2 daysRound trip from Fes · Erg Chebbi camp
Fes Desert Tours
Seven tours start in Fes: two Merzouga trips that come back to Fes in two or three days, four Sahara crossings of three to six days that finish in Marrakech, and a two-day trip north to Chefchaouen with no desert in it. Every desert tour drives the same first day south over the Middle Atlas, through Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest and the Ziz valley, to a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a camp. Decide first whether you want to come back to Fes or carry on to Marrakech, then pick the number of days.
- Duration
- 2–6 days
- Tours
- 7 private
- Ends in
- Fes or Marrakech
Back to Fes
Merzouga and back: two or three days
Both sleep in the Erg Chebbi camp after a sunset camel ride and return to Fes on the same road. The 3-day adds a full day around Merzouga before driving back via Errachidia.
2 days
3 daysRound trip from Fes · Erg Chebbi camp · full Merzouga day
3 Days Trip in Morocco from Fes to Merzouga
On to Marrakech
Fes to Marrakech desert tours: three to six days
All four reach Merzouga on the first desert day, sleep in the camp, then continue west through Todra and Dades, the Valley of the Roses, Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou to your accommodation in Marrakech. The 3-day does it with one night in the dunes and one in Boumalne Dades; the 4-day adds a Merzouga day and a night in Ouarzazate; the 5-day and 6-day begin with an airport pick-up and a guided day in Fes, and the 6-day adds a 4x4 day around Erg Chebbi.
3 daysFes → Marrakech · Erg Chebbi camp · Dades night
Fes to Marrakech 3-Day Desert Tour: Itinerary via Merzouga
4 daysFes → Marrakech · Erg Chebbi camp · Ouarzazate night
4-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour: Itinerary
5 daysFes → Marrakech · day in Fes first · Erg Chebbi camp
Fes to Marrakech tour in 5 days via the desert of Merzouga
6 daysFes → Marrakech · day in Fes first · 4x4 day at Erg Chebbi
6 days Morocco tour itinerary from Fes to Marrakech via desert
North instead
Fes to Chefchaouen in two days
No desert on this one: Meknes and Volubilis on the way, a night in Chefchaouen and the drive back to Fes.
2 daysRound trip from Fes · Meknes and Volubilis · no desert
Fes to Chefchaouen 2 days tour via Meknes
Plan your route
Back to Fes or on to Marrakech?
Come back to Fes if your trip is based there or you fly out of Fes: the 2-day and 3-day Merzouga tours end at your Fes accommodation or the airport, and the return drive repeats the Ziz valley and the cedar forest. Carry on to Marrakech if you want to see the south without doubling back: the crossings drop you at your Marrakech accommodation or the airport, and the extra days go to the gorges, the Valley of the Roses, Ouarzazate and the Ait Benhaddou kasbah. If you would rather do the crossing the other way round, the Marrakech desert tours page lists the Marrakech to Fes versions, and the Morocco desert tours page compares every desert departure we run.
On the road
What the desert day from Fes is like
Pick-up is at 8 in the morning. The road climbs into the Middle Atlas to Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest, crosses to Midelt, drops into the Ziz valley and its palm groves and reaches Erfoud before Merzouga, where the camels are waiting for the ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and the night in the camp. The itineraries list a camel for each traveller, breakfast and dinner, accommodation, a 4WD vehicle with fuel and an English- or Spanish-speaking driver; lunches, drinks, monument fees, tips, flights and insurance are not included. Our camel page explains how the ride works, the Sahara guide covers the camp night, and the Merzouga and Erg Chebbi guide describes the dunes themselves.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for the desert from Fes?
Two days is enough for a night in the Erg Chebbi camp and the drive back to Fes. Three days adds a full day around Merzouga if you return to Fes, or lets you carry on to Marrakech with a night in Boumalne Dades. Four to six days spend the extra time on the gorges, Ouarzazate and, on the longest two, a guided day in Fes before the desert.
Can a desert tour from Fes end in Marrakech?
Yes. The 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day tours cross the Sahara and the High Atlas and finish at your accommodation in Marrakech. The 2-day and 3-day Merzouga tours come back to Fes.
Is the camel ride and camp night included on the short trips?
Yes. Both the 2-day and the 3-day Merzouga tours include a camel for each traveller, the night in the Erg Chebbi camp, dinner and breakfast.
Does the Chefchaouen trip go to the desert?
No. It is a two-day trip north through Meknes and Volubilis to Chefchaouen and back to Fes, with no desert or camel ride.
Ready to plan your Morocco trip?
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