The 3-day excursion to Merzouga from Fez is ideal if you want to experience the authentic Moroccan Sahara Desert and learn about its people and culture.
Description
Day 1: Fez - Ifrane - Azrou - Erfoud - Merzouga
Leave the hustle and bustle of Fez behind as you head to the small village of Merzouga at 8 am. Cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and its beautiful cedar woods, full of barbary apes. This mountain chain extends 350 kilometres from the southeast to the northeast of Morocco.
On your way, you will admire the city of Ifrane, situated at a height of 5,460 meters above sea level. This town is also known as Morocco’s “Little Switzerland”, because of its architecture and as it is one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the country. Azrou, a charming town in the heart of the Atlas, is also on the route.
Cross the Ziz Valley and dramatic gorges and drive past villages like Midelt and Erfoud. From Erfoud, take a dirt road until you arrive at Merzouga. Here, you will spend the first night in a hotel on the edge of the endless desert.
Day 2: Enjoying Merzouga Desert
On the second day of the excursion, you will visit the most spectacular part of the Eastern Sahara. Board a 4x4 and visit the nomad settlements, various stunning oases and explore the beautiful golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Next, visit the little village of Khamlia, where the Gnawa live. The Gnawa population are descents of Central African slaves and are famous across the world for their beautiful folk music that combines classic Islamic Sufism and their traditions.
In the evening you will be driven back to your hotel where camels will be waiting for you to take you into the heart of the dunes to spend a night in a Berber tent.
Day 3: Rissani - Ziz Valley - Middle Atlas - Fez
Wake up in the dark and sit on top of a dune to witness a breath-taking sunrise. Afterwards, climb back on a camel and return to the small village of Merzouga, where you will have breakfast and a refreshing shower (depending on the type of camp, your breakfast and shower might be before the camel ride).
On your way back to Fez, you will stop at Tafilalt and Rissani. This last city has a fascinating past as it was home to the Alawite dynasty. In the forests of Azrou, you will stop to feed the wild monkeys that live here.
The tour comes to an end in Fez in the late afternoon.
Transport
The tour price includes transportation by Toyota Landcruiser. All vehicles have air-conditioning and your chauffeur will speak English.
Accommodation
We offer this tour with two different hotel categories: standard (2 or 3 stars) and luxury (4 stars).
Standard category:
- Merzouga (first night): Riad Mamouche / Dar Tafouyte.
- Merzouga (second night): Amazigh desert camp
Luxury category:
- Merzouga (first night): Riad Nezha / Merzouga Guest House / Dar el Janoub / Riad Madu / Riad Azawad.
- Merzouga (second night): Luxury desert camp with private bathroom.
Both hotels and tents are double occupancy only, there are no single rooms. You can however ask for a triple room or a family room if you prefer. The standard category rooms have communal showers in the camp, while the superior category rooms have a private bathroom in the haimas and showers in the camp. Also, please keep in mind that the use of air-conditioning in the luxury camps has an additional charge of € 30 (US$ 31.60) per person.
Discounts
This excursion is half the price for children from 5 to 10 years old. If you are travelling with children up to 10, please contact us, so we can apply the discount.
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