3 days tour is one of the best desert tours you may experience, as the time is enough to cover everything in the south, from the mountains to the vast Sahara desert exploring the forest, gorges and valleys as well as camel trek in the desert. If you are in Fes and desire to explore the vast Sahara desert, please feel free to contact us and we will be glad to plan your best itinerary. Here are two options for the 3 days desert tour, and please know that the itineraries can be edited according to your needs and requirements.
Option 1:
Overview & Highlights:
- See Moroccan Switzerland, the beautiful city of Ifrane.
- Visit the wild monkeys in the cedar forest.
- Explore Midlet and Zaida; two beautiful Berber towns in the middle atlas.
- Take in the scenic views as you cross the Atlas Mountains.
- Enjoy a luxurious drive along Ziz valley, the largest valley in morocco.
- Explore the Sahara desert with an SUV excursion.
- Experience camel trekking in the Sahara desert.
- Watch spectacular sunset in the Erg–chebbi
- Spend an unforgettable night in an authentic Berber camp.
- Visit Rissani and explore its local market.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Atlas Mountains – Ziz valley – Merzouga desert.
Our wonderful desert tour starts from Fes toward the Sahara desert. We will pick you up from your accommodation, making our journey to the south east enjoying the scenic views of the fertile Saiss plain with olive groves as far as the eye can admire, we will pass by Imouzzar, a small beautiful town in the middle atlas which is home of an annually festival of apples.
As we come to pass it we will make a coffee stop in Ifrane, a small ski resort town that is also known as the Swiss village due to its alpine-style architecture. Here you will see yourself transferred to Europe at short notice, in fact here live Austrians, French and wealthy Moroccans, and it’s the most expensive soil in Morocco apart from the big cities.
From there we will drive through the largest cedar forest in Morocco, where you will always find the wild monkeys but they are used to humans and they are happy to be fed, and surprisingly well mannered. The drive continues to Zaida where you will make stop for lunch, enjoying fresh barbecue in one of the many streetside restaurants.
After a quiet stay you will take in the scenery as you cross the Atlas Mountains and enjoying the lush green date and almond trees filling the gorge in Errachidia. Then drive through the luxurious way along Ziz valley, the largest valley in morocco, enjoying panoramic views of the contiguous palm oasis. To Erfoud city, known by its palm trees plantations and fossils expositions.
In the evening we will eventually arrive to the Erg chebbi desert, one of the best Morocco’s highlights. Then check into your hotel on the edge of Erg-chebbi golden dunes before enjoying a traditional dinner.
Overnight in Merzouga.
Day 2: Sahara Desert – Nomadic families – Gnawa village – camel trekking.
In the morning embark on an SUV for an adventure through the Sahara. Our excursion starts with a visit to Hassi labied village and its lush oasis, with palm trees, almonds and olives, which is being watered by an incredible irrigation system for ages and learn about this well-organized system.
Then we will speed through the golden Erg-chebbi dunes, enjoying the panoramic views and taking beautiful pictures. In the middle of Sahara we will make stop for tea with a nomadic family in a tent, their winter home, and see the nomads herd sheep and goats.
After quiet stay with nomads, we will drive and hunt for fossils of aquatic critters in the desert. Because the Sahara was once an ocean 7 million years ago, and there are countless fossils remaining. Next we will visit the Khamlia village, lived by a dark skin people coming from the South African countries from the time their ancestors were brought to the area as slaves. Stop in Dar Gnawa and listen to their entrancing music.
The rhythmic, hypnotic music has long been part of their ceremonies, and has influenced an entire genre that is performed all across Morocco and has even inspired several music festivals. And then you will enjoy lunch with a local family at their home.
In the late afternoon meet your camels for trek into your desert camp, on the way you will enjoy an amazing sunset in the desert before getting to the camp where you will take some time to relax before enjoying a delicious dinner and live Berber music around camp fire under an incredible sky with billions of chining stars.
Overnight in the Sahara desert.
Day 3: Merzouga – Rissani – Errachidia – Midlet – Azrou – Fes.
In the morning wake up early if you would like to watch a wonderful sunrise over the dunes, and then take time for a hot shower and traditional Berber breakfast in the camp. After you will ride back your camels to the village or maybe embark on an SUV if one camel is enough.
From there we will start our journey leaving the Sahara desert taking the way back to Fes, making stop to see the old town of Rissani where you can visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali-Cherif, the final resting place of the current king’s great grandfather and the founder of the current dynasty.
The intricate decor on the entrance gate is reminiscent of the Bab Mansour in Meknes, while the interior courtyard has many flowers and date trees. There you can also explore the local market, which is much more local-oriented than that of Fes and Marrakech.
