The 4-Day Fes to Merzouga Sahara Desert Journey via Ziz Valley is a relaxed and scenic route that allows travelers to fully enjoy Morocco’s changing landscapes while traveling from the cultural city of Fes to the heart of the Sahara Desert. This journey takes you through the Middle Atlas Mountains, cedar forests, traditional mountain towns, and the famous Ziz Valley, known for its endless palm groves and oasis villages. With extra time compared to shorter tours, this itinerary offers a deeper look into rural Morocco, local lifestyles, and desert life. The tour is ideal for travelers who want a comfortable pace, unforgettable scenery, camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes, and peaceful nights in a desert camp under the stars.
Traveling through the Middle Atlas Mountains
Visiting Ifrane and cedar forests with Barbary monkeys
Scenic drive through the Ziz Valley and palm oases
Exploring traditional desert towns and villages
Camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes
Overnight stay in a Sahara desert camp
Watching sunrise and sunset over the dunes
Enjoying a relaxed and immersive desert journey
Your journey begins in the morning with pickup from your hotel or riad in Fes. Leaving the city, you travel south through the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing green landscapes and fresh mountain air. The first stop is Ifrane, a clean and calm town often called the “Switzerland of Morocco” due to its European-style buildings. You then continue to the cedar forests near Azrou, where you may see Barbary monkeys and enjoy a short walk among the trees. After lunch on the road, you continue toward Midelt, a quiet town located between mountain ranges, where you check in to your hotel, relax, and enjoy dinner before spending the night.
After breakfast, you leave Midelt and begin one of the most scenic drives of the tour. The road descends into the Ziz Valley, famous for its long river, palm groves, and oasis villages. You stop at panoramic viewpoints overlooking the valley to take photos and enjoy the scenery. The journey continues through small towns and desert landscapes until you reach Errachidia, an important regional city near the desert. You check in to your hotel, relax, and enjoy a quiet evening after a day full of beautiful views.
Following breakfast, you continue south through desert towns and wide open landscapes. You pass through Erfoud, known for its fossil workshops and date markets, where you may stop to visit a local workshop. In the afternoon, you arrive in Merzouga, at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Here, you prepare for a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes. Riding your camel through the golden sand, you experience the silence and beauty of the desert while watching the sunset. You then reach your desert camp, where you enjoy dinner, local music, and a peaceful night under the stars.
You wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes, a magical moment that highlights the beauty of the Sahara. After breakfast at the camp, you return to Merzouga village by camel or 4×4. The journey back to Fes begins, passing once again through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas Mountains, with stops along the way for rest, photos, and lunch. In the late afternoon or early evening, you arrive back in Fes, where you will be dropped off at your accommodation, marking the end of your desert journey.
Sahara Desert Tours
Sahara Desert Tours
Sahara Desert Tours
Sahara Desert Tours
Morocco Best Tours is a specialized local travel agency based in Marrakech that focuses on providing private, tailor-made experiences across the Kingdom.
