Fes is a great place to start a desert trip, especially if you are coming from northern Morocco. If you are traveling from Chefchaouen, Tangier, or Spain, Fes is already on the way south. From here, the road to Merzouga takes you through some of the most varied parts of Morocco.
The landscape changes as you go. From Fes, you head into the Middle Atlas and pass through Ifrane, a mountain town often called the “Switzerland of Morocco.” Near Azrou, the cedar forests begin, and you may see Barbary macaques in the trees.
After the Middle Atlas, the scenery becomes drier. You pass through Midelt and continue towards the Ziz Valley, where palm trees fill the valley below the rocky hills. Further south, you start to see the desert until you reach Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
If you are going to Marrakech after the desert, traveling from Fes to Marrakech is a good option. After Merzouga, you can continue through the Dades Valley, Ouarzazate and the High Atlas before reaching Marrakech. You won't need to drive back to Fes.
We are a small team based in Merzouga. This is where we live and work, and we know the desert and the roads around it well. Our tours are flexible, and we can adjust the stops and pace depending on what you want to see. We use 4x4s and vans for the longer drives and choose riads, guesthouses and desert camps that we know and trust.
Starting from Fes works particularly well if you are already in northern Morocco. Take a look at the tours below, or contact us and tell us your dates, how many people are traveling, and whether you want to return to Fes or continue to Marrakech. We can help you choose which tour suits you.
Whether you want a quick two-night escape to the dunes or a full one-way journey to Marrakech, we have a route that fits.
A short option for travelers who want to experience Erg Chebbi while staying based in Fes. The journey involves long driving days, but includes stops in the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley. Cross Ifrane and Azrou, then descend to Merzouga for a sunset camel trek and night in a desert camp. Return to Fes on day two.
A good option if you want to combine Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech without returning to Fes. You get the full desert experience—Atlas crossing, Erg Chebbi dunes, and Todra Gorge—then continue west to Marrakech. No repeated roads, no wasted driving days. Just a clean diagonal from the imperial north to the red city.
This tour gives you time to actually experience the desert rather than just photograph it. Reach Merzouga on day one, spend day two on a 4x4 excursion around Erg Chebbi, visit a nomad family, listen to Gnawa music in Khamlia, and explore the Rissani souk. The second night is in the Merzouga area. Return to Fes on day three.
A full circuit with breathing room. An extra night in the desert lets you sandboard, take a longer 4x4 loop, and hike in the Dades Gorge. The journey includes Ouarzazate, the Skoura palm grove, and plenty of time at Ait Ben Haddou. You arrive in Marrakech having crossed the Middle Atlas, the Sahara, and the High Atlas without feeling rushed.
Fes is a practical starting point for Sahara access. Here is why:
The road from Fes to Merzouga crosses the Middle Atlas, not the High Atlas. That means cedar forests, alpine-style towns, and Barbary macaques—not just switchbacks and dust. The Ziz Valley descent is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the country.
Fes is closer to Merzouga than Marrakech, making it a convenient starting point for travelers who want more time in the desert and less time on the road. You can reach the dunes in one day of driving with scenic stops.
Fes sits northeast of the desert; Marrakech sits southwest. A tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga follows a natural diagonal across Morocco with no repeated roads. It is a geographically efficient grand tour.
Clear, honest answers to help you plan your Fes desert tour with confidence.
Fes is closer to Merzouga by about 100 km, and the drive is more varied—cedar forests and valleys rather than just mountain passes. The main difference is that Marrakech gives you Ait Ben Haddou and the High Atlas on the way, while Fes gives you Ifrane, Azrou, and the Ziz Valley. If you are doing a one-way tour, Fes to Marrakech is more efficient than Marrakech to Fes because the desert sits in the middle.
Merzouga is roughly 470 km from Fes. Depending on the route and stops, the drive takes most of a day, which is why our longer itineraries break the journey up with stops in the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley.
Plenty. Ifrane is a clean, alpine-style town built by the French. Azrou has a cedar forest where Barbary macaques live wild. Midelt is a mining town and a good lunch stop. The Ziz Valley offers a dramatic palm grove descent with panoramic viewpoints. Erfoud is known for fossils, and Rissani has a traditional souk that predates the desert tourism industry.
A day trip to Merzouga from Fes isn't practical. The distance is too great for a comfortable return journey in one day. For Erg Chebbi, we recommend at least two days.
If your flight or onward travel is from Marrakech, book the one-way tour. It saves you a full day of backtracking and gives you a more complete Morocco experience. If you need to return to Fes—perhaps for a cooking class, more medina exploration, or a flight—we offer the loop option.
March to May and September to November are ideal. Summer (June–August) is hot in the south but manageable with early starts. Winter (December–February) brings cold nights in the desert and occasional snow in the Middle Atlas, but fewer tourists and lower prices. Fes itself is pleasant year-round, though winter can be damp.
Yes. All our Fes tours include handpicked accommodation: riads in Fes, hotels or guesthouses in Midelt or the Ziz Valley, and a private tent at our desert camp in Merzouga. Breakfast and dinner are included daily except in Fes and Marrakech, where you have free evenings to choose your own restaurants.
Absolutely. These are private tours. Want to add a night in Ifrane? Skip Midelt and drive straight to the desert? End in Essaouira instead of Marrakech? We adjust the route, pacing, and accommodation to match your interests and travel style.
A small overnight bag with warm layers for the desert night, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf for wind and sun, closed-toe shoes, and a camera. The Middle Atlas can be cool, especially in winter, so bring a fleece even if the forecast for Merzouga looks warm. Leave large luggage in the vehicle or at your Fes hotel.
Cancellations more than 48 hours before departure receive a full refund. Cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable.
Real feedback from travelers who took their Sahara tour from Fes.
"The drive from Fes was half the reason we booked. The cedar forest, the monkeys, the Ziz Valley—our driver stopped exactly when we wanted photos. By the time we saw the dunes, we already felt like we had seen the real Morocco."
"We did the one-way tour to Marrakech and it was perfect. No repeated roads, no wasted days. Fes to Merzouga to Dades to Marrakech felt like a natural flow. Our driver knew every good lunch stop."
"Only had two days but wanted the dunes. It was a lot of driving, but broken up perfectly. The camp was comfortable, the camel ride was magical, and we were back in Fes with time to catch our flight. Highly recommend."
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