Description
Overview
This 3-day private tour from Fez to the Sahara takes you through the Middle Atlas, down the Ziz Valley palm oasis, and into the Erg Chebbi dune sea. The centrepiece is a sunset camel trek and a night in a luxury tented camp under the stars.
The third day is a relaxed drive back to Fez along the same route, with photo stops you may have missed on the way down. It suits travellers based in Fez who want the full Sahara experience without committing to a longer one-way circuit.
Tour Highlights
Route Map
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
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Morning pickup from your Fez hotel or riad. You drive south through the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping in Ifrane, often called the "Switzerland of Morocco" for its alpine architecture and pine-scented air, and the cedar forest of Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques sometimes appear.
After lunch in Midelt, you descend the Ziz Valley palm gorge, a deep canyon lined with thousands of date palms, into the pre-Saharan landscape, reaching Merzouga by late afternoon.
Your camels are waiting at the edge of the dunes for the ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset. Dinner is served around the fire with traditional drum music, under a sky filled with stars, at Camp Nomad Palace or a similar luxury camp.
2
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You wake before dawn for sunrise from the highest dune crest, one of the most unforgettable sights in Morocco, then return to camp for a Berber breakfast.
The rest of the day is free to explore the Merzouga region. An optional 4×4 desert excursion can take you to Lake Sirji and its flamingos in season, the Gnawa-rooted village of Khamlia for traditional music, fossil sites, and nomadic encampments, or you can spend the time sandboarding, quad biking, or simply relaxing by the dunes.
A second sunset over the dunes closes the day, with dinner and an overnight stay at the desert camp or a Merzouga hotel, whichever you prefer.
3
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After breakfast, you retrace the route back to Fez through Erfoud, the Ziz Valley palm gorge, Midelt, and the Middle Atlas, with time for photo stops you may have missed on the way down: the Ziz panorama, the Barbary macaques in the cedar forest, the Ifrane viewpoints.
You arrive back in Fez in the late afternoon, with drop-off at your hotel, riad, or Fez-Saïss airport.
What's Included
- Daily breakfast throughout the tour
- Private air-conditioned vehicle (4×4 or minivan)
- Driver-guide for the full duration (your language)
- Fuel, tolls, and all transport-related expenses
- 2 nights in luxury desert camp / Merzouga hotel
- Camel trek in the Sahara · dinner at desert camp
- International and domestic flights
- Lunch and most dinners (unless specified)
- Drinks (water, soft drinks, alcohol)
- Entrance fees to monuments and attractions
- 4×4 excursion, sandboarding, quad biking (optional add-ons)
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
- Warm layer for evenings (desert nights are cold)
- Camera or smartphone and power bank
- Cash (Moroccan dirhams) for tips and entrance fees
Pickup and Departure
Pickup time agreed in advance and adjusted to your schedule. Airport pickups track your flight and adjust for delays.
Languages
Driver-guides are assigned based on your primary language.
