3-day route from Fez to the Sahara Desert
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3-day route from Fez to the Sahara Desert
- Morocco, Fez
3 days / 2 nights
Fez
Fez
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Description
The 3-day route from Fez to the desert takes you to Merzouga to discover some of the most spectacular landscapes in Morocco. You will cross the Middle Atlas, visit Ifrane and the cedar forests, travel through the impressive Ziz Valley and live a unique experience in the Sahara. You will enjoy dromedary rides, meetings with nomad families, Gnawa music in Khamlia and an unforgettable night in traditional tents under the stars, combining nature, culture and adventure.
Highlights
- Dromedary ride over the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Night in nomad tents under the stars
- Cedar forests and monkeys of the Middle Atlas
- The Ziz Valley and its huge palm grove
- Gnawa music in the village of Khamlia
Tour itinerary
Day 01: Fez – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Middle Atlas – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert
Pick-up at your riad in Fez to head south across the Middle Atlas Mountains to Ifrane, known as «Morocco’s little Switzerland» for its strong resemblance to that country. One of the animals that once lived here was the Atlas lion, which has become the symbol of the town, with a stone statue in its center.
We will stop to take some photos. Later we will cross the famous cedar forests, home to the largest ancient cedar in the region, and see the Barbary macaques that live in the area. Lunch in Midelt and in the afternoon we will pass through the Ziz Valley. More than 20 km of palm grove and 10 million palm trees make it one of the largest in the world.
Arrival in the Merzouga desert and welcome tea at our hotel, followed by our first contact with the desert, climbing the nearest dunes and relaxing with a spectacular sunset. Dinner and overnight at a hotel very close to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
Day 02: Merzouga Desert – Nomad families – Night in nomad tents
Today will be a full desert day. After a hearty breakfast, we will drive around Erg Chebbi, the sand sea where Morocco’s Great Dune rises more than 250 meters high, following tracks that were part of the old Paris-Dakar rally, with the mountains on the Algerian border in the background.
We will continue to a nomad settlement where we will learn some of the secrets of their life and customs. Then we will stop at a viewpoint to see Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will reach the village of Khamlia, whose people originally came from Mali, where we will relax with tea while enjoying a small concert of spiritual Gnawa music. Back at the hotel, we will set off on a dromedary caravan into the heart of the dunes to watch an unforgettable sunset.
We will reach the camp on our dromedaries, where we will stay in nomad tents (made of dromedary hair), like those used by the desert nomads. Dinner and night in the tents in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.
Day 03: Merzouga Desert – Ziz Valley – Middle Atlas – Midelt – Fez
«A date with the sunrise»: since you are in the desert, it is worth getting up early to walk to the highest dune around the camp and enjoy the sunrise and this relaxing landscape. We will return by dromedary to the village of Merzouga for breakfast.
Once ready, we will head north through the Tafilalet palm grove, where we will see countless palm trees along 20 km, making it one of the largest palm groves in the world. Crossing it, we will reach the Ziz Valley, named after the river that flows down from the High Atlas and feeds the palm grove. Here we will make an essential stop to see the valley from above and the village of Aoufous.
Planned stop in Midelt, in the heart of the Atlas, to rest and have lunch. In the afternoon we will continue through the Cedar Forest again. Arrival in Fez around 6 p.m., transfer to your riad/hotel in Fez and end of our services, hoping you have had a wonderful time.
Photo gallery
Included / Not included
The price includes
- 1 night in a traditional desert riad with dinner and breakfast
- 1 night in tents with private bathroom in the middle of the desert, with dinner and breakfast
- Private 4×4 vehicle or minibus throughout the route
- Fuel / tolls and all vehicle expenses
- English-speaking driver / guide
- 4×4 route in the desert to visit nomad villages
- Dromedary ride over the dunes (option to reach the camp by 4×4)
- Local party with drums at the camp – Visits to all places listed in the program
- Freedom to make all the stops you want
The price does not include
- Activities not mentioned in the program
- Tips and personal expenses
- Lunches and drinks
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