- Home
- Tours
Best Morocco Desert Tours From Fes
Experience Journey from Fes with Great Desert Tours
Looking to experience the majesty of the Sahara desert on an unforgettable tour from Fes? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to plan the perfect Fes desert tour. With tips on choosing your tour and top desert destinations near Fes, you’ll be ready to book an amazing Sahara adventure.
The imperial city of Fes is a fascinating destination in itself, with its sprawling medieval medina and intricate monuments. But the desert landscapes surrounding Fes offer even more magic and mystery. Spending a night under the starry Sahara skies, riding camels through massive sand dunes, and visiting historic kasbahs are bucket list experiences for many travelers.
Booking a guided Fes desert tour with Great Desert Tours makes exploring the Sahara easy and comfortable. Read on for how to choose the best tour for your travel style and budget.
How to Choose the Best Fes Desert Tour?
With so many tour companies offering Fes desert tours, it can be tricky to select the right one. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Destination – Popular desert destinations from Fes include Erg Chebbi, Erg Chegaga, and M’hamid. Each has distinct landscapes.
- Duration – Tours range from quick 1-day jaunts to week-long adventures. Choose based on your timeline.
- Inclusions – Compare what’s included like accommodation, transport, food, tour guides, camel rides, etc.
- Group vs private – Group tours are cheaper but private tours are more flexible.
- Reviews – Check independent reviews on TripAdvisor and trustworthy blogs.
Reputable operators like Great Desert Tours offer a variety of excellent Fes desert tour packages. Read on for a complete guide to the top desert destinations and tours from Fez.
Top Fes Desert Tour Destinations
Erg Chebbi Desert
The iconic Erg Chebbi sand dunes are the top Sahara destination for Fes desert tours. Spanning 22 kilometers near the frontier town of Merzouga, these monumental golden dunes rise up to 150 meters tall.
In the morning and evening, the play of light and shadow on the dunes creates unbeatable photo opportunities. Beneath Erg Chebbi lies an underground lake that filters up and keeps the sand pristine. Riding camels through these massive dunes is an absolute must.
Beyond the dunes, Merzouga offers a charming guesthouse stay. You can visit nomad families in nearby Khamlia village, try regional Berber pizza, and enjoy music from traditional Gnawa musicians.
The exquisite luxury tented camps around Merzouga add to its appeal.
Erg Chigaga Dunes
For those seeking remote Saharan vistas, Erg Chigaga is one of Morocco’s most spectacular hidden gems. Located 56 kilometers west of the city of M’hamid, these are the tallest dunes in Morocco, reaching an imposing 180 meters.
Their imposing size and ridges spreading to the horizon create phenomenally photogenic scenery. Far from tourist crowds, the silence here is profound. Spending a night at a desert camp in Erg Chigaga is a peaceful, true desert experience.
Beyond peaceful dunes, highlights near M’hamid include seeing ancient rock carvings, visiting nomad families, and seeing the contrast of desert meeting the Draa Valley oasis.
Zagora Desert
The small desert town of Zagora makes a convenient base for Fes travelers to reach the dunes of Tinfo and Tinfou. These small, red Saharan dunes have a beautiful rugged landscape.
Camel riding and glamping here have a more adventurous, wild feel compared to Merzouga. Bonuses near Zagora include seeing centuries-old kasbahs and ksours along the Draa Valley. The historic site of Ouzina and rock engravings at Tamegroute are rewarding side trips.
With less tourist infrastructure than Merzouga, Zagora offers intrepid desert-lovers an off-the-beaten-path Sahara experience.
Agafay Desert
The little-visited Agafay Desert just 35 kilometers from Marrakech is an easier Sahara option for those short on time. Spending a night at a luxury desert camp here offers a taste of Saharan landscapes without long drives.
The red rock and black lava landscape is dotted with tamarisk trees, offering beautiful hikes and cycling routes. Activities like quad biking, sandboarding, camel rides, and stargazing mean there’s no shortage of fun.
While easier to reach than other locations, Agafay still captivates with uninterrupted desert panoramas. Its proximity to Marrakech means you can pair it easily with a Marrakech city tour.
How Many Days for a Fes Desert Tour?
Most travelers visit the desert from Fes on tours ranging from quick 1-day jaunts to week-long adventures. Here’s an overview of popular Fes desert tour durations and itineraries:
Short on Time? Try a 1 Day Trip To Chefchaouen From Fes, Morocco. This guided Fes day trip transports you to Chefchaouen’s blue-hued medina, landmarks, and markets via 4×4 vehicle and back in one day.
