This 2 day tour from Fes to Merzouga takes you through the stunning landscapes of Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains, Ziz Valley, and the Sahara Desert. It is best if you are on a tight schedule. On the first day, you’ll journey through the cedar forests near Azrou, where you can spot Barbary apes, and cross the Tizi-n-Talghemt pass before descending into the Ziz Valley.
The highlight is reaching Merzouga and embarking on a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes to witness a breathtaking sunset. Spend the night in a desert camp under the starry sky.
The second day begins with a sunrise over the dunes, followed by a visit to the historic town of Rissani and the pottery workshops in Erfoud. The return journey takes you back through the Ziz Valley and over the Atlas Mountains to Fes.
2 Days Trip From Fes To Merzouga
We kick off our 2 Days trip from Fes to Merzouga with an early pick up from your accommodation or the airport at around 8am. Our first destination is the national park Ifrane, nicknamed “Morocco’s Little Switzerland.” We’ll make a short stop to take pictures and have and grab a coffee.
Next up is a visit to the cedar forests near Azrou, it is the biggest forest in Africa. This is a great opportunity to spot some Barbary apes in their natural habitat. Feel free to feed them while wandering in the forest.
From Azrou, our journey will take us over the rugged Middle Atlas Mountains en route to Midelt, known as the ‘Apple Capital of Morocco,’ where we’ll stop for a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we’ll drive up and over the Tizi-n-Talghemt pass, winding our way through the mountains. Locals call this the “she-camel pass” because of the way the road curves.
We’ll then descend into the lush Ziz Valley, an iconic oasis valley lined with palm tree groves and traditional mudbrick villages. We’ll make frequent stops to soak in the panoramic view and take plenty of photos.
Our drive continues to the desert town of Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. An experienced camel man will be waiting with camels to carry you out into the famous Erg Chebbi dunes. You’ll climb up one of the highest dunes to watch an incredible sunset. For the adventurous, try sandboarding down the dunes if that’s an activity you are interested in, take pictures and enjoy the views.
Then continue to the desert camp. We have both luxury and normal comfort camp. At the camp you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea, berber dinner will be served under the vast open sky of stars. Local musicians will serenade you with Berber drums, folk songs while dancing around the campfire. We will stay overnight in desert tents in Merzouga.
On the following morning, we advise getting up early in the morning to experience the breathtaking sunrise over the Sahara dunes close to your camp. Afterward, if you’ve opted for a luxurious desert camp experience, you can enjoy breakfast and freshen up with a shower right at your accommodation.
However, if you’ve chosen a more standard camping option, you’ll first camel trek or transfer back by 4WD to the departure point where you will meet your driver, have breakfast and shower at a local guesthouse. Later on, your 2 Days private tour from Fes continues direction to Fes again via the High Atlas Mountains.
Along the route, we’ll make our way through the town of Rissani, the birthplace of the current Moroccan ruling family. Rissani remains an important trading center in the region, boasting a large souk (market), which we’ll have the opportunity to explore if our visit aligns with its operational days of Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday.
We traverse the town of Erfoud, renowned for its rich fossil resources and thriving pottery industry. While here we will have the opportunity to visit one of the workshops of fossilized marble. Then we’ll continue our drive through the Ziz Valley back towards Fez.
You will have plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs as you stop for coffee, lunch, and photographs as you travel through these mountains, forests,and valleys. Finally we will transfer you to the airport or your accommodation in Fes. End of our services for the 2 Days Fes to Merzouga tour.