This desert tour takes long journeys and long drive but is ideal for the people who are in Fes and desire to explore the Sahara desert but don’t have much time. As Morocco is a big country with lot of things and places to explore, this tour can’t cover everything. We recommend 3days and 4days desert tour to see many things, and enjoy so much your trip.
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, and please know that the itineraries can be edited according to your needs and requirements.
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.
- Experience camel trekking in the Sahara desert.
- Watch spectacular sunset in the Erg–chebbi
- Spend an unforgettable night in an authentic Berber camp.
- Visit Ouarzazate city, the gate of the Sahara desert and the Hollywood of Africa.
- Discover Aït Ben Haddou Ksar; UNESCO world heritage site.
- Cross the high Atlas Mountains and Tizi-N-Tichka pass (2260m of Altitude).
Itinerary:
Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Midlet – Ziz valley – Erfoud – Merzouga desert.
Our desert tour starts from Fes toward the Sahara desert with you after you have been picked up from your accommodation, then we drive 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, 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 2: Merzouga – Dades valley – Ouarzazate – Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech.
The morning in the Sahara desert is incredible; you will be amazed by a wonderful sunrise over the golden dunes.
Then you will enjoy a traditional breakfast in the camp before you ride back your camels or embark in an SUV if one camel is enough, to the village where we will meet you and make our journey toward Marrakech, passing by Erfoud and Jorf, a village where you will be amazed by the style of the women covered in deep black, which is an Arabic tribe that is settled here.
The drive continues to Tinjdad and Tinghir through the Saharan regions and nomadic land, where you will be able to see goat herds and black nomadic tents. Then through the road of thousand Kasbahs passing by Dades and roses valleys to Ouarzazate, the gate of the Sahara and also known as the Hollywood of Africa, due to its largest studio which is home for many films such as Gladiator and the Game of Thrones.
From there we head up to Aït Ben Haddou Ksar, the UNESCO world heritage site since 1987, this little old town located in the former route of the caravan trade between the Sahara desert and Marrakech, the Ksar is now often used as a filming location for movies such as The Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. After short break we will drive through the breathtaking landscapes of the High Atlas to Marrakech and drop off in your accommodation, there our tour unfortunately ends.