You will find blacksmiths and woodworkers, mountains of olives and spices, and everything from house wares to electronics. After quiet stay we will continue and pass by Erfoud and Errachidia through the lush Ziz valley and cross the high and middle enjoying the beautiful views until Midlet where you will have lunch, then continue to Azrou, beautiful Berber town known by its market and handicraft cooperatives. In the evening will eventually get to Fes and drop you off in your accommodation where our wonderful tour will end.
Option 2:
Overview & Highlights:
- See Moroccan Switzerland, the beautiful city of Ifrane.
- Visit the wild monkeys in the cedar forest.
- Explore Midlet and Zaida; two beautiful Berber towns in the middle atlas.
- Take in the scenic views as you cross the Atlas Mountains.
- See the stunning Todra gorges.
- Visit Rissani and explore its local market.
- Experience camel trekking in the Sahara desert.
- Watch spectacular sunset in the Erg–chebbi
- Spend an unforgettable night in an authentic Berber camp.
- Enjoy a luxurious drive along Ziz valley, the largest valley in morocco.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Midlet – Atlas Mountains – Todra gorges.
Our wonderful desert tour starts from Fes toward the stunning Todra gorges. We will pick you up from your accommodation, making our journey to the south east enjoying the scenic views of the fertile Saiss plain with olive groves as far as the eye can admire, we will pass by Imouzzar, a small beautiful town in the middle atlas which is home of an annually festival of apples.
As we come to pass it we will make a coffee stop in Ifrane, a small ski resort town that is also known as the Swiss village due to its alpine-style architecture. Here you will see yourself transferred to Europe at short notice, in fact here live Austrians, French and wealthy Moroccans, and it’s the most expensive soil in Morocco apart from the big cities.
From there we will drive through the largest cedar forest in Morocco, where you will always find the wild monkeys but they are used to humans and they are happy to be fed, and surprisingly well mannered. The drive continues to Zaida where you will make stop for lunch, enjoying fresh barbecue in one of the many streetside restaurants.
After a quiet stay you will take in the scenery as you cross the Atlas Mountains enjoying the beautiful views of the Berber villages along the way. In the evening we will arrive to the stunning Todra gorges, the narrowest gorges in morocco, carved from the red rocks of the landscape by a river. Check into your hotel in Todra gorges, where you will spend the night and enjoy your dinner.
Overnight in Todra gorges.
Day 2: Todra gorges – Tinjdad – Erfoud – Rissani – Merzouga desert.
After a leisurely breakfast you will have the opportunity to walk in the famous canyon to experience the rocky world. Then drive out the gorges enjoying the panoramic views along the Todra valley toward Tinjdad, where the road takes you through the Saharan regions and nomadic land, where you will be able to see goat herds and black nomadic tents.
And pass by the village of Jorf, where you will be amazed by the style of the women covered in deep black, which is an Arabic tribe that is settled here. Then we will head down to Erfoud city, known by its palm trees plantations and fossils expositions. On the way to desert and after short drive from Erfoud, we will stop by the old town of Rissani to explore its local market, which is much more local-oriented than that of Marrakech.
You will find blacksmiths and woodworkers, mountains of olives and spices, and everything from house wares to electronics. There you can also visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali-Cherif, the final resting place of the current king’s great grandfather and the founder of the current dynasty.
The intricate decor on the entrance gate is reminiscent of the Bab Mansour in Meknes, while the interior courtyard has many flowers and date trees. In the evening we will eventually arrive to the Sahara desert, one of the best places you may ever seen, which makes it one of Morocco’s best highlights.
Where you will be welcomed by Berber mint tea and homemade Moroccan cookies before meeting your camels for trek into your desert camp, on the way you will enjoy a spectacular sunset in the desert before getting to the camp where you will take some time to relax before enjoying a delicious dinner and live Berber music around camp fire under an amazing starry sky.
Overnight in the Sahara desert.
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz valley – Errachidia – Atlas Mountains – Azrou – Fes.
In the morning wake up early if you would like to watch a wonderful sunrise over the dunes, and then take time for a hot shower and traditional Berber breakfast in an open air at the camp. After you will ride back your camels to the village or maybe embark on an SUV if one camel is enough.
From there we will start our journey leaving the Sahara desert taking the way back to Fes, and pass by Erfoud enjoying the drive along the luxurious way on the edge of the Ziz valley, the largest valley in morocco. At the top end of the valley we will make a short break where you will enjoy the panoramic view of that contiguous date palm oasis.
Then we continue the way and pass by Errachidia, the capital city of that region lies on the edge of the high atlas, offering stunning views of the mountains covered by the snow almost the whole year, and the Berber villages in the plateau between the two atlases. Make stop in Midlet where you will have lunch, then continue to Azrou, beautiful Berber town known by its market and handicraft cooperatives. In the evening will eventually get to Fes and drop you off in your accommodation where our wonderful tour will end.