Three days links Ouarzazate and Fes by way of the desert, with a full day in the Merzouga region between the drives. You visit the Todra Gorge, then head to the Merzouga Sahara, where you ride camels, take in the sunset and sunrise, and spend a night in a desert camp. A full day is given to exploring the Sahara by 4×4. You then visit the Rissani market and Erfoud, the fossils town, and finish through Ifrane and the cedar forest, home to the Barbary macaques. The tour ends in Fes.
You drive from Ouarzazate through the Todra Gorge to Merzouga on the first day, with a camel trek to the camp. The second day is given to the Merzouga region by 4×4, with nomads, Khamlia, and the flamingo lake. The last day runs north through Rissani, Erfoud, the Ziz Valley, the cedar forest, and Ifrane to Fes.
You are collected from your accommodation or the airport in Ouarzazate early in the morning, then drive through the Todra Valley, a grand, red-walled canyon, with time to wander the gorge. You then drive through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. Free time for lunch on the way.
In the afternoon you reach the Sahara at Merzouga and switch to camels to cross the sand, with a stop on a high dune for the sunset. You continue to the luxury camp for Berber drum music and dancing around the fire under a wide sky of stars. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Approx. 6 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
After breakfast the day is given to exploring the Merzouga desert (Erg Chebbi) — sand dunes, a seasonal wild lake, fossil sites, small mines, and oases.
You start with an off-road drive to an old kohl (eyeliner) mine, then visit nomads in their woven tents over Berber tea. You continue to Khamlia for Gnaoua music and dance. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon you stroll through a palm grove and drive to the wild lake of Merzouga, the flamingo lake.
Later you switch to camels to cross the dunes, stopping on a high dune for the sunset, then continue to the luxury camp for Berber drumming under a sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight in the camp.
Approx. 2 hours driving · Overnight: Luxury desert camp, Merzouga
Wake early for the sunrise in the middle of the desert. You return by camel to Merzouga, then leave for Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet, with a large souk (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays). After the souk you continue to Erfoud for a fossilised-marble workshop.
Afterwards you drive along the Ziz river, stopping for a view of the Ziz Valley. Free time for lunch in Midelt. You continue to the cedar forest of the Barbary macaques, then visit Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco. Finally you are dropped off at the airport or your accommodation in Fes. To finish in Marrakech instead, consider the 3-day from Ouarzazate to Marrakech.
Approx. 7 hours driving
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It is a private experience: only the travellers who make the enquiry take part, with no one else joining. Our focus is on high-quality, personalised trips, which is why we mainly run private tours.
The camel ride runs from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on which camp you stay in. If you’d rather not ride, the camp has a 4×4 that carries people and luggage in and out. ATVs can also be arranged at extra cost.
The tent at the luxury camp is private and has a private bathroom with hot running water.
Either an SUV (4×4) or a minivan, both air-conditioned. The 4×4 is a Land Cruiser Prado (up to 4 passengers); minivans are a Mercedes Vito Tourer, Ford Tourneo, or similar (up to 8 passengers). For groups larger than 8, a minibus for up to 18 can be provided.
Yes, though it involves roughly 6 and 7 hours of driving a day. The vehicles are new and comfortable and we make regular stops, but if you aren’t used to this amount of travel you may prefer a longer or customised tour.
