5 Days Fes to the Merzouga Desert

Pick-up around 8:00 am at your hotel or riad in Fes (we can also pick you up at the airport). Departure in a private air-conditioned vehicle.

Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”: an alpine town with red roofs, gardens and lakes in the heart of the Middle Atlas.

The Azrou cedar forest, where Barbary macaques live in the wild.

Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas, famous for its apples and minerals.

We stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the way (lunch not included) and for photos at the viewpoints you like best.

Arrival in Midelt in the afternoon and overnight at the accommodation.

Breakfast and departure from Midelt towards the Ziz Valley.

The Ziz Gorges and Valley, a canyon with a vast palm grove considered one of the most beautiful in Morocco.

Erfoud, the capital of dates and fossils: visit to a workshop where they work fossilised marble that is millions of years old.

We stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the way (lunch not included) and for photos at the viewpoints you like best.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Merzouga, where the camel caravan is waiting. We leave the big luggage at the guesthouse and, with a small backpack, cross the Erg Chebbi dunes by camel (approx. 1 h 30 min) as the sun sets over the Sahara. Arrival at the camp, welcome tea, Berber dinner and music around the fire under a sky full of stars.

After watching the sunrise over the dunes and having breakfast, we set off by 4x4 to explore the area around Erg Chebbi.

We visit the village of Khamlia, where Gnawa musicians welcome us with their traditional music; we meet a nomad family in their tent for tea; and we stop at the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji (with flamingos in winter and spring), the old Mifis mines and a fossil site. At midday we have lunch in Rissani or Merzouga (the famous Berber pizza, “madfouna”). In the afternoon there's free time to relax or go sandboarding on the dunes, and at sunset we climb back up the dunes to watch the sun go down. Second night at the camp, with a Berber dinner and music by the fire.

We get up early to watch the sunrise from the top of the dunes. Breakfast at the camp and return by camel (or 4x4) to the guesthouse, where there are showers and we pick up the luggage. Departure towards Rissani.

Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty: its traditional market (the “donkey car park” on market days) and the old ksar.

Erfoud, the capital of dates and fossils: visit to a workshop where they work fossilised marble that is millions of years old.

Errachidia, the gateway to the Tafilalet, with views over the Meski oasis and its blue spring.

Midelt, between the Middle and High Atlas, famous for its apples and minerals.

We stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the way (lunch not included) and for photos at the viewpoints you like best.

Arrival in Midelt in the afternoon and overnight at the accommodation.

Breakfast and departure from Midelt towards Azrou.

The Azrou cedar forest, where Barbary macaques live in the wild.

Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”: an alpine town with red roofs, gardens and lakes in the heart of the Middle Atlas.

Fes, the oldest imperial city and the spiritual capital of Morocco.

We stop for lunch at a local restaurant on the way (lunch not included) and for photos at the viewpoints you like best.

Arrival in Fes in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel, riad or the airport. End of our services. See you soon!