Fes To Marrakech – Merzouga Desert Tour 3 Days 

Your adventure begins with an early departure from Fes, traveling south through a landscape that shifts dramatically as you ascend the Middle Atlas Mountains.
The road winds through cedar forests, volcanic plateaus, and valleys dotted with Berber villages. Your first stop is Ifrane, often called the Switzerland of Morocco due to its alpine-style homes, clean streets, and fresh mountain air.

A short drive brings you to the ancient Cedar Forest, home to the well-known Barbary macaques. These playful monkeys live freely in the tall cedar trees and add a fun, memorable moment to your day. You continue your journey through the high-altitude plateau near Midelt, an area known for its cold winters, apple orchards, and wide open mountain plains.

As the scenery turns increasingly arid, the road descends into the Ziz Valley, a spectacular palm-filled canyon stretching along the river. The contrast between the green oasis and reddish desert cliffs offers incredible photo opportunities. Small kasbahs and mud-brick villages decorate the valley, showing the traditional architecture of southern Morocco.

By late afternoon, you arrive in Merzouga, where the first golden dunes of Erg Chebbi appear like rising mountains of sand. Your accommodation is a charming kasbah-style hotel at the edge of the dunes. After a sunset tea welcome, you can relax, enjoy a quiet evening, and look forward to your Sahara adventure.

🏨 Overnight: Hotel/Riad in Merzouga
🍽 Meals: Dinner + breakfast

This day immerses you in the cultural, natural, and human heart of the Sahara. After breakfast, you begin a 4×4 tour around the Erg Chebbi dunes, visiting several important sites:

✔ Khamlia Village

Known for its Gnawa musicians, Khamlia is home to descendants of sub-Saharan communities who brought spiritual rhythms and ancestral music to Morocco. You’ll enjoy a short live performance and learn about their traditions.

✔ Nomadic Families of the Desert

Far from the villages, nomads still live in handmade tents, raising goats and sheep in the harsh desert environment. This visit gives you a rare and authentic glimpse into their lifestyle, hospitality, and cultural identity.

✔ M’Fis Black Desert & Abandoned Mines

The terrain changes from golden dunes to black volcanic rock fields. The old French-built mines of M’Fis tell stories of colonial history and the hardships of workers who once extracted minerals here.

✔ Oasis & Berber Lunch

You stop at a small oasis for a simple, traditional meal—usually tagine or medfouna—served by locals in a peaceful desert setting.

In the afternoon, you return to your hotel to prepare for the highlight of your trip: a camel caravan across the dunes at sunset. The walk is quiet, rhythmic, and deeply atmospheric, with the colors of the sand shifting from gold to crimson as the sun goes down.

Upon reaching your luxury or standard desert camp, you are welcomed with mint tea and guided to your private tent. The evening continues with a warm dinner, Berber drums around the fire, storytelling, and some of the clearest stargazing in the world.

🏜️ Overnight: Sahara Desert Camp
🍽 Meals: Dinner + breakfast

Wake up early if you wish to witness the Sahara sunrise, a magical moment when the dunes glow softly with shades of pink and gold. After breakfast and a refreshing shower at the lodge, you begin your journey back north—or west toward Marrakech if you choose this option.

The route takes you again through the peaceful Ziz Valley, offering the chance to stop at panoramic viewpoints where the palm groves stretch endlessly. You pass through Midelt and the Middle Atlas villages, enjoying a different perspective of the mountains and forests you crossed on Day 1.

In the late afternoon or early evening, you reach Fes, where your driver drops you directly at your hotel or riad.
If you selected the Marrakech extension, your route will continue west across the High Atlas, arriving in the Red City in the evening.

Arrival:

• Fes: around 4–6 PM
• Marrakech option: around 8–9 PM