Tour from Tangier to the Merzouga Dunes and Back, 6 Days
Our tours from Tangier include this 6-day round trip to the Sahara. You see Chefchaouen and Volubilis on the way to Fes, spend two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga and drive back through Meknes.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Tours from Tangier at a glance
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Tangier · Tetouan · Chefchaouen · Volubilis · Fes · Midelt · Merzouga · Meknes · Tangier
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
Tangier to the Sahara via Chefchaouen and Fes
Many travellers arrive by ferry from Spain. From Tangier you can reach the desert and be back in six days, seeing the north on the way down.
Fes to Merzouga and Merzouga to Meknes are both long days over the Middle Atlas. A longer version with more nights in the dunes is possible.
Highlights
- Chefchaouen in the Rif
- The Roman ruins of Volubilis
- Fes
- Two nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Meknes on the way back
Read more: Chefchaouen and Archaeological Site of Volubilis (UNESCO).
Day-by-day itinerary
How the six days go, from your pickup in Tangier to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Tangier to Chefchaouen
Through Tetouan to Chefchaouen.
- Overnight: Riad in Chefchaouen
Day 2 · Chefchaouen to Fes
Via Volubilis and Moulay Idriss to Fes.
- Overnight: Riad in Fes
Day 3 · Fes to Merzouga
Over the Middle Atlas by Ifrane, Azrou and Midelt to the dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 4 · Erg Chebbi
A day in the dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 5 · Merzouga to Meknes
North again over the Middle Atlas to Meknes.
- Overnight: Riad in Meknes
Day 6 · Meknes to Tangier
A morning in Meknes, then north to Tangier.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the six days
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Tangier
- One night: riad in Chefchaouen, dinner and breakfast
- One night: riad in Fes, dinner and breakfast
- Two nights: desert camp in Erg Chebbi, dinner and breakfast
- One night: riad in Meknes, dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride in the dunes
- Fuel and road costs
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
Pickup at your hotel in Tangier, at the ferry port or at the airport.
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable time. Days are warm and nights cool, and in December and January the desert can drop close to freezing at night. From June to August the afternoons are very hot, so we start early and rest in the middle of the day.
What to bring
Layers, with a warm jacket for the desert night from November to March; a hat, sunglasses and sun cream; a scarf against wind and sand; shoes you can walk in on sand; a head torch; a small bag for the camp night, since your main luggage stays in the vehicle; cash in dirhams for drinks and tips; a power bank.
Good to know
Carry cash in dirhams: camps and small villages rarely take cards, and the last cash machines are in towns such as Ouarzazate, Zagora and Erfoud. Phone signal is often weak in the dunes. Camps have toilets and showers, shared at standard camps and private at luxury ones. Keep cameras and phones in a bag when the wind lifts the sand, and ask before you photograph people in the villages. Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle overnight.
Price, deposit and cancellation
Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.
Questions about the desert tour from Tangier
How far is Merzouga from Tangier?
About 770 km, which the tour drives over three days by way of Chefchaouen and Fes.
Can we start at the ferry port in Tangier?
Yes. We meet you at the port, the airport or your hotel in Tangier.
What is the desert camp like?
You sleep in a tent at a camp in the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Camps range from simple to comfortable tents with a private bathroom; tell us the level you want and we suggest camps that fit.
Can we change the route or the hotels?
Yes. We can add nights, change hotels or swap the order of the stops, since only your group is on the tour. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
Can we bring children?
Yes. Tell us how old they are and we plan the driving, the stops and the pace around them.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal.
Can we visit the Caves of Hercules?
Yes, if there is time on the first day. The caves are on the coast west of Tangier, about half an hour from the city.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and stays adjusted to you
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