Private tours · Fes departures
Fes Desert Tours: Private Sahara Trips to Merzouga, Back to Fes or On to Marrakech
Our Fes desert tours are private trips of 2 to 7 days from Fes to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga: three return to Fes, and four continue across the south to finish in Marrakech. They suit couples, families and small private groups.
Sahara Desert Tours from Fes at a Glance
Every tour on this page starts in Fes and reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga; the 2-, 3- and 7-day round trips return to Fes, while the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day tours finish in Marrakech.
These are Fes departures, not Casablanca or Tangier tours that pass through Fes. They differ in length, where you finish, how many nights you spend near Merzouga, and how much of the south you see on the way, so the comparison below and the cards that follow are the fastest way to decide.
Round trips back to Fes
The 2-day and 3-day tours go to Merzouga and back; the 7-day tour loops through Marrakech and Rabat before returning to Fes.
Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara
The 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day tours cross the desert and the gorges and finish in Marrakech, so you don't double back.
One or two nights near Merzouga
The 4- and 5-day tours include two camp nights; the 3-day round trip and 6-day tour add a hotel night in Merzouga to one camp night; the others have one camp night.
Merzouga on every route
All seven tours cross the Middle Atlas to Merzouga, which the Moroccan National Tourist Office calls
"one of the gates of the Sahara"— Moroccan National Tourist Office (Visit Morocco), Errachidia-Midelt-Merzouga
That is why every Fes route heads east to Erg Chebbi rather than south to Zagora.
Sources: Moroccan National Tourist Office, Errachidia-Midelt-Merzouga · UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Medina of Fez · UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou. Neither organisation endorses any tour operator.
Fes Desert Tour Packages Side by Side
The table compares all seven tours by length, route, finish city, nights near Merzouga and the kind of traveller each suits; the detailed cards follow below.
| Tour | Duration | Main route | Start → finish | Desert nights | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Day Fes to Merzouga Round Trip | 2 days · 1 night | Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga → Fes | Fes → Fes | 1 camp night | Only two days |
| 3-Day Fes Desert Round Trip | 3 days · 2 nights | Fes → Midelt → Merzouga → Khamlia → Erg Chebbi → Fes | Fes → Fes | 1 Merzouga hotel + 1 camp night | Returning to Fes with a desert day |
| 3-Day Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga | 3 days · 2 nights | Fes → Merzouga → Todra → Dadès → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech | Fes → Marrakech | 1 camp night + 1 Dadès hotel | Continuing to Marrakech quickly |
| 4-Day Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara | 4 days · 3 nights | Fes → Merzouga (2 nights) → Todra → Dadès → Marrakech | Fes → Marrakech | 2 camp nights | Two desert nights, ending in Marrakech |
| 5-Day Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga | 5 days · 4 nights | Fes → Merzouga (2 nights) → Dadès → Marrakech (+ guided day) | Fes → Marrakech | 2 camp nights | Desert time plus Marrakech |
| 6-Day Culture and Desert Tour from Fes | 6 days · 5 nights | Fes → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi → Dadès → Ouarzazate → Marrakech | Fes → Marrakech | 1 Merzouga night + 1 camp night | A gentler pace to Marrakech |
| 7-Day Morocco Tour from Fes | 7 days · 6 nights | Fes → Midelt → Merzouga → Dadès → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech → Rabat → Meknes → Fes | Fes → Fes | 1 camp night | Returning to Fes after Marrakech |
Compare Fes Desert Tours
There are seven verified private desert tours from Fes; each card shows the duration, finish city, route and nights near Merzouga, and links to the full itinerary.
2-Day Fes to Merzouga Round Trip
Fes → Ifrane → Midelt → Merzouga → Fes
- Duration
- 2 days
- Ends in
- Fes
- Nights
- 1 night
- Desert stay
- 1 camp night
The fastest Fes to Sahara trip: a sunset camel trek and one night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, then straight back to Fes. Long drives on both days.
Price: request a private quote
3-Day Fes Desert Round Trip
Fes → Midelt → Merzouga → Khamlia → Erg Chebbi → Fes
- Duration
- 3 days
- Ends in
- Fes
- Nights
- 2 nights
- Desert stay
- 1 Merzouga hotel + 1 camp night
Adds a full day around Merzouga to the 2-day trip, with Khamlia, the Mifis mines and an oasis before the camp night, then back to Fes.
Price: request a private quote
3-Day Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga
Fes → Merzouga → Todra → Dadès → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
- Duration
- 3 days
- Ends in
- Marrakech
- Nights
- 2 nights
- Desert stay
- 1 camp night + 1 Dadès hotel
The quickest Fes to Marrakech crossing via the Sahara: one night in the dunes, the Todra and Dadès gorges, and Aït Ben Haddou on the way.
Price: request a private quote
4-Day Fes to Marrakech via the Sahara
Fes → Merzouga (2 nights) → Todra → Dadès → Marrakech
- Duration
- 4 days
- Ends in
- Marrakech
- Nights
- 3 nights
- Desert stay
- 2 camp nights
The 3-day route plus a full desert day around Merzouga with a Gnawa village and nomad families, and a second night at camp.
Price: request a private quote
5-Day Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga
Fes → Merzouga (2 nights) → Dadès → Marrakech (+ guided day)
- Duration
- 5 days
- Ends in
- Marrakech
- Nights
- 4 nights
- Desert stay
- 2 camp nights
Two nights in the dunes with a full desert day, the gorges and Aït Ben Haddou, and a guided day in Marrakech at the end.
