3 Days Desert Trip From Fes Back To Fes

Merzouga’s golden dunes are the star here. You cross Morocco’s Middle Atlas, stop among cedar trees and macaque monkeys, reach the Ziz Valley, then ride a camel into the Sahara for a night under Berber hospitality. The desert sunrise is the moment to plan around.

I like the route’s variety: one morning puts you in cool mountain country, and by afternoon you are among palm oases and dry desert hills. I also like the two-night setup, with one night in a traditional kasbah and one in a desert camp. If Mohammed is your guide, you can expect a patient, attentive escort who makes time for questions.

The catch is the driving. This is a long road trip, with roughly eight hours listed for the return to Fes and a full first day on the road. Lunch, drinks, and some optional Merzouga activities are extra, so the low price does not cover every expense.

Key points to know before booking

• Camel ride at sunset: You leave Merzouga in the cooler late afternoon and ride to a Berber camp among the dunes.
• Two different nights: The first night is in a traditional kasbah with dinner and Saharan music, followed by a desert camp night.
• A full mountain-to-desert route: Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, and the Ziz Valley give the first day much more variety than a direct Fes transfer.
• Sunrise matters: You have a chance to watch sunrise over the dunes on both the second and third mornings.
• Small enough to feel manageable: The minivan holds no more than 17 people, with hotel or riad pickup offered.
• Good price, but not all-inclusive: At $197.73 per person, transport, lodging, camel riding, two dinners, and two breakfasts are covered. Lunch and drinks are not.

Why this Fes to Merzouga loop works

Many desert trips are simply long transfers with a camel ride added at the end. This one gives you a proper route through central Morocco. You leave Fes at about 7:30 a.m., climb into the Middle Atlas, cross the area around Midelt, look down over the Ziz Valley, and reach Merzouga later in the day.

That variety is the main reason I find the trip appealing. The first hours are not filler. Ifrane feels strikingly different from Fes, with French-built architecture and a cool mountain setting. Azrou brings cedar forests and a chance to see Barbary macaques, more accurately called Barbary macaque monkeys, near the village known locally as The Rock.

By the time you reach Merzouga, the scenery has changed completely. Palm groves, bare mountains, wide stretches of earth, and sand dunes replace the forest. You get a sense of how quickly Morocco’s climate and terrain can shift.

The price is strong for what is included. A professional driver, air-conditioned minivan, two nights of accommodation, a camel ride, two dinners, two breakfasts, and a sunset view are all part of the package. At this rate, the trip is best seen as a practical shared-road adventure, not a private luxury tour.

Day one: from Fes to Ifrane and Azrou

Pickup begins at around 7:30 a.m. from your hotel or riad, though the listed meeting point is Fontaine Batha in Fes. Confirm the exact pickup arrangement before the morning of departure. Starting early matters because the route to Merzouga covers a lot of ground.

Ifrane is the first notable stop. The town was built by the French in the 1930s and is often called Morocco’s Switzerland. That nickname is a little neat and polished, but it points to the town’s mountain setting and European-influenced appearance. You should not expect a long guided visit here. The listed stop is about 40 minutes, so treat it as a short look and a useful break.

The road then reaches the cedar forests around Azrou. This is one of the more memorable stops because macaque monkeys live in the area. They may come near the roadside or picnic area, and the visit gives you a quick look at local wildlife rather than another city monument.

Keep your distance and follow your guide’s instructions around the animals. Their presence can make the stop lively, but the monkeys are still wild animals. The tour description refers to lunch with them in their natural habitat, but lunch itself is not included in the price.

From Azrou, the route continues through mountain roads, forested peaks, springs, streams, and exposed rock walls. The description of the Atlas as pillars supporting the sky may be grand, but the road does offer a real change from the narrow streets of Fes. Sit on the side of the minivan with the best window view, and keep your camera ready during bends and overlooks.

Midelt gives the road trip a useful pause

Midelt is listed as the lunch stop, with about an hour there. The town sits where the Middle Atlas meets the beginning of the High Atlas and is known as the City of Apples.

This is a practical stop as much as a scenic one. After the early mountain drive, you need time to eat, stretch your legs, and buy drinks. Since lunch is not included, budget for it separately. The same applies to water and other drinks throughout the trip.

Do not expect a long sightseeing program in Midelt. The value is the location and the break. You are moving from the cooler uplands toward the dry country around the Sahara, and Midelt marks that change well.

The Ziz Valley view is brief but worthwhile

The next major stop is an overlook above the Ziz Valley. The visit is listed at about 15 minutes, so this is a photo stop, not a valley tour. You look over palm trees and mountains shaped by the Ziz River, one of the major rivers in the region.

The valley is described as the largest oasis in Africa. Regardless of how you measure that claim, the view explains why oases matter here. A line of palms can support farms and settlements in an otherwise dry region, and the contrast between green vegetation and bare rock is striking.

This is also a good point to understand the limits of the schedule. You will see the valley from above, but you will not have hours to walk through it. If you prefer slow village visits and long hikes, the pace may feel brisk. If you want a broad taste of Morocco in three days, the short stop earns its place.

First night in Merzouga: kasbah, dinner, and music

You reach Merzouga in the afternoon, after another stretch of road. The evening includes dinner and Saharan music, with the first overnight stay in a traditional kasbah.

The kasbah night provides a useful transition before the tent stay. You can settle in, eat a hot meal, and get ready for the next day’s desert activities without immediately riding into the dunes. Two dinners and two breakfasts are included across the trip, though the exact menu and accommodation details are not specified.

The sunset view is included, but timing can depend on the drive and local conditions. If the sky is clear, the desert light should be one of the better photo moments of the trip. Still, do not build the whole booking around a guaranteed perfect sunset. Mountain roads, traffic, and the day’s schedule can affect arrival time.

