3 Day Merzouga Desert Private Day Trip

This 3-day day trip to Merzouga from Fez is ideal if you want to experience the authentic Moroccan Sahara Desert and learn about its people and culture.

3-Day Tour Details

Day 1: Fez - Ifrane - Azrou - Erfoud - Merzouga

Leave the hustle and bustle of Fez behind as you head to the small village of Merzouga at 8 am. Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and its beautiful cedar woods, full of barbary apes. This mountain chain extends 350 kilometers from the southeast to the northeast of Morocco.

On your way, you will admire the city of Ifrane, situated at a height of 5,460 meters above sea level. This town is also known as Morocco’s “Little Switzerland”, because of its architecture and as it is one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the country. Azrou, a charming town in the heart of the Atlas, is also on the route.

Cross the Ziz Valley and dramatic gorges and drive past villages like Midelt and Erfoud. From Erfoud, take a dirt road until you arrive at Merzouga. Here, you will spend the first night in a hotel on the edge of the endless desert.

Day 2: Enjoying Merzouga Desert

On the second day of the excursion, you will visit the most spectacular part of the Eastern Sahara. Board a 4x4 and visit the nomad settlements, various stunning oases, and explore the beautiful golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Next, visit the little village of Khamlia, where the Gnawa live. The Gnawa population are descendants of Central African slaves and are famous across the world for their beautiful folk music that combines classic Islamic Sufism and their traditions.

In the evening you will be driven back to your hotel where camels will be waiting for you to take you into the heart of the dunes to spend a night in a Berber tent.

Day 3: Rissani - Ziz Valley - Middle Atlas - Fez

Wake up in the dark and sit on top of a dune to witness a breathtaking sunrise. Afterwards, climb back on a camel and return to the small village of Merzouga, where you will have breakfast and a refreshing shower (depending on the type of camp, your breakfast and shower might be before the camel ride).

On your way back to Fez, you will stop at Tafilalt and Rissani. This last city has a fascinating past as it was home to the Alawite dynasty. In the forests of Azrou, you will stop to feed the wild monkeys that live here.

The day trip comes to an end in Fez in the late afternoon.

Day Trip Transport

The tour price includes transportation by Toyota Landcruiser. All vehicles have air-conditioning and your chauffeur will speak English.

Day Trip Accommodation

We offer this tour with two different hotel categories: standard (2 or 3 stars) and luxury (4 stars).

Standard category:

• Merzouga (first night): Riad Mamouche / Dar Tafouyte.
• Merzouga (second night): Amazigh desert camp

Luxury category:

• Merzouga (first night): Riad Nezha / Merzouga Guest House / Dar el Janoub / Riad Madu / Riad Azawad.
• Merzouga (second night): Luxury desert camp with private bathroom.

At the camp in Merzouga, the standard category haimas can accommodate a maximum of 4 people, while the superior category haimas can accommodate a maximum of 5 people. Both categories have private bathrooms.

The standard and superior camps are completely separate, with differences in the food and in the interior decoration of the haimas. Please note that not all camps have wifi and that air-conditioning in the luxury camps costs an additional 30 EUR per haima.

In addition, in high season, such as Easter or Christmas, you may have to rely on camps with shared bathrooms in the standard category.

In both the hotels and the desert camps, there is no possibility of single occupancy. If you book for a single person, a supplement will be applied. Under no circumstances will you have to share rooms or tents with strangers. If you prefer, there are also triple or family rooms and haimas available, respecting the same differences according to the category.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The tour begins with a pick-up in Fez. You will travel through the Middle Atlas, enjoying scenic views and cultural stops. Transportation will be provided in a comfortable Toyota Landcruiser.

What is included?

• Transportation in a Toyota Landcruiser
• 2 nights of accommodation (hotel and desert camp)
• Camel ride
• Guided visits to key locations
• English-speaking chauffeur

What is not included?

• Meals not mentioned
• Personal expenses
• Air conditioning in luxury camps (extra charge)

Meeting Point

The meeting point is your hotel in Fez, where you will be picked up at the designated time to start this memorable journey.