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Ziz Valley palm grove winding through a rocky canyon in southeastern Morocco Private

Merzouga to Fes Tour in 2 Days: Ziz Valley, Midelt and the Cedar Forest

Turn the long road from the Sahara to Fes into a two-day journey, with a night in Midelt and a stop among the cedars and macaques of Azrou.

  • 2 days
  • Merzouga → Fes
  • Private
  • From TT$ 1,757 (€230) per person
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Overview

Driving from the desert to Fes in one go takes around eight hours. This private Merzouga to Fes tour splits the journey in two, so you see the landscape change instead of just watching it fly by. You leave the dunes through Rissani and Erfoud, follow the palm groves of the Ziz Valley and sleep in Midelt, at the foot of the snowy Jbel Ayachi.

The second day climbs into the Middle Atlas, where cedar forests shelter Barbary macaques. You pass Ifrane, a mountain town that looks more Swiss than Moroccan, and arrive in Fes in the afternoon, ready to explore the medina the next day. Along the way you will see oases, canyons, apple orchards and cedar-covered hills, a side of Morocco most visitors miss.

It is a relaxed choice for families, slow travelers and anyone ending a desert trip in the north. Planning your first full day in the city? Add the Fes medina guided tour.

Highlights

  • Rissani, the old caravan town
  • Erfoud, capital of dates and fossils
  • Ziz Valley gorges and palm groves
  • Overnight in Midelt, below Jbel Ayachi
  • Azrou cedar forest with Barbary macaques
  • Ifrane, the Alpine-style town of the Middle Atlas

Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Ziz Valley – Midelt

    After breakfast, your driver picks you up at your hotel or camp in Merzouga. First stop: Rissani, cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, with its ksar and lively market. Continue to Erfoud for a look at its fossil workshops and, in autumn, the date harvest.

    Head north along the Ziz Valley, where a ribbon of palm trees winds through a rocky canyon. Stop at viewpoints over the oasis and the Hassan Addakhil dam lake. Arrive in Midelt in the late afternoon, a quiet town known for its apples and its views of the Jbel Ayachi. Dinner at your hotel.

    Overnight: Hotel in Midelt Meals: Breakfast, dinner

  2. Day 2 Midelt – Azrou Cedar Forest – Ifrane – Fes

    Leave Midelt after breakfast and cross the high plateaus of the Middle Atlas, home to shepherds and wild horses grazing on the grass. Enter the cedar forest near Azrou, where Barbary macaques often come close to the road. Watch, take photos, but please do not feed them.

    Continue to Ifrane, with its sloped roofs, gardens and lakes, for a coffee break. Then descend to the plain of Saïss and reach Fes in the early afternoon. Your driver drops you at your riad in or near the medina. End of the tour.

    Overnight: — (end of tour) Meals: Breakfast

Prices

Price per person by group size
TravelersStandard Superior
1 traveler TT$ 3,209 (€420) TT$ 3,553 (€465)
2 travelers TT$ 1,757 (€230) TT$ 2,101 (€275)
3 travelers TT$ 1,276 (€167) TT$ 1,620 (€212)
4 travelers TT$ 1,032 (€135) TT$ 1,376 (€180)
5 travelers TT$ 887 (€116) TT$ 1,230 (€161)
6 travelers TT$ 795 (€104) TT$ 1,139 (€149)
7 travelers TT$ 726 (€95) TT$ 1,070 (€140)
8 travelers TT$ 1,032 (€135) TT$ 1,376 (€180)

Prices in euros per person. The amount in your currency is an estimate; payment is processed in USD. Some peak-season dates carry a supplement; you will see it when you pick a date.

Included

Included

  • Pickup in Merzouga and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Fes
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking driver
  • Fuel, parking and tolls
  • 1 night in a hotel in Midelt with dinner and breakfast
  • Optional upgrade to superior accommodation

Not included

  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance fees
  • Local guides (available on request)
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance

Who should book the Merzouga to Fes tour?

It suits travelers who want to avoid one very long drive, families with kids and anyone who enjoys mountain scenery. Driving time is about five hours each day, with plenty of stops.

Bring a warm layer: Midelt and Ifrane sit high in the mountains, and from December to March snow is possible. Spring is lovely, with green plateaus and wildflowers. If you would rather go west, the Merzouga to Marrakech tour crosses the gorges and kasbahs instead.

What our travelers say

Highly recommended!

We had an amazing 4-day overland trip from Fes to Marrakech with Morocco Excursions, and I can’t recommend this company highly enough — especially our guide and driver, Hassan. From the moment he picked us up, we felt completely safe and taken care of. Hassan is a fantastic driver — something we appreciated even more after meeting other t…

Spencer R

Moroccan journey

My family and I planned our own 10-day itinerary in Morocco. We hired a car with a driver to travel with us and enjoy everything Morocco has to offer. Salem, our driver, was a great person: kind, always available, and not just our driver — he suggested things to do, places to see and where to stay, and explained his traditions and culture…

Translated from Spanish · See original

Viaje marroquí

Mi familia y yo organizamos nuestro propio itinerario durante 10 días en Marruecos. Alquilamos un coche con conductor para acompañarnos en el camino y disfrutar de todo lo que Marruecos tiene para ofrecer. Salem, nuestro conductor, era una gran persona: amable, siempre a disposición, y no solo era nuestro conductor, sino que fue capaz de sugerirnos cosas que hacer, lugares para ver y dónde dormir, y de explicarnos su tradición y cultura. El vehículo era espacioso y cómodo, y la ruta fue genial. Realmente recomiendo esta agencia para viajar por Marruecos de la manera más fácil posible.

Luca B

Amazing trip in Morocco

We are 4 of us joining a 6-day private tour with our driver Hassan from Morocco Excursions, exploring from Marrakesh, desert, Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen and Tangier. Hassan is our super driver, he is professional, smart, patient and full of fun. He was on time and took us to wherever we liked to explore and he provided us good su…

Escape31939768217

See all reviews (9) →

Frequently asked questions

Can we do Merzouga to Fes in one day?

Yes, it takes around eight hours with short stops. This two-day version is more relaxed and lets you enjoy the Ziz Valley and the cedar forest. Ask us for a one-day private transfer if you are short on time.

Will we see monkeys in the cedar forest?

Very likely. Barbary macaques live in the Azrou cedar forest and often gather near the road. They are wild, so keep a respectful distance and do not feed them.

Is Midelt worth a night?

Midelt is a calm, authentic town with fresh mountain air and views of Jbel Ayachi. It is the natural halfway point between the desert and Fes, and a good night's sleep before the city.

Can we start this tour in Fes instead?

Yes. The route works in either direction, and you can extend it with a camel trek and desert camp in Merzouga. We will recalculate the price.

Any questions about this tour?

Send us a message, no commitment: we reply personally, usually within 24 hours. We can also adapt the route to your dates.

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