The Fes to Merzouga route
Distances are approximate from Fes. Every organised tour follows this road; what changes is how long the driver lets you stay at each stop.
- 01
Ifrane · ~65 km
A 1,650 m alpine-style town built in the 1930s — pitched roofs, parks, and the cleanest air of the trip. A coffee stop, not a sight.
- 02
Azrou cedar forest · ~80 km
Atlas cedar forest where Barbary macaques gather by the road. Drivers stop here; please don't feed them.
- 03
Midelt · ~200 km
Apple country between the Middle and High Atlas, around 1,500 m. The usual lunch stop.
- 04
Tizi n'Talghamt pass · ~230 km
The last pass, about 1,900 m. After it, the land turns from green to mineral.
- 05
Ziz Gorges & Ziz Valley · ~300 km
A red canyon that opens into one of Morocco's longest palm groves. The best photo stop on the route.
- 06
Erfoud & Rissani · ~420 km
Fossil workshops in Erfoud; the old caravan market town of Rissani, near the ruins of Sijilmasa. Last ATM before the dunes.
- 07
Merzouga · ~470 km
Village on the western edge of Erg Chebbi. Camel trek to camp at sunset.
2 days or 3 days from Fes?
Three common versions of the trip, and who each one suits.
| 2 days Fes → Fes | 3 days Fes → Marrakech | 3 days Fes → Fes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving | ~16 h in 2 days | ~19 h over 3 days | ~16 h over 3 days |
| Nights | 1 in camp | 1 camp + 1 Dades/Todra | 2 in Merzouga |
| Sees | Ziz Valley, Erg Chebbi | Erg Chebbi, Todra, Dades, Ait Ben Haddou | Erg Chebbi in depth, Khamlia |
| Ends in | Fes | Marrakech | Fes |
| Best for | Tight schedules | Most travellers | Slow travel, photography |
Prices for Fes departures are usually in the same range as the equivalent Marrakech circuits. See the desert tour price index for current medians, and the camp guide for what the camp night includes at each price.
Three things that make the Fes route better
Leave Fes early. Tours that leave at 7–8 am reach Merzouga in time for the camel trek at sunset. A late start means arriving in the dark and missing the one moment the whole drive is built around.
Withdraw cash in Erfoud or Rissani. There are no reliable ATMs in Merzouga or the camps, and tips for drivers, camel handlers and camp staff are expected in cash.
Pack for two climates. In winter the Middle Atlas can be cold or snowy in the morning, and the desert hot by afternoon and near freezing at night. Our desert packing list covers both.
Fes to Merzouga: frequently asked questions
How far is Merzouga from Fes?
About 470 km, or 7–8 hours of driving with normal stops. The road crosses the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and Midelt, then follows the Ziz Valley south through Errachidia, Erfoud, and Rissani. It is fully paved and in good condition. Fes is about 90 km closer to Merzouga than Marrakech is.
Is a 2-day desert tour from Fes worth it?
It works better than a 2-day tour from Marrakech, because the drive is shorter, but it is still about 16 hours in the vehicle for one evening in the dunes. If you can add a day, the 3-day tour that ends in Marrakech is the better trip: you see the Todra and Dades gorges and Ait Ben Haddou without driving any road twice.
Can I go from Fes to Merzouga and end in Marrakech?
Yes, and it is the route most experienced travellers recommend. Day 1 drives Fes to Merzouga with a camp night in Erg Chebbi. Day 2 goes west through the Todra Gorge to the Dades Valley. Day 3 continues via Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou over the Tizi n'Tichka pass into Marrakech. Many operators sell this as a standard 3-day one-way tour.
Is there a bus from Fes to Merzouga?
Yes. CTM and Supratours run buses from Fes to Merzouga, typically overnight, taking around 8–10 hours. From Merzouga village you can book a camel trek and camp night directly with a local operator. It is the cheapest way to do the trip, but you miss the stops a driven tour makes on the way.
What is the best time to do the Fes to Merzouga tour?
October–November and March–April. In December–February the Middle Atlas around Ifrane and Midelt can see snow and the desert nights approach freezing. In July and August Merzouga regularly passes 40 °C. Spring can bring sandstorms in the desert, usually for a day or two at a time.