Sahara · 3 days
3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga and Back
Two nights by the Erg Chebbi dunes, with a full day around Merzouga
Any date, private. We confirm by email within 24 hours. No deposit to get a quote.
Duration
3 days
Group size
2–6 travellers
Difficulty
Moderate
Languages
English, French, Spanish, Arabic
Departs
Any date, private
Overview
A private 3-day round trip from Fes to Merzouga, about 460 km each way: a night in a guesthouse by the dunes, a full day around Erg Chebbi with Rissani market and Gnawa music in Khamlia, then a camel ride to a desert camp before the drive back.
The 2-day version spends most of its time in the car. This one keeps the same two long drives — about 460 km and 7–8 hours each way via Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz Valley — but adds a full day in between so you actually experience the desert, not just a night in it.
On day two you visit the ksour and covered market of Rissani (busiest on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday), listen to Gnawa musicians in the village of Khamlia, and see the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji when there's water. In the late afternoon you ride camels into Erg Chebbi, whose dunes reach around 150 m, for a night in camp. Day three returns to Fes.
Trip highlights
- Two nights at Merzouga: a guesthouse by the dunes and a desert camp
- Full day around Erg Chebbi without long drives
- Rissani's ksour and covered market
- Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia
- Sunset camel ride and sunrise in the dunes
- Middle Atlas, Ifrane and the Ziz Valley on the way
Private · any date
Price on requestYour fixed price, in writing.
We confirm by email within 24 hours. No deposit to get a quote.
- Duration
- 3 days
- Group
- 2–6 travellers
- Level
- Moderate
- Guide
- English, French, Spanish, Arabic
How quoting works
Send your date and group size
This trip is filled in for you. Add the day you'd like and where you're staying.
Get a fixed price in writing
We send a written itinerary and a fixed price. We confirm by email within 24 hours.
A 30% deposit confirms
Cancellation and refunds follow Serenity Morocco Tours' booking terms.
- Riad or hotel pickup included
- WhatsApp support during your trip
- Private trips, operated by Serenity Morocco Tours
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Fes → Fes
- 1
Day 1 · Fes – Ifrane – Midelt – Merzouga
Ifrane · Azrou · Ziz Valley07:00 pickup, through Ifrane, the cedar forest and Midelt to the Ziz Valley. Arrive at your guesthouse by the dunes in the late afternoon.
Guesthouse at the edge of Erg Chebbi D - 2
Day 2 · Rissani, Khamlia & the dunes
Rissani · Khamlia · Erg ChebbiMorning at Rissani's market and ksar, then Gnawa music and tea in Khamlia. Late-afternoon camel ride into the dunes for sunset and a night in camp.
Private tent, desert camp in Erg Chebbi B · D - 3
Day 3 · Merzouga – Fes
Errachidia · Midelt · IfraneSunrise from the dunes, breakfast, and the drive back north. Arrive in Fes around 19:00.
B
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 5 destinations.
Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Fes
The world's largest car-free medieval city — and the launch point for Volubilis, Meknes and the Middle Atlas.
Open guideErg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
Sahara & Merzouga
The real Sahara: 150m dunes and camps under the stars — honestly, not a day trip from anywhere.
Open guide
Middle Atlas · Ifrane Province
Ifrane
Morocco's 'Little Switzerland' — an easy cedar-forest day trip from Fes, with wild Barbary macaques en route.
Open guide
Middle Atlas · High Atlas crossroads
Midelt
The apple-country crossroads between the two Atlas ranges — the overnight that breaks the long Fes–Sahara drive.
Open guideTafilalt oasis · Drâa-Tafilalet
Rissani
The historic gateway to Merzouga — a half-day from the dunes, deep in the Sahara and far from any city.
Open guideThe route
Map of 3-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga and Back
8 stops across Sahara. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Fes
Start
- 2
Ifrane
Middle Atlas
- 3
Midelt
Lunch
- 4
Merzouga
Night 1
- 5
Rissani
Market
- 6
Khamlia
Gnawa music
- 7
Erg Chebbi camp
Night 2
- 8
Fes
Finish
What's included
- Private English-speaking driver-guide and air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan throughout
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
- Breakfast and dinner as noted (B · D)
- Hotel or riad pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water on board and WhatsApp support during the trip
- Camel ride to and from the desert camp (about 1–1.5 hours each way)
- Night in a private tent at a desert camp with bedding and bathroom facilities
- Gnawa music visit in Khamlia
Not included
- Lunches and drinks (budget about MAD 100–150 per lunch)
- Entrance fees and local guides at monuments unless noted
- Travel insurance
- Tips for the driver, guides and camp staff
What to bring
Pack light, pack smart.
- A small overnight bag — main luggage stays in the vehicle at the camel station
- Warm layers: desert nights drop close to freezing from December to February
- Scarf or cheche to cover your face against wind-blown sand
- Head torch, sunglasses and SPF 30+
- Closed shoes or sandals you don't mind filling with sand
- Cash in dirhams for lunches, drinks and tips
Frequently asked
Questions about this tour.
Is it worth going from Fes to the Sahara and back?
Yes, if you give it three days. The drive is about 7–8 hours each way, so the extra day around Merzouga is what makes the trip worthwhile.
What's the difference between this and the 2-day trip?
The same drives, plus a full day at Merzouga and a second night. You see Rissani and Khamlia and aren't rushing straight from the car onto a camel.
Can we sleep in the camp both nights?
Yes. We use a guesthouse on night one by default so you have a proper shower after the drive, but two camp nights are easy to arrange.
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