Many travellers start their Morocco trip in Fes and want to do a desert tour from there. It is a perfectly logical option: Fes has its own international airport, the medina deserves several days of exploration, and the route from Fes to the desert crosses different landscapes than the one from Marrakech. This guide covers everything you need to know about tours from Fes to the Morocco desert: routes, durations, what to expect on each day, and what to consider when booking.
Why start the desert tour in Fes
Fes has its own airport with direct connections to several European cities, which makes it a practical starting point for travellers who don’t want to land first in Casablanca or Marrakech. In addition, Fes is, in our opinion, the most fascinating city in Morocco from a cultural point of view. The medina of Fes el-Bali, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO – Medina of Fez), is the largest car-free urban area in the world and one of the best-preserved medieval cities anywhere. Spending a couple of days in Fes before the desert is an excellent way to understand Moroccan culture in depth.
Route from Fes to Merzouga
The route from Fes to Merzouga crosses the Middle Atlas, which is a different landscape from the High Atlas you cross when leaving Marrakech. The first stop is usually Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco” with its alpine architecture. After that, the road passes through the Azrou cedar forest, where you can see Barbary macaques in their natural habitat at the roadside. Lunch is usually in Midelt, then the descent through the Ziz Gorges to the Tafilalet palm oasis and finally Merzouga at sunset.
Tour options from Fes
3-day round trip from Fes to the desert
This is the most popular option among travellers who want to combine Fes with the desert in a short trip. The first day takes you to Merzouga, the second is the desert day with camel ride and camp, and the third is the return to Fes. Our tours from Private 3-Day Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga include this option in different formats. Three days from Fes works well because the distance is similar to the one from Marrakech to Merzouga.
4-day Fes to Marrakech via desert
If you have flights arriving in Fes and departing from Marrakech, this is the perfect format. In four days you cross the country diagonally without retracing your steps, passing through Merzouga, the Todra Gorges, the Dades Valley, and Ait Benhaddou before arriving in Marrakech. Our Private 4-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes is the route we most often recommend for this type of itinerary.
What to see in Fes before departing for the desert
If you have time before the desert tour, dedicate at least one full day to exploring the Fes medina with a licensed guide. The mandatory stops are: the Chouara tannery (the most photogenic spot in the city), the Bou Inania Madrasa with its extraordinary 14th-century carved decoration, the Al-Qarawiyyin University which is the oldest university in the world still in operation, the Nejjarine Fountain in the carpenters’ quarter, and the Andalusian Quarter. Plan at least 4 to 5 hours for this exploration.
How to book tours from Fes
You can see all our available departures from Fes on the tours from Fes page. We recommend booking with at least four to six weeks of anticipation during the high seasons (spring and autumn). For full information about Morocco as a destination, Visit Morocco Official has updated official information. Visit our blog section for additional articles about routes, regions, and practical advice.
