A Totally Honest Review of the 2025 Fes to Fes 3-Day Private Desert Tour

You know, there’s this feeling you get in Fes. It’s almost this amazing, old-world energy that just soaks into your skin, right? As a matter of fact, after a few days spent getting happily lost inside its ancient walls, you kind of start to crave some wide-open space. The noise, the smells, the constant stream of people—it’s honestly a lot to take in. That thought of the Sahara, honestly, becomes this little whisper in your mind, a complete opposite world of calm. We were definitely looking for a way to see those famous orange dunes, so a three-day private trip that starts and ends in Fes just seemed like the perfect way to do it. This is, you know, just our personal take on what that experience was actually like from beginning to end.

Day One: A Drive Through Morocco’s Ever-Changing Scenery

So, our guide, a really friendly local guy, picked us up from our riad pretty early in the morning. The first part of the drive is, well, a real eye-opener, unlike anything I had pictured in my head. You actually leave the dry, dusty landscape around Fes and, pretty soon, you’re winding your way up into the Middle Atlas mountains. We made a stop in Ifrane, and honestly, it felt like we’d been dropped into a small town in Switzerland; the buildings, you know, all have these neat sloped roofs for snow. It’s seriously a little bit strange, in a good way, and showed us a side of Morocco we didn’t expect. Continuing on, we went through these massive cedar forests which were, like, so quiet and peaceful. You could actually smell the sharp, clean scent of the wood in the air. Obviously, the best part for us was seeing the Barbary macaque monkeys just chilling by the side of the road; they’re actually not shy at all and will come right up to see if you have any snacks. As the day went on and we drove further south, the green kind of faded away, replaced by these rocky, more rugged views, you know? It’s pretty amazing how much the country can change in just a few hours of driving, to be honest.

Day Two: Reaching the Golden Sands of Erg Chebbi

The second day, well, that’s when things get really exciting, I mean, this is basically what the whole trip is about. After a simple breakfast, the drive continued through the Ziz Valley, which is sort of this huge, spectacular oasis of palm trees that just cuts right through the dry land. Seeing that much green in the middle of nowhere is, you know, a pretty special sight to see. Then, as a matter of fact, you see it in the distance: the first glimpse of the Sahara’s golden sand. Honestly, it doesn’t look real at first, more or less like a painting on the horizon. We reached the edge of the magnificent Erg Chebbi dunes near the small town of Merzouga in the late afternoon, and our camels were, like, right there waiting for us, looking completely calm. The ride out to the desert camp was just something else entirely. It’s so quiet out there; the only sound is the soft padding of the camels’ feet on the fine sand. Reaching the camp as the sun began to get low, casting these incredibly long, dramatic shadows across the dunes, was absolutely magical. The Berber-style tent was surprisingly comfortable and clean, and that evening, we had a delicious hot tagine under a sky so full of stars you could, like, almost reach out and touch them. Seriously, you just can’t see a night sky like that back home in the city.

What ‘Private Tour’ Really Means Out Here

Okay, so you might be thinking about what the big deal is with a ‘private’ tour versus just hopping on a cheaper group bus. Basically, it just gives you a ton of welcome freedom. Unlike being in a big group with a fixed schedule, it was just us and our driver, who was more like a personal guide and a new friend, to be honest. If we saw a beautiful spot and wanted to stop for twenty minutes to take pictures, we just did, no problem at all. If we wanted to ask a bunch of questions about something we passed, our guide, you know, had all the time in the world for us. For instance, on the way he pointed out a small, local market day that wasn’t on any official plan, and we just pulled over and spent an hour walking around, which was amazing. You’re not on someone else’s clock, so the whole thing feels a little more like your own genuine adventure. You know, that kind of personal flexibility is really what makes the whole thing feel special and worth it, at the end of the day.

Some Practical Stuff You’ll Want to Know

Frankly, there are a few useful things to keep in your mind to make your own trip go a little smoother. First, those drives are really long, so just be ready for a lot of time sitting in the car; honestly, it’s a huge country with big distances between places. The scenery is completely stunning, so it’s not boring, but you’ll definitely want to have a good book or some music just in case. When you are getting your things together, absolutely bring a scarf or what they call a ‘shesh’ (a Tuareg headscarf). You can easily buy one there, and it’s so useful for blocking the sun, the wind, and any sand that kicks up, you know? Also, the desert gets surprisingly cold at night, even in warmer months, so definitely pack a warm jacket or a few extra layers for the evening at the camp. And obviously, don’t forget your camera and a portable charger, because your phone battery will, like, drain faster than you think from taking hundreds of pictures. The best times to go are typically in the spring or the fall when the temperatures are just a little more moderate and comfortable.

Sunrise in the Sahara and the Road Back to Fes

Waking up in the middle of the desert is, seriously, a totally unique feeling. They give you a gentle wake-up call before the sun is even thinking about coming up, you clamber up a nearby high dune in the cool, pre-dawn air, and then you just sit and watch the whole world change color. Seeing the sun slowly rise over the endless sands of the Sahara is, you know, one of those core memories you’ll probably keep forever. It’s so completely quiet and, just for a moment, it feels like you’re the only person on the entire planet. After that breathtaking show, you head back for some breakfast and hot mint tea, and then you ride the camels back to the main road to meet your driver. The long drive back to Fes gives you a lot of quiet time to sort of process everything you’ve just seen. The same roads look a little bit different on the return trip, and you find yourself just staring out the window, replaying all the amazing sights and sounds in your head. Arriving back in Fes that evening, tired but with a camera full of pictures and a head full of sand, feels pretty amazing, to be honest.

Read our full review: [2025 Fes to Fes 3 days Private Desert Tour Full Review and Details]

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book Your Fes Desert Tour Here)