Desert Tours from Fes
From Fes, the Sahara is one long day’s drive: about 8 hours through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley to the dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga. Our Fes desert tours either continue to Marrakech in 3 days or bring you back to Fes, always with your own driver and a night at a desert camp.
Fes is the closest imperial city to Merzouga, so it is the natural starting point for the desert if you arrive in the north, from Tangier, Chefchaouen or Casablanca. The most popular choice is the Fes to Marrakech desert tour, which crosses the country without backtracking.
- Fes to Merzouga
- About 8 h, 470 km
- Tour lengths
- 2 to 4 days
- Ends in
- Marrakech or Fes
- Best months
- Mar–May · Sep–Nov
Desert Routes via Fes
Our Fes to Marrakech desert tour, the same route the other way round, and longer itineraries that pass through Fes and Merzouga.
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3 days3-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour
From Fes over the Middle Atlas to a night in the dunes, then west through the kasbah valleys to Marrakech.Private tour · Price on request -
3 days3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
The desert on the way between two cities: over the Atlas to the Merzouga dunes, then north to Fes.Private tour · Price on request -
8 days8-Day Morocco Itinerary from Marrakech
The loop in reverse, starting in Marrakech, with an extra night to slow down in Fes.Private tour · Price on request -
14 days2-Week Morocco Itinerary from Tangier
The whole country from north to south, starting at the ferry from Spain.Private tour · Price on request
Compare Desert Routes via Fes
| Tour | Length | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Fes to Marrakech Desert Tour | 3 days · 2 nights | Fes → Marrakech | Traveling on from Fes to Marrakech |
| 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour | 3 days · 2 nights | Marrakech → Fes | Traveling on from Marrakech to Fes |
| 8-Day Morocco Itinerary from Marrakech | 8 days · 7 nights | Marrakech → Casablanca | Flying into Marrakech, with time in Fes |
| 2-Week Morocco Itinerary from Tangier | 14 days · 13 nights | Tangier → Essaouira | Arriving from Spain, with time for everything |
Planning a Desert Tour from Fes
There are two ways to see the desert from Fes: one way to Marrakech, or a round trip back to Fes.
Fes to Marrakech in 3 days
The Fes to Marrakech desert tour spends the first day crossing the Middle Atlas to Merzouga, the second in Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley, and the third over the High Atlas via Ait Ben Haddou. It is the route we recommend if you are traveling on.
Round trip from Fes in 2 or 3 days
If you fly home from Fes, we plan a round trip: out through Ifrane and the Ziz Valley, a night in the dunes, and back the next day, about 8 hours each way. A third day, with a second night at Merzouga, makes it far more relaxed. This is tailor-made; ask us for a quote.
What you see on the way
Ifrane, a mountain town built in an alpine style; the cedar forest near Azrou, home to Barbary macaques; Midelt below the Jbel Ayachi; and the Ziz Valley, a canyon filled with date palms. We break the drive at each of them.
Fes Desert Tour Questions
Something else on your mind? Send us your question and a real person on our team answers.
How far is the Sahara from Fes?
Merzouga is about 470 km from Fes, roughly 8 hours of driving with stops in the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley.
Can we do a desert tour from Fes and return to Fes?
Yes. Two days is possible but means 8 hours of driving each day; three days with a second night at Merzouga is more comfortable.
Is the Fes to Marrakech desert tour better than a round trip?
If you are continuing to Marrakech, yes: you see the desert, the Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou without driving the same road twice.
Can we start a desert tour from Fes the day we arrive?
Only with a morning arrival. It is worth spending at least one night in Fes first to see the medina.
From Fes to the Dunes.
Tell us your dates and where you finish. We reply within 24 hours with a private desert trip and a price.