Fes, Morocco

The northern gateway to the desert: where the Fes–Merzouga route to the dunes begins.

Plan a Fes trip See all tours

Best time

April–May and September–October

Recommended

2–3 days

Airport

Fès-Saïs (FEZ)

Region

Imperial city · Northern Morocco

Why Fes

Fes is the classic northern starting point for the Sahara — the head of the Fes-to-Merzouga route that drops south through Ifrane's cedars, the apple town of Midelt and the Ziz gorges before reaching Erg Chebbi. Founded in 789 AD, it is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and home to Fes el-Bali, a UNESCO-listed medina of more than 9,000 car-free alleys where the old caravan-trade crafts — tanning, brass-beating, weaving — are still worked by hand. Spend a slow day or two in the walls, then turn south: many travellers run an open route, Fes to the dunes and out via Marrakech, to see the whole desert road in one direction.

What to see

Highlights of Fes.

Fes el-Bali medina before the desert road

Walk the Talaa Kebira from Bab Boujloud to the Karaouine — the old caravan city where southern dates, leather and wool were traded, a fitting first act before the drive to the dunes.

Chouara tanneries

The famous pigment vats viewed from a leather terrace — the same craft you'll see worked at the oasis towns of the Tafilalt further south. Best in morning light.

Medersa Bou Inania & el-Attarine

Two 14th-century Marinid madrasas with carved cedar, stucco and zellige — the high-craft north before the earthen kasbah architecture of the desert south.

The Fes–Merzouga desert road

South from Fes the route climbs through Ifrane's cedar forest and Azrou's macaques, the apple town of Midelt and the Ziz gorges, reaching Erg Chebbi by evening of day two.

Pottery quarter & blue gates

Watch the cobalt-and-white Fassi ceramics thrown and fired across the river — a last city pleasure before the long desert horizon.

Itineraries

Our Fes tours.

Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Fes. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.

3 days

Fes & the road to the dunes

Two nights in the medina with a private guide, then the southern descent toward Midelt, the Ziz valley and the Merzouga dunes.

from $980Enquire →

8 days

Fes to the Sahara and out via Marrakech

The full open-jaw desert route: Fes, the Ziz gorges, Erg Chebbi, the kasbah road and gorges, ending over the Atlas to Marrakech.

from $2,450Enquire →

Browse all Morocco tours

Before you go

Practical notes.

Getting there: Fly into FEZ, or 4h drive from Tangier, 7h from Marrakech
Where to stay: Inside the medina in a restored dar or riad
Dress code: Respectful — shoulders and knees covered near religious sites

Concierge

Have your Fes trip designed by a local

Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.

Request a proposal

FAQ

Fes — common questions.

Should I start my desert trip from Fes or Marrakech?+

Both work. Fes is the northern gateway (via Midelt and the Ziz gorges to Merzouga); Marrakech is the southern gateway (via the Tizi n'Tichka and the kasbah road). The best desert trips run open-jaw — in via one city, out via the other — so you never retrace the road.

How long does the Fes-to-Merzouga desert drive take?+

About 8–9 hours of driving, which we split over two days with stops at Ifrane's cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz gorges — arriving at Erg Chebbi in time for a sunset camel trek to camp.

Do I need a guide for the Fes medina?+

Strongly recommended for the first day — the 9,000 alleys of Fes el-Bali are a maze. A guide also lays the historical context of the caravan trade that once linked Fes to the southern oases you'll visit on the desert road.

Closest destinations