The Sahara is well within reach of Fes — and starting your desert trip here lets you cross the country to Marrakech rather than doubling back. Here’s how a Fes desert tour works: the route, what’s included, and what it should cost.
From Fes, book the 3-day / 2-night tour to Merzouga — the big Erg Chebbi dunes — usually ending in Marrakech (a one-way desert crossing). It includes the cedar forests near Ifrane, a camel ride, a night in a desert camp, the Todra Gorge and Aït Benhaddou. Go shared to save or private for flexibility; book ahead in spring and autumn.
Your options from Fes
- 3-day one-way (Fes → Merzouga → Marrakech): the best choice — you reach the real dunes and cross the country, ending in Marrakech (or do it in reverse).
- 3-day round trip (back to Fes): same desert, returning north — good if you’re flying out of Fes.
- 2-day round trip: possible but rushed, with most of the time on the road.
What a 3-day Fes → Merzouga → Marrakech tour includes
- Day 1: South from Fes through the cedar forests and Barbary macaques near Ifrane and Azrou, then Midelt and the Ziz Valley to Merzouga for a camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp.
- Day 2: Sunrise over the dunes, then west along the Todra Gorge and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley for the night.
- Day 3: Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, then over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Most tours include transport, the camp and breakfasts and dinners; lunches and drinks are usually extra.
Shared, private or luxury?
- Shared group tour — cheapest and sociable, a minibus on a fixed route.
- Private tour — your own vehicle and driver, flexible stops; great for families.
- Luxury desert camp — the same route with a higher-end camp and better food.
What it costs & when to go
A shared 3-day tour generally runs ~1,200–2,000 MAD (120–200 USD) per person, including the camp and most meals; private and luxury options cost more. Confirm exactly what’s included before booking. Spring and autumn are ideal — see the best time to visit Morocco — and pack layers for hot days and cold desert nights. Doing the reverse direction? See our Marrakech to the Sahara tour guide.
