2 Days Tour from Fes to Merzouga Sahara Desert

DAY 1: FES – IFRANE – CEDAR FOREST – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – MERZOUGA SAHARA (7 hours drive)

The 2 days Merzouga desert tour starts with an early pick-up from the airport or your accommodation in Fes. Then you drive south through Imouzzer to visit Ifrane, famous for its low temperatures, snow, and alpine-style houses — no wonder it’s called the Switzerland of Morocco. After that, you continue to the cedar forest, home to the Barbary macaques; feel free to feed them as you wander among the trees. Later, you continue to Midelt, where lunch is served. Then you head to the Sahara desert, driving through the Tizi-n-Tilghmt Pass and along the Ziz River.

In the afternoon you reach the Sahara Desert of Merzouga. Then you switch to camels and cross the sandy desert. After that, a stop is made for you to enjoy the magical sunset atop a high dune. Then you continue to the desert camp, where you can enjoy Berber drum music while dancing around the campfire beneath a vast open sky of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.

DAY 2: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – ERFOUD – ZIZ VALLEY – IFRANE – FES (7 hours drive)

Wake early to contemplate the beautiful sunrise in the middle of the desert. Free time for breakfast, then you return on camels or by 4×4 to Merzouga, where the driver awaits. Then you leave the desert to visit Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet and still a major trading centre in the region, with a large souk that’s lively on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. After a stroll through the Rissani souk, you continue to Erfoud, where you visit one of the fossilised-marble workshops.

After that, you drive along the Ziz River and stop for a panoramic view of the Ziz Valley. Then you drive through the cedar forest and Ifrane to reach Fes. Finally, we drop you off at the airport or your accommodation. Estimated arrival time is around 6 p.m. End of the 2 days to the Merzouga desert.

This tour ends back in Fes. If you wish to end the tour in Marrakech, you can consider: 2 Days from Fes to Marrakech.

IMPORTANT!     

 Bear in mind that 2 Days from Fes to Merzouga is a suggested itinerary. If it doesn’t match what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll organise a different itinerary based on your preferences and the length of your stay. We offer customised and tailor-made tours and trips all around Morocco.

THE PRICE  varies according to the number of people: the more people joining the tour, the lower the price becomes. Since the transportation cost is fixed, the price is divided according to the number of people. The price also depends on the quality of the accommodation. Contact us for an exact price.

The 2 day tour is a great experience, but it involves a lot of driving hours. You can consider longer tours, such as:
– 3 Days From Fes to Merzouga (+ full day in the desert)
– 4 Days From Fes to Merzouga (+ Dades & Todra gorges)
– 5 Days From Fes to Marrakech (+ night in Ouarzazate / easy-going)

Or grand tours:
– 7 Days Tour from Fes
– 10 Days Tour From Fes

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ: 2 DAYS FES TO MERZOUGA

Is the 2 days tour to Merzouga private or shared?
The two day tour is a private experience, so only the travellers making the enquiry take part. No additional people join the tour. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised experiences, which is why we mainly offer private tours.

Is the tent private? Does it have a private shower?
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has private bathrooms with hot running water.

How long is the camel ride?
The camel ride lasts from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you’re staying in.

What is the alternative to camels?
If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that takes people and luggage in and out, which you’re welcome to use. Alternatively, ATVs can be arranged at an additional cost.

What happens to your luggage when you do the camel ride?
During the camel ride you take only what you need for the ride itself. The rest of your luggage is transported in the camp’s 4×4, and you’ll find it waiting for you at the camp.

What type of vehicles are used?
The vehicle will be either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both with A/C.
Vehicle details:
– 4×4: Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 pax)
– Minivans: Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo Van, or similar (up to 8 pax)
For groups larger than 8, a minibus seating up to 18 pax can be provided.

Dietary preferences
Please share any dietary preferences you have, and we’ll make sure your needs are met. Kindly let us know in advance so we can arrange lunch stops accordingly and notify the riad/camp, as dinners are included in the package.

Tour age suitability
This tour is suitable for all ages. Please note, though, that it involves roughly 5 to 7 hours of driving each day. Our vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops, but if you’re not used to this level of travel you may prefer a longer tour, such as our 5 Days From Marrakech to Fes, to reduce the amount of daily driving.

Pick-up and drop-off details
The meeting point for the 2 day tour is at 8:30 a.m. at any location within Fes. If your riad is accessible by car, we pick you up directly from there; if not, we pick you up from the nearest accessible road point, arranged on confirmation of your booking. At the end of the tour, we drop you off at your hotel or riad in Fes, or the closest available parking area. The tour usually finishes between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Fes, though the exact timing can vary depending on how long is spent at each stop.

Expenses
Currency exchange: Euros or USD can be exchanged for Moroccan dirham (MAD) at many locations across Morocco, including banks and exchange bureaus, and ATMs are widely available for cash withdrawals. While credit cards and foreign currencies (euros/USD) are generally accepted, it’s wise to carry local currency (MAD) for convenience.
Meal costs: Meals typically range from €5 to €20 per person, though prices vary by establishment.
Haggling / price negotiation: Haggling is an accepted and expected practice in Morocco; even locals take part in it.

BOOKING PROCESS:

1. Get in touch with us through the contact forms, email, WhatsApp, or our social networks, and tell us the number of travellers, the type of accommodation (excellent, luxury, etc.), your tour date (if available), and your chosen tour or some details so we can plan a new itinerary for you.

2. Booking: We ask for a small deposit to confirm the booking (preferably via our PayPal account). The rest is paid in cash to your driver/guide once you arrive, or through PayPal, which carries a 5% transaction fee. If you don’t have PayPal, we can send an online invoice you can pay by card. A bank/wire transfer is another option; it takes up to 12 days to appear in our system, and we can confirm the tour with a transaction receipt until the payment arrives.

WHY PRIVATE MOROCCO TOURS?

A private tour is an itinerary run exclusively according to your preferences. On a private trip you travel only with the people you choose. Private tours are more flexible when it comes to group size, travel dates, and what your trip includes. On top of that, you’ll have your own tour guide and driver at your disposal.