Desert Tour From Fes 4Days

Fez – Cedar Forest – Midelt – Merzouga/Erg Chebbi

Depart after breakfast, Your driver will pick up from hotels or riads

Leave the fertile plains of the north and as you head south to the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, climb through dense cedar forests around Ifrane and Azrou with possible sightings of Barbary Apes. Travel through the rich Middle Atlas valleys with prosperous orchards and popular markets, then the road continues to climb, leading to remote high barren plateaus of the rugged High Atlas Mountains. This is an awesome drive. Lunch en-route, possibly at Midelt.  Once over the mountains, the road descends to the south, following the green Ziz Valley renowned for its extensive date palmeries, and famous date festival at the end of October. The road becomes flat and dusty, a sure sign you have arrived in the dry historic Tafilalt region and soon the dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga come into view. Leave your vehicle and transfer to your camels for a sunset ride to the desert camp. You will be served hot mint tea on arrival at the camp, a symbol of Moroccan hospitality, before enjoying a traditional tagine meal and Berber entertainment round the campfire after your meal under the startling night sky.

Accommodation at Desert.(erg chebbi) marzoga.

Note: 4×4 transfer to the camp will be available if preferred to camel ride. Discus with driver/guide.

Erg Chebbi/ Merzouga – Rissani – Khamlia – Erg Chebbi (New Year’s Eve!)

After breakfast in your camp, enjoy a tour of the local area with your driver/guide, driving first to Rissani.  This is a dry, arid, flat and often dusty land, once terminus for large camel caravans crossing the Sahara from Tombouctou and beyond and from where much of Morocco’s important early history comes from. Visit the Ksar Akbar, the ancient ruins/town of Sijilmassa, and the Zaouia (Shrine) of Moulay Ali Shereef. Possible visit to local Berber family.  Before returning to Merzouga, visit the small village of Khamlia to enjoy some time with the famous local Gnaoua musicians who will play their distinctive music from the sub-Sahara for you.  A memorable stop. Lunch along the road to try some of the local specialties for lunch.  Arriving back at Merzouga, return to your luxury camp for another night of unforgettable Berber desert hospitality. New Year’s Eve in the desert may be memorable. This day is flexible, discuss with driver departure time from camp and activities.

Accommodation at Desert (erg chebbi) marzoga,

Erg Chebbi – Todra Gorge – Tinjdad

Watch the sunrise over the quiet desert as you have your breakfast at the luxury camp, then ride your camels/4×4 back to the hotel to rejoin your driver/guide, depart in your vehicle approx. 9.30am. 

Driving through this ancient arid Tafilalt region, head north to the Todra Gorge. The Todra Gorge is a dramatic deep cleft in the High Atlas Mountains, with steep sides and narrow riverbed, and a mecca for climbers and trekkers with its challenging cliffs and many hiking trails.  There will be time for exploring this narrow chasm of the gorge and perhaps take a drive beyond the narrow section. Lunch near here. After exploring this area, drive to historic Kasbah El Khorbat. The village and Kasbah were listed in February 2023 among the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s top 32 rural destinations for “bringing income and new jobs to their people while being sensitive to community-based values and products. The villages on this list also had to show a commitment to innovation and sustainability – economic, social and environmental.

Accommodation at your hotel.

Tinjdad – Er Rachidia – Ziz Valley – High & Middle Atlas Mountains – Midelt – Fez

Depart 8.30am. Depart after breakfast. Skirting the Tafilalt region, drive north again following the verdant Ziz Valley renowned for its dates and vast palmeries. Possible stop to visit date palmery, depending on time. Climbing ever higher, pass through narrow valleys and high plateaus of the High Atlas again with spectacular high pasture areas and rugged peaks – awesome and remote. Reaching the fertile mountain valleys of the Middle Atlas around Midelt, enjoy lunch. Near Azrou and the Swiss alpine-like town of Ifrane the scenery changes again with hills clad in dense pine, oak and cedar forests – and possible sighting of Barbary Apes.  Arrive Fez late afternoon at your accommodation where this tour will end.