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Two riders on camels crossing the dunes at Merzouga, Morocco

Desert Tours from Fes

3 private desert tours that start in Fes and end in Marrakech, crossing the Sahara on the way. Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes are about 7 hours from Fes through Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. From the desert camp the route continues through the Todra and Dades gorges and Ouarzazate to Marrakech, so you never drive the same road twice. Pickup is at your riad or hotel in Fes, or at Fes-Saïss Airport.

3 tours

all private, no groups

3 to 5 days

shortest to longest

from €467

lowest listed price

Ends in Marrakech

one way, no road driven twice

Choose by length

Private tours from Fes

Compare

Compare tours from Fes

TourDaysRouteDesertFrom
5-Day Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga5Fes → MarrakechMerzouga€730
3-Day Luxury Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga3Fes → MarrakechMerzouga€467
4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour4Fes → MarrakechMerzouga€517

Good to know

Good to know before a desert tour from Fes

The route to the dunes

Fes to Merzouga is about 470 km, a long day of 7 to 8 hours with stops. The road crosses the Middle Atlas instead of the High Atlas, so the first day looks very different from the drive out of Marrakech. The usual stops:

  • Ifrane: a mountain town at 1,650 m with sloping roofs and parks
  • Azrou cedar forest: old cedars and Barbary macaques close to the road
  • Midelt: apple orchards at the foot of the Ayachi range
  • Ziz Valley: a gorge and a long palm grove below the road
  • Erfoud and Rissani: fossil workshops and the old market town at the edge of the Sahara

Most tours from Fes end in Marrakech, so you do not drive the same road twice. After the desert they go west by the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley, Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou, then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass.

How many days

  • 3 days: a night in a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, a night in the Dades Valley, then Marrakech on day 3
  • 4 days: desert camp, Dades Valley and Ouarzazate, so each drive after the first day is shorter
  • 5 days: a hotel night in Merzouga and a full day in the dunes before the camp night, then the Todra and Dades gorges and Ouarzazate

What it costs

Private tours from Fes cost from €467 per person for 3 days, €517 for 4 days and €730 for 5 days. These are the prices for a group of 7 or more; for 2 people the same tours cost €570, €630 and €890 per person. Each tour page shows all four group prices and what is included. A 30 % deposit confirms the booking.

When to go

March to May and September to November are the easiest months. In winter the Middle Atlas is cold, nights can drop below 0 °C, and snow around Ifrane sometimes closes the road for a few hours. In July and August the dunes are above 40 °C in the afternoon, so camel rides are kept to early morning and sunset.

Before you leave Fes

Plan at least one full day in the old medina, Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. It is easier with a local guide: the Chouara tannery, the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque and the Bou Inania madrasa are hard to find alone in the lanes. Chefchaouen is about 200 km north, so it fits before Fes on a longer trip; see our Chefchaouen tours.

Before you book

What's included on every tour

Included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole route
  • English-speaking driver-guide
  • Pickup at your riad or hotel in Fes, or at Fes-Saïss Airport
  • All nights of accommodation, including at least one night in a desert camp on multi-day desert tours
  • A route you can change: stops, pace and end city

How booking works

  • Send your dates and the tour you like, or ask for a custom route
  • We reply with the day-by-day plan and the price
  • Pay a deposit online to confirm the booking

Deposit payment · Terms and conditions

Plan your trip

Plan your trip from Fes

Questions

Desert Tours from Fes: FAQ

How far is Merzouga from Fes?

About 470 km, or 7 hours of driving through Ifrane, the cedar forest near Azrou, Midelt and the Ziz Valley. Tours leave Fes in the morning and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes in time for the sunset camel trek.

How many days is a desert tour from Fes?

Three days is the shortest tour from Fes: Fes to Merzouga, a night in the desert camp, then on to Marrakech via the Todra Gorge, Dades Valley and Ouarzazate. Four to five days adds a second desert night or the Atlas kasbahs.

Can a Fes desert tour end in Marrakech?

Yes, and most of them do. Fes to the Sahara to Marrakech is the classic one-way route across the country, so you do not drive the same road twice.

Where do you pick up in Fes?

At your riad or hotel in Fes, or at Fes-Saïss Airport if you are arriving on the day the tour starts.

What's included on every tour?

A private, air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver-guide, accommodation for the full route including at least one night in a Sahara desert camp, and an itinerary built around what you actually want to see.

How far in advance should I book?

2–4 months ahead for spring and autumn (March to May, September to November) and the Christmas and New Year weeks gives you the best choice of desert camps. Off-season trips can often be booked with just a few weeks notice.

Is it safe to travel to the Sahara desert in Morocco?

Yes — the desert routes we run are well established and our driver-guides know them well. You are never left alone; your guide stays with you for the full trip.

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