§01 The experience
A full loop from Fez and the most complete version of the Sahara we run. South through Ifrane and the Ziz Valley, two nights and an entire day inside the desert, and home through Midelt and the foothills of the High Atlas.
It is the version two of us would book ourselves. Nothing is rushed, no day is more than about eight hours on the road, and the time that the shorter circuits spend driving is spent here on the dunes instead: with nomad families who still move with the grazing, in the black volcanic desert, among the fossil beds at Erfoud, and in Khamlia listening to Gnawa musicians play music that arrived with their ancestors from the south.
The fourth day is the one that separates this from the three-day trip. Instead of the long push north you come back through Midelt and the apple valleys, over the Atlas foothills in good light, with time to stop. You reach Fez in the evening having seen the whole transect of the country — cedar forest, high plateau, palm canyon, erg, gorge and mountain — rather than a blur of it.
§02 Highlights
- 01Cedar forest and Barbary macaques at Ifrane
- 02The Ziz Gorges and a river of palms
- 03Camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- 04Two nights in a desert camp
- 05Khamlia village and Gnawa music
- 06Sandboarding and sunrise on the ridge
§03 Day by day
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Day 1
Fez to Erfoud
Ifrane and the cedar forest, the Tizi n'Talghemt pass and the Ziz Gorges. Overnight in a hotel in the Erfoud area.
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Day 2
Into Erg Chebbi
Fossil workshops at Erfoud, then a camel trek into the dunes. Dinner, drums and a clear desert sky. First night in camp.
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Day 3
A full day in the desert
Nomad families, the black desert, Khamlia village and Gnawa music, sandboarding in the afternoon. Second night in camp.
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Day 4
Sunrise and the road north
First light on the ridge, then back via Midelt, the apple valleys and the Atlas foothills. Evening arrival in Fez.
§04 What the price covers
- Included
- +Private air-conditioned 4x4 or minivan with driver for four days
- +Riad or hotel pickup and drop-off in Fez
- +One night in a hotel near Erfoud with breakfast
- +Two nights in a desert camp with private tent and bathroom
- +Camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- +Dinners and breakfasts in camp
- +Gnawa music session at Khamlia
- +Fuel, tolls, parking and bottled water throughout
- Not included
- −Lunches
- −Drinks other than water
- −Sandboard hire (around 50 MAD)
- −Gratuities for the driver and camp crew
§05 Questions
Who is this for?
Anyone who would rather see the desert properly than tick it off. It is the circuit our own families do.
How much driving each day?
Roughly eight hours on day one, three on day two, two on day three and seven on day four — the lightest schedule of our three desert trips.
What is the camp like?
Private tent with a proper bed, en-suite bathroom and hot shower, rugs and a shared fire. A luxury camp with larger tents is available.
Can the itinerary change?
Yes. It is private, so the order and the stops are yours. Tell the driver what you want more of.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, and the extra night makes a real difference with younger children. A 4x4 can replace the camel ride at no extra cost.
Do I pay now?
No. Reserve now and pay on the day, with the full price agreed in writing first.
