Fes sits at a natural crossing point between northern Morocco and the desert regions to the southeast, which makes it a practical departure city for several very different kinds of trip: a Sahara Desert tour via the Middle Atlas, a shorter route north toward Chefchaouen, easy day trips to the imperial city of Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, or a full round-trip loop covering the country’s imperial cities, the coast, Marrakech and the desert.
The Fes to Merzouga route is the main multi-day tour departing from the city, crossing the cedar forests near Ifrane and Azrou before following the Ziz Valley south. It’s available as a fast 2-day round trip back to Fes, a more relaxed 4-day round trip with a full extra day exploring the Merzouga region, or a one-way 3-day route continuing on to Marrakech via the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge — a practical option since Fes and Marrakech are both common entry and exit points for a Morocco trip.
Travelers with more time can take on the 7-day Imperial Cities & Sahara Tour, a full loop that adds Meknes, Volubilis, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca and a guided day in Marrakech to the desert crossing, before returning to Fes. And for those with just a day to spare, Chefchaouen, Meknes and Volubilis, and the Middle Atlas towns of Ifrane and Azrou are all manageable as private day trips without needing to leave Fes overnight.
