-door pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad
- ✓ Private, air-conditioned modern vehicle — exclusively yours for the whole trip
- ✓ Experienced, English-speaking driver-guide who knows the routes, roads and local culture
- ✓ All fuel, tolls and vehicle running costs
- ✓ Camel trek into the dunes — one camel per person, led by a local guide
- ✓ Sunset camel trek across the golden Erg Chebbi dunes
- ✓ Overnight in a Sahara desert camp — private tent in your preferred category (standard or luxury with ensuite)
- ✓ 1-night in a private room at a hotel/riad (At your preferred room type)
- ✓ (Breakfast & Dinner) x 2
- ✓ 4x4 transfer to and from the desert camp, available as an alternative to the camels
Price Excludes
- ✗ Drinks and bottled water (budget a few euros per day)
- ✗ Lunches — roughly €8–12 each at local restaurants along the route
- ✗ Monument and museum entry fees (e.g. Ait Ben Haddou, Atlas Studios) — optional and paid on the day
- ✗ Tips for your driver-guide and camp staff — at your discretion
If this itinerary does not quite match what you had in mind, tell us your ideas and we will rebuild it around them.
Tour Map
Fes → Sahara Desert
Why Book This Tour
What makes it worth the time
This 3-day Fes to Merzouga desert tour gives you a genuine Sahara experience — camel trek, desert camp, nomad villages and dune sunrises — and returns you to Fes, so it fits neatly around Fes-based flights or a longer northern trip.
Every departure is private and easy to tailor: choose your camp style, add a night in the dunes, or extend the route to end in Marrakech instead. Just tell us what you’d like.
Know Before You Go
Practical travel notes
- infoPricing is per person and drops as your group grows — the more of you travel together, the lower the price each. Tell us your group size for an exact quote.
- infoWant more time in the desert? Any itinerary can be extended or customised — add a night in the dunes, a second camp, or extra sightseeing stops. Just ask.
- infoDriving times are estimates for the road only — they don’t count photo stops, sightseeing or meals. Because the tour is private, you set the pace and we stop whenever you like.
- infoComfortable 4x4 vehicles seat up to four adults; for five or more we provide a spacious air-conditioned minivan — always private to your group.
- infoWe suggest an 8:00 am start on Day 1 to make the most of the light and the drive, but pickup time is flexible — tell us what suits you.
- infoSandboards are free to use at your desert camp — try the dunes at sunrise or sunset. Quad bikes and buggy rides can be arranged on request.
- infoIndividual travelers are invited to join our Group 3-Day Fes to Merzouga Tour for a shared experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this tour
Are these tours private?
Yes — every tour is 100% private by default. It’s just your group, your driver-guide and your own vehicle, so you experience Morocco entirely at your own pace. Stop whenever you like for photos, a mint tea or a closer look at a village or viewpoint.
Prefer to share costs? We also run small-group departures on popular routes — just contact us and we’ll match you to the right option.
Can the itinerary be customised or changed?
Absolutely. This is your trip — we can adjust the pace, swap or upgrade accommodation, add nights, and build in extra stops or activities. For the smoothest planning, let us know any changes at least two weeks before departure, though we’ll always do our best with last-minute requests too.
Does the price change with group size?
The per-person price goes down as your group grows, because the private vehicle and driver-guide are shared across more travellers. Send us your exact numbers and dates and we’ll send back a clear, all-in quote per person.
Are last-minute bookings cheaper?
Usually not — if anything the opposite. We hand-pick the best riads and desert camps, and the good ones fill up fast, especially in high season (spring and autumn). Booking early secures the best accommodation and a smoother trip.
That said, we do take last-minute bookings when availability allows — message us with your dates and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.
Is Morocco safe for tourists?
Yes. Morocco is one of the most welcoming and stable countries in the region, and tourism is central to its economy, so visitor safety is taken seriously — including dedicated tourist police and government-accredited guides.
On a private tour you’re looked after door to door by a driver-guide who knows the routes and the local etiquette. Serious crime is rare and comparable to many European destinations; normal travel common sense is all that’s needed. Morocco is a great choice for couples, families and solo travellers alike.
Booking, deposit and payment
Once we’ve agreed an itinerary that works for you, a small deposit secures your dates with Let’s Visit Morocco (every tour on the site can be tailored to your needs). You simply pay the remaining balance at the start of your tour in Morocco — no large upfront payment required.
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