Private 2-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Fes and Back

Day 1: Fes to Ifrane, the Cedar Forest, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and the Merzouga Desert Camp

Your 2-day Merzouga desert tour from Fes starts early in the morning. Your professional English-speaking driver greets you at your accommodation. Leaving Fes behind, your air-conditioned vehicle travels south through Imouzzer to Ifrane. This town is often called “the Switzerland of Morocco” for its alpine architecture, clean streets, and cool climate. Next, you’ll pass through the cedar forests of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live among the trees. It’s a good spot to observe them respectfully, without feeding them.

After lunch in Midelt, the route crosses the Tizi n’Talghemt pass, at 1,907 meters. Then, you’ll follow the Ziz River canyon, with a panoramic stop over the green palm oases below. By late afternoon, you’ll reach the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. There, you’ll switch to a camel for a trek across the sand to watch the sunset. Finally, you’ll check into your luxury camp, where you can try sandboarding or simply relax. The night ends with a multi-course Moroccan dinner and live Berber drumming around the campfire.

Day 2: Merzouga to Rissani, Erfoud, the Ziz Valley, and Return to Fes

Waking early for a Sahara sunrise among the dunes is a highlight. After breakfast at camp, you’ll return to Merzouga by camel or 4WD, where your driver meets you. Then, you’ll travel to Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet and a major trading hub. Its lively souk runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After a stroll through the souk, you’ll head north to Erfoud for a visit to a fossilized marble workshop. There, ancient fossils are cut into polished stone.

Next, your driver follows the Ziz Valley back north, with another chance to admire the date palm plantations. After a lunch stop along the highway, the route climbs back through the Middle Atlas. It then crosses the cedar groves near Azrou. By early evening, your driver drops you at your riad, hotel, or the Fes airport.