4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Fez
Fez → Sahara Desert → Fez
The most direct route to Erg Chebbi and back, for travellers based in Fez with four days rather than a week. The Middle Atlas cedar forests and Ziz Valley palmeries do a lot of the scenic work on the way down.
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Highlights
- The Middle Atlas cedar forests, often with Barbary macaques at the roadside
- The Ziz Valley's palm oases on the way into the desert
- A full day and two nights in the dunes at Erg Chebbi
- Camel trekking at sunset or sunrise, your choice
- Round trip back to Fez rather than a one-way finish
Day by day
A working draft: the order and pace are ours to adjust once we know what matters most to you.
Fez to Merzouga
South through the cedar forests around Ifrane: built during the French protectorate in a deliberately alpine style, and good ground for spotting Barbary macaques, the only monkey species native to North Africa, and Azrou, then down the Ziz Valley's palm oases to Erg Chebbi, arriving for sunset over dunes the wind has piled up to 150 metres high.
About 7-8 hours on the road, roughly 460 km
Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
In the dunes
A full day with no driving. Sandboarding, a visit to a local Gnawa family (Gnawa music traces to West African communities brought north through the trans-Saharan trade), or simply time to sit still, then a shared tagine dinner and drumming around the fire once the sun's down.
No driving today
Desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Merzouga to the Dades Valley
West across the flat hamada and into the Dades Valley, driving part of the 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs' through Skoura's palm groves and, further along, the rose-growing valley around Kelaat M'Gouna, where 3,000–4,000 tonnes of damask rose petals are hand-picked each May.
About 3.5 hours on the road, roughly 180 km
Guesthouse in the gorge
Return to Fez
A long final drive north, retracing the Middle Atlas route through the cedar forests.
About 7 hours on the road, roughly 420 km
Included
- ✓Private car and driver for the full route
- ✓3 nights' accommodation, breakfast included
- ✓1 camel trek and 1 desert camp dinner
Not included
- —International flights
- —Lunches and most dinners
- —Entry fees to monuments
- —Tips for driver and guide
Questions about this route
Ask about this route
Send us your rough dates and what you'd want to change, and we'll come back with a real draft, not a form letter.
Tour at a glance
- Duration
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Transport
- Private car/4x4
- Languages
- English, French
- Availability
- Year-round
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