Price: request a private quote
6-Day Culture and Desert Tour from Fes
Fes → Merzouga → Erg Chebbi → Dadès → Ouarzazate → Marrakech
- Duration
- 6 days
- Ends in
- Marrakech
- Nights
- 5 nights
- Desert stay
- 1 Merzouga night + 1 camp night
A slower crossing with a full desert day, a night in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou, and a guided day in Marrakech.
Price: request a private quote
7-Day Morocco Tour from Fes
Fes → Midelt → Merzouga → Dadès → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech → Rabat → Meknes → Fes
- Duration
- 7 days
- Ends in
- Fes
- Nights
- 6 nights
- Desert stay
- 1 camp night
A full loop back to Fes: the desert, the gorges and kasbahs, a night in Marrakech, then Rabat, Volubilis and Meknes on the way home.
Price: request a private quote
How to Choose a Desert Tour from Fes
Choose by how many days you have, whether you want to return to Fes or finish in Marrakech, and how many nights you want near Merzouga.
Which Fes desert tour should I choose?
Choose the 2-day round trip if you only have two days, the 4-day Fes to Marrakech tour if you want two camp nights and to finish in Marrakech, or the 7-day tour if you want to return to Fes after seeing Marrakech.
Is a 2-day Fes desert tour worth it?
A 2-day tour is worth it if you only have two days, but most of both days is spent driving and your desert time is the evening and early morning around one camp night.
Can I finish my desert tour in Marrakech?
Yes, the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day tours finish in Marrakech, so you can continue your trip there instead of returning to Fes.
How many nights can I spend near Merzouga?
You can spend up to two nights near Merzouga on these tours: two camp nights on the 4- and 5-day tours, or a hotel night plus a camp night on the 3-day round trip and the 6-day tour.
Should I see Fes before the desert?
Yes, plan at least a day in Fes before you leave, because these tours depart in the morning and don't include a Fes city day; UNESCO says the medina has kept its role as
"the country's cultural and spiritual centre."— UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Medina of Fez
That is the reason to arrive a day early rather than going straight to the desert.
Which tours include Aït Ben Haddou?
The 3-day Fes to Marrakech tour and the 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-day tours visit Aït Ben Haddou, which UNESCO describes as
"a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco."— UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
The 2-day and 3-day round trips go straight back to Fes from the desert and don't include it.
What Fes Desert Tours Include
The tours list private transport with a driver, desert-camp accommodation, a camel ride, and dinners and breakfasts; flights, lunches, drinks and entrance fees are not included.
Vehicle type, driver language, hotel standards and extras such as a 4×4 desert excursion vary by itinerary, so check each tour's inclusions. Some Fes to Marrakech tours list "pick up / drop off from Fes" even though they finish in Marrakech; we confirm your exact pickup and drop-off points in your proposal before you book. You can ask about Fes pickup, request a family desert tour, or ask to avoid camel riding when you enquire. See our Merzouga desert page for camp options.
Why Plan Your Fes Desert Tour with Us
Moroccan Desert Trips is a local, Berber-run team that plans private desert journeys, speaks English, French and Spanish, and adapts routes, start and finish cities to your plans.
Locally planned Morocco journeys
Routes planned by our own team in Morocco.
Flexible start and finish cities
Return to Fes or finish in Marrakech, or ask for another city.
A clear itinerary before you book
You receive a day-by-day proposal and price to review first.
Reviews you can check
Read what travellers say on our TripAdvisor page.
Fes Desert Tours FAQs
All our Fes desert tours are private, last 2 to 7 days, and reach the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga.
Are these tours private?
Yes, every tour on this page is private. Only your group travels in the vehicle, with your own driver-guide.
Where are you picked up in Fes?
You are picked up at your riad or hotel in Fes, or at Fes airport where the tour lists it. We confirm the exact point in your proposal.
Do all Fes desert tours return to Fes?
No, the 2-, 3- and 7-day round trips return to Fes; the 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day Fes to Marrakech tours finish in Marrakech.
Which desert do these tours visit?
All of them visit Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes.
How much does a private desert tour from Fes cost?
The price depends on your dates, group size, route and accommodation, so we quote each tour individually. Request a quote through the form.
Can I customise my Fes itinerary?
Yes, you can change the length, stops, accommodation and finish city. Tell us your plans in the form.
Do you run small group tours?
Our tours are private; if you'd like to travel as a small group of friends or family, tell us your group size when you enquire.
How do I book?
You book by sending the form with your dates, group size and preferred tour. You can also email or WhatsApp us.
Private tour enquiry
Request a Fes Desert Tour Quote
To book, send us your travel dates, group size and preferred tour through the form, and we'll reply with a private itinerary and price.
What to include
- Your travel dates, and your riad or hotel in Fes
- Number of travellers, and children's ages
- Preferred tour or length
- Where you want to finish: Fes or Marrakech
- Accommodation preferences, and whether to avoid camel riding
How it works
- 1Send your detailsUse the form, email or WhatsApp.
- 2Get your proposalWe reply with a private itinerary and price.
- 3Adjust and confirmChange anything you like before you book.
Send your trip details
Private tours only — your group, your dates.
By sending the form you agree to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
Start Planning Your Fes Desert Tour
Choose a tour above or tell us your plans, and we'll send a private itinerary with your pickup and finish city confirmed.