Day two: choose your pace around Merzouga

The second day is less structured than the first. You can sleep later, rise early for sunrise, have breakfast, and spend much of the day around Merzouga at your own pace.

Possible activities include visiting Rissani, seeing palm groves around the Tafilalt Oasis, visiting Khamlia village for Gnawa music, exploring historic towns, or relaxing near the desert tents. The important phrase here is possible activities. They are described as options, not as clearly included guided visits, so ask what is covered and what may cost extra before choosing.

Rissani and the Tafilalt Oasis offer a way to see more than sand. The desert region has settlements, palms, and working communities, and these stops can give the day more local context. Khamlia village is especially appealing if music matters to you, since Gnawa music is a key part of the area’s cultural identity.

You can also choose not to add much. Sitting near the tents and waiting for the afternoon heat to ease may be the sensible choice. The desert is not a place where you need to fill every hour with activity.

The camel ride to camp

Late afternoon is the right time to ride into the dunes. Temperatures are more comfortable than at midday, and the low sun gives the sand a warmer color. The camel ride is included, as is the sunset view.

This is not a fast-moving ride. You will be sitting high above the sand and moving at a steady pace toward the camp. If you have never ridden a camel, expect the initial rise and the final kneeling motion to feel more awkward than the ride itself. Hold on when the animal stands or sits, and listen to the staff.

The route leads to a Berber campsite away from the roads and town. That separation is the point. You get a few hours when the desert is quiet, with the dunes forming the setting rather than a city wall or museum.

Dinner is served at camp, with traditional desert food including Madfona, a dish specifically named in the tour description. The evening also includes Berber hospitality and cultural information. Details about entertainment at the camp are not fully specified, so expect a cultural meal and a desert night rather than a fixed performance schedule.

Sunrise is worth the early alarm

The desert sunrise is the strongest reason to get out of bed early. You can watch the light move across the dunes, then return to camp for breakfast and a bath before packing up.

You may also have a sunrise opportunity on the second morning before the day around Merzouga begins. The third morning is the more important one because it comes directly after the night in the dunes. Set out early enough to find a good view, and remember that the ride or walk back to camp takes time.

The tour promises a refreshing bath after sunrise, but it does not describe the facilities in detail. Pack a small wash bag where you can reach it easily rather than burying it in your main luggage.

Day three: a long return to Fes

After breakfast and cleanup, you start the road back to Fes with your driver. The return is listed at about eight hours, so this is the least flexible day and the biggest physical consideration.

You will not be following a long sightseeing route on the way back. The value is that the tour returns you to your starting city, which can simplify a short Morocco itinerary. You avoid arranging a separate transfer from Merzouga and can finish near the same Fes meeting point.

The air-conditioned minivan matters on this day. A shared vehicle with a maximum of 17 people is not intimate, but it is more practical than organizing separate transport. Bring water, snacks, and something to occupy you during the long ride. Drinks and lunch are not included.

What the $197.73 price really covers

At $197.73 per person, this trip offers solid basic value. You are paying for a large geographic route, not just two nights in the desert. Transport from Fes and back, a professional driver, accommodation, the camel ride, sunset, two dinners, and two breakfasts are included.

The price does not cover lunch or drinks. It also does not clearly cover every optional activity around Merzouga, such as visits to Rissani or Khamlia. Ask before departure so you know which parts are included and how much free time you will have.

The accommodation is described as a traditional kasbah and a Berber campsite. That tells you the style, but not the exact properties or room arrangements. If you need a particular room type or high-end tent, this budget tour may not be the right fit.

The group limit of 17 is worth noting. You will have enough people to share the cost, while avoiding the scale of a large coach tour. The tradeoff is less control over stops and timing.

Who should book this desert trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have only a few days in Morocco and want to connect Fes with Merzouga without planning several separate transfers. It suits first-time visitors who want mountains, oases, dunes, camel riding, and local music in one compact route.

It is also a good choice if you value a capable driver and a straightforward schedule more than private control. Mohammed is named as a guide for this trip, with patience and careful attention noted as part of his approach. If he is assigned to your departure, you can expect someone who makes time for questions and checks that the group is looked after.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives, need a slow pace, or want detailed sightseeing in each town. The first and third days are road-heavy, and the Merzouga options are not described with the same detail as the main route.

Pack layers, comfortable clothes for the camel ride, sun protection, water, and a small bag for the desert night. Keep your larger belongings organized, since you will move between a minivan, kasbah, camel, and camp.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the most scenery and desert atmosphere possible in three days from Fes, and you are comfortable with long hours on the road. The strongest features are the mountain-to-oasis route, two distinct overnight stays, included camel riding, and the chance to see sunrise over the dunes.

Skip it if your priority is luxury, private timing, or extended time in one place. For a budget of $197.73, the package covers the essentials well, but you should bring extra money for lunch, drinks, and any added Merzouga outings.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Fontaine Batha in Fes, at 3259+V8P. Pickup from your hotel or riad is also offered, with departure scheduled for about 7:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The trip ends back at the meeting point in Fes.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three days. The return journey to Fes on the third day is listed at about eight hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The group can include a maximum of 17 people.

What accommodation is included?

Two nights of accommodation are included. The first night is described as a traditional kasbah stay, and the second is at a Berber campsite in the dunes.

Is a camel ride included?

Yes. The camel ride to the desert campsite is included.

Are meals included?

Two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Lunch and drinks are not included.

Can I see the sunrise in the desert?

Yes. You have the chance to see sunrise over the sand dunes on the mornings around the Merzouga stay, including after the night at the desert camp.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered from your hotel or riad, though you should confirm the exact arrangement because Fontaine Batha is also given as the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.