This four-day round trip takes you from Fes to the Sahara and back, with a whole day in the Merzouga area to break up the driving. Along the route you discover Ifrane, the cedar forest, the Ziz Valley, the Dades and Todra gorges, the Merzouga desert, Rissani and Erfoud.
Starting in Fes, the route crosses the Middle Atlas via Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley to Errachidia, then on to the Dades gorges for the first night. On day two you travel through the Todra Gorge and Erfoud to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride. Day three is a full 4×4 day around Merzouga. On the last day you pass Rissani and Erfoud, climb back up the Ziz Valley and cross the cedar forest and Ifrane to Fes.
Good to know: the Medina of Fez, one of the stops on this itinerary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your journey starts with an early pick-up from your accommodation in Fes. You travel south via Imouzzer to Ifrane, often called the Switzerland of Morocco, and then through the cedar forest, home of the Barbary macaques. After a lunch stop in Midelt, the road crosses the Tizi n’Tilghmt pass and follows the Ziz river to Errachidia. From Errachidia you continue to the Dades gorges via Boumalne Dades, with stops at the “monkey fingers” rock formations and at a valley viewpoint. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
About 8 hours on the road · Night: Hotel in the Dades Valley
Following breakfast, you continue to the Todra Gorge, a striking red-walled canyon, with time to explore on foot. The route then crosses the Touroug and Tinjdad palm groves, with free time for lunch on the way.
In the afternoon you arrive in the Sahara at Merzouga, where camels carry you over the sand to a high dune for sunset. Then it is on to the luxury camp for Berber drums and dancing under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Approx. 5 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes, then ride your camel back to Merzouga. The rest of the day is dedicated to the Merzouga region: dunes, a wild lake, old mines, fossil sites and oases.
An off-road drive takes you to an ancient kohl (eyeliner) mine, followed by Berber tea with a nomad family. Then you visit the village of Khamlia for Gnaoua music and dance. Free time for lunch. Later, you walk through a palm grove and drive to Merzouga’s wild lake, also called the flamingo lake. Dinner and overnight.
Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Hotel in Merzouga
Following breakfast, you leave the dunes for Rissani and its large souk (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays). Next you visit a fossilised-marble workshop in Erfoud.
The road then follows the Ziz river, with a stop at a viewpoint over the Ziz Valley, and continues through the cedar forest and Ifrane to Fes, where we drop you at the airport or your accommodation. If you would rather end in Marrakech, see our 4-day Fes to Marrakech tour.
Approx. 7 hours driving
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The tour is fully private: only you and the people in your booking travel together, with no other guests added. We focus on quality, personal journeys, and that is why nearly all of our tours run privately.
Depending on the camp, the camel ride takes from 40 minutes up to about 1.5 hours. If you would rather not ride, a camp 4×4 can drive you and your bags to and from the camp. Quad bikes (ATVs) are also available at an extra cost.
Yes. Every tent at the luxury camp is just for you, with its own en-suite bathroom and hot water.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the ideal seasons, with mild, comfortable weather across most of the country. Winter is also a good choice, especially for the south and the Sahara.
Yes, but plan for roughly 2 to 8 hours of driving per day. Our vehicles are recent and comfortable and we take regular breaks, but if long drives are not for you, a longer or tailor-made tour may suit you better.