3-day tour from Fes to Merzouga: 2 nights among the Erg Chebbi dunes

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Fes -> Ifrane -> Azrou forest -> Errachidia -> Merzouga:

You leave Fes early and begin your climb into the mountains. You pass through Ifrane, a winter ski resort built by the French in the 1930s to resemble a Swiss village, very different from typical Moroccan towns. You then continue through the cedar forest near Azrou, where you can see the monkeys, and cross the Middle Atlas mountains.
Most of the day is spent crossing beautiful forests, springs, rocky cliffs and small Berber villages as you travel through the mountains and begin the descent towards the Sahara desert.

Halfway you stop for lunch in Midelt, a town known for its fossils and rocks. After lunch you continue towards Merzouga. Along the way, you stop at a viewpoint to admire an enormous palm oasis.
You reach Merzouga in the afternoon. Depending on your arrival time, you go to a traditional kasbah at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. After a rest and a glass of mint tea, the guide and the camels will be ready to take you across the sandy dunes. You can admire the beautiful sunset while riding your camel.

After about an hour you reach the desert camp, where you spend the night in a Berber tent. At the camp the camels are tied up and more mint tea is served. After a delicious dinner, you can watch the stars before sleeping in the Berber tent.

Day 2

Merzouga -> Berber villages -> nomadic families -> Erg Chebbi desert:

Be sure to wake up early to enjoy the beautiful sunrise in the middle of the desert. Afterwards there is free time for breakfast. Then you return to Merzouga on camelback, where the driver is waiting for you. We spend the day exploring the Merzouga region. This area has many incredible places to see, such as sand dunes, a wild lake, old mines, fossil sites and beautiful oases. These places are perfect for many outdoor activities.

We start in Merzouga with an off-road drive to visit an old kohl (eyeliner) mine. Then we visit the nomads who live in hand-woven tents. You can learn about their life while drinking traditional Berber tea. Next comes the village of Khamlia, where you can watch Gnaoua music and dance performances. The inhabitants come from sub-Saharan countries such as Mali, Sudan and Niger.

There will be free time for lunch in a restaurant. After lunch we take a walk through a palm grove. Then we drive a few kilometres to see the wild lake of Merzouga, also called the flamingo lake. Finally, dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Day 3

Merzouga -> Ziz river -> Middle Atlas -> Fes:

In the morning, after breakfast, we leave the desert and head to Erfoud to visit a workshop that makes objects from fossil marble.
We then follow the Ziz river and stop to enjoy a beautiful view over the Ziz Valley. Afterwards we continue through the cedar forest and pass Ifrane before reaching Fes.
Finally, we drop you off at the airport or your hotel. This marks the end of the tour.