4 days
Private Tour
English, Multilingual
48 H
At 8:00 a.m., we will take you up from Fes and begin our journey south to Merzouga, stopping in Ifran, Morocco's Switzerland, and in the cedar forest where we may see some wild monkeys. Our adventure continues over the Middle Atlas Mountains, with a lunch break in a Berber town before heading further south. Upon our arrival to Errachidia, you'll notice the beginning of the desert landscapes, and we'll stop at Ziz Valley, which is a beautiful lush valley full of palm and olive trees. We'll then drive to Merzouga, which is our final destination.
We're going on a 4wd expedition to explore the desert today. The first stop will be at the seasonal lake in Merzouga, where we may watch flamingos and other birds. Our next visit will be in Khamlia, where we will listen and dance to African beats, also known as Gnawa music (optional). Our journey continues towards M'fis, a historic French village where we will explore mineral and fossil mines. We'll drive to a tiny hill from which you can take panoramic pictures of the entire Erg Chebbi dunes. Next, we'll visit an abandoned mine where we may go fossil hunting, followed by a visit to the nomad families living in Berber-style tents on the edge of the desert, where we'll have a mint tea and discover the secrets about their daily routine. We will be stopping at a desert oasis and in a small local restaurant for lunch (Ex: Berber pizza) before we continue off-roading back to Merzouga, where we'll join the camel trek. You'll ride the camel for an hour, with a stop to watch the sunset in the desert. You'll be welcomed with a cup of tea when you arrive at the camp, and you'll have time to practice sandboarding. The dinner will be later on followed by traditional drum music around a fire, enjoying and dancing on the rhythms of the drums under the stars.
We'll wake you up early to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the dunes, followed by breakfast, a shower, and the morning camel excursion. We'll start our day towards the Atlas Mountains with a stop in Rissani, which is known as the historic city nestled at the edge of Tafilalt Oasis, also considered as the large and closest local market to the desert. Following our visit, we'll continue through small Berber towns to the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir Oasis, where we'll have some time to walk and discover around enjoying its breathtaking scenery, before continuing to Dades, our final destination for the day, which is known for its lush valleys and old historic kasbahs.
Today morning, we will be traveling to Ouarzazate through the rose valley and Skoura, known for its palm grove and authentic kasbahs. Once we arrive in Ouarzazate, we'll stop for a panoramic picture of the Kasbah Taourirt, followed by another photo stop near the Atlas Film Studios, before continuing to the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, an impressive old palace and a popular place where many Hollywood films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and the Momy were filmed. After exploring the kasbah, we'll have lunch in a nearby restaurant before continuing our journey across the high Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.
The tour includes standard hotels and desert camps, but with the possibility to upgrade to luxury at an additional cost.
The distance between Fes and the Merzouga desert is around 471 kilometers, and the journey takes approximately 7/8 hours, depending on stops.
The cost of the tour varies depending on the number of passengers and the type of lodging. The trip includes the option of upgrading the hotels and desert camps from standard to luxurious. Please check the price section for more information.
The winter (November - March) temperature drops to 0° C at night and roughly 26° C during the day, and the summer months (from June to mid-September), are hot with temperatures reaching 45° C and approximately 35° C, while the rest of the year temperatures are nearly constant during the day and night (between 24 and 30° C).
Amazing 4 day desert tour from Fes to Marrakech