It includes round-trip travel from Fes, an English-speaking driver, walking tour of Chefchaouen’s highlights, free time to explore independently, traditional lunch, and a stop at the ancient ruins of Volubilis.
The trip allows you to experience the magic of the Blue City without having to worry about the logistics.
For more depth, 2-3 days Fes desert tours combine Sahara time with visits to medieval towns or the Middle Atlas Mountains. You’ll overnight at a hotel or camp in Merzouga or M’hamid and have more relaxed dune time.
Popular 2-3 day tours from Fes include:
With a week to spare, consider longer 4-6 days Fes desert tours to Moroccan highlights like:
- Travel to Marrakech
- Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley
- Meknes
- Dades Gorge
- Ait Benhaddou kasbah
Some popular 4-6 days tours from Fes include:
Longer tours allow a more leisurely pace and visits to Berber villages, movie studios, and the High Atlas Mountains.
Best Fes Desert Tour Company – Great Desert Tours
Dedicated Fes tour operators like Great Desert Tours offer excellent Sahara tours from Fes. Their 5-star TripAdvisor ratings and rave reviews testify to their quality.
Key things that make the best Fes desert tour companies stand out include:
- Specialization in Fes tours – Focusing on Fes means insider knowledge of the city and routes. Check out our article on the best things to do in Fes.
- Top guides – The best guides are engaging, knowledgeable, and handle logistics smoothly.
- Responsible tourism – Choosing eco-friendly camps and supporting locals makes travels meaningful.
- Small groups – Intimate 8 person groups create a better experience than 30+ person bus tours.
- 24/7 support – Established companies have multilingual support teams to help travelers anytime.
- Covid protocols – Safety has been thought through regarding sanitation, spacing, masks, with flexibility to shift dates if need be.
Great Desert Tours exhibits all these qualities that make them a top Fes desert tour operator. Their experienced native Berber guides showcase the Sahara while supporting local communities.
Moreover, their small group 4×4 excursions provide personalized adventures. And their exceptional service has earned them stellar reviews from happy travelers.
What to Expect on the Sahara Desert Tour From Fes?
Transport
Comfy air-conditioned 4×4 Land Cruisers or minivans will pick you up punctually from your Fes accommodation. With just 3-8 passengers per vehicle, these small group tours feel intimate yet fun.
Radio contact between vehicles and the support team means if any issue arises en route, it is swiftly solved. The smooth highways and off-roading through the desert are part of the adventure.
Accommodation
Overnight stays on 2+ day tours range from boutique riads in Fes and Marrakech to Saharan luxury camp. Camps in Merzouga and M’hamid have real spring mattresses, flush toilets, warm showers, and generators to charge devices.
Berber tents decorated with rich rugs and lanterns make for an unforgettable night under shooting stars in the Sahara silence. Many camps also have a pool.
Camel Trekking
Camel rides through the golden sands of Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga are every Fes desert tour’s crowning highlight. Friendly cameleers will lead your trek over the dunes at sunset or sunrise when the light is sublime for photos.
Don’t pass up this iconic Saharan experience.
Food
Moroccan food ranks among the world’s best cuisines, and meals on a Fes desert tour don’t disappoint. Expert local female chefs dish up incredible lamb tagines, couscous, kebabs, and vegetarian options using fresh local ingredients.
Enjoying mint tea and regional delicacies atop the dunes at sunset makes for an unbeatable Saharan memory. Gladly, second helpings are always plentiful.
Expert Guides
Hands down, exceptional multilingual guides are what sets reputable Fes tour operator like Great Desert Tours apart.
Their insight into culture and history, fun facts about Morocco, and landscapes transforms your experience from a vacation into an adventure.
Guides handle all logistics smoothly so you can just soak up their stories from Berber villages and Fes medina. Their passion for sharing Morocco’s magic makes tours fun and meaningful.
Start Your Fes Desert Tour Adventure with Great Desert Tours
An expertly guided Fes desert tour lets you experience Morocco’s most breathtaking Saharan landscapes with ease.
Spending nights under the Milky Way, exploring off-road by 4×4, and riding camels into sunset over the great ergs are memories for a lifetime.
Booking with a top-rated Fes tour operator like Great Desert Tours means benefiting from years of experience and insider knowledge. Their attention to detail from transport to accommodation ensures your tour runs seamlessly.
Ready to ride into a Moroccan dream? Check out these best desert tours from Fes and contact us to start customizing your private adventure or small group journey. The magical Sahara awaits!