From Fes: 2 Day Round Trip Via Merzouga Desert & Camel Trek

The real draw here is the fast jump from Fes to the Erg Chebbi dunes, with cedar forests, mountain roads, and the Sahara packed into two long days. You ride a camel for about 45 minutes at sunset, sleep in a desert camp, then rise early for sunrise over the sand.

I like the small-group option of up to 17 people, which keeps the price at $108 while allowing some shared-road camaraderie. I also like the practical backup: if camel riding is uncomfortable, a 4X4 can take you to camp. The catch is the schedule. You spend many hours in the vehicle each day, and the return to Fes is especially demanding.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunset camel ride: Expect roughly 45 minutes across the sand before dinner at the camp.
• Two very full days: The route covers Fes, Ifrane, Midelt, Erfoud, Merzouga, and the return road.
• Cedar forest stop: You can see and feed Barbary monkeys in the Middle Atlas.
• Standard desert camp: Breakfast, dinner, a shower in Merzouga, and one camp night are included.
• Flexible group size: Choose a private trip or a shared group of up to 17 people.
• Friendly named guides: Ali and Hassan Amiri receive special praise for being helpful and easy to deal with.

From Fes to the Sahara in one long day

This tour is built around a dramatic change in scenery. At about 7:30 a.m., pickup begins at your hotel or riad, or at the nearest vehicle-accessible point. From there, you leave Fes behind and head toward the Middle Atlas Mountains.

I would not book this expecting a relaxed road trip. The first day carries you from the cooler, more settled north of Morocco to the dry dunes around Merzouga. The route is scenic, but the distance is serious. You need comfortable clothing, good shoes, sun protection, and patience with long stretches on the road.

The advantage is that you do not need to arrange separate transport, desert lodging, camel riding, or camp meals. At $108 per person, the price is strong if you want to reach Merzouga quickly and have the main desert elements arranged for you.

The tradeoff is time. A longer desert itinerary would give you more room for villages, walks, and rest. This two-day version is best for a short Morocco visit when you want one clear taste of the Sahara without adding several nights to your plans.

Ifrane brings an Alpine surprise

The first major stop is Ifrane, a mountain town known for its Alpine-style appearance and ski slopes. It feels very different from the image many people carry of Morocco, and that contrast makes it a useful opening stop.

Ifrane is not the main reason to book the tour. You should think of it as a brief change of pace and a chance to stretch after leaving Fes. The town helps show how varied Morocco can be within a single day, from historic urban streets to cool mountain country.

The tour information does not promise a long guided visit here, so keep your expectations modest. You may have time for photographs and a quick look around rather than a full town tour.

Barbary monkeys in the cedar forest

The cedar forest in the Middle Atlas is one of the most memorable stops because it adds wildlife to what could otherwise be a long transfer day. You can see and feed the resident Barbary monkeys.

I like this stop because it is simple and direct. You are not just looking out of a vehicle window at distant scenery. You get a chance to pause in the forest and watch the animals at close range.

Use common sense with food and personal belongings. The provided details specifically mention feeding the monkeys, but the stop is still best handled with care and respect for the animals. Comfortable shoes will help if the ground is uneven.

This is also where the day begins to feel like more than transportation. The monkeys, cedar trees, and mountain air create a clear contrast with the desert that comes later.

Midelt is the practical lunch stop

Midelt serves as the route’s main break for lunch. Lunch is not included in the price, so you should budget separately for it, along with drinks throughout the trip.

That may sound like a minor point, but it matters on a tight two-day schedule. You will have limited control over where and when you eat, so carry water and keep some Moroccan dirhams available. The tour includes breakfast and dinner, not the midday meals.

Midelt is also a useful pause between the mountain section and the drier country ahead. I would use the stop to eat, stretch your legs, and organize anything you need for the evening camel ride.

Ziz Valley and Erfoud add variety before Merzouga

After Midelt, the route continues through the Ziz Valley. The valley brings a greener strip of scenery into the drive, a welcome contrast to the exposed roads and dry ground that appear farther south.

The schedule also includes a stop in Erfoud. The supplied information does not specify a particular museum, shop, or attraction there, so I would treat Erfoud as a route stop rather than plan around a single major sight.

These stops are valuable because they break up the drive and show the transition toward the desert. You will see that the Sahara is not one sudden wall of sand. The route changes in stages, from forest to mountain valley, then toward the dry plains around Merzouga.

Arriving in Merzouga and meeting the camels

When you reach Merzouga, you first transfer to the hotel to store your luggage. The camels then wait for the sunset ride.

The camel trek lasts about 45 minutes. That is long enough to get the classic desert experience without keeping you in the saddle for hours. Camels move with a rolling rhythm, so hold on and expect the ride to feel less like a conventional horseback outing.

The timing is the main appeal. Instead of arriving at camp in full daylight and simply waiting for dinner, you cross the sand as the light changes. The sunset is the visual high point of the first day, and the slow pace of the camel gives you time to notice the dunes around you.

Sandboarding is included as well. The information does not specify exactly when it is offered, so ask the guide about the best moment to try it. It is a good extra for anyone who wants more activity than the camel ride alone.

If you cannot ride, you do not have to miss the camp. A 4X4 transfer can take you to the campsite. That makes the experience suitable for a wider range of ages and abilities, though you should still expect stairs, sand, and an early morning.

Dinner, music, and a night in a standard camp

The evening includes dinner under the stars at the desert camp. Food and entertainment are part of the package, along with one night in a standard desert camp.

That word standard matters. This is not presented as a luxury camp with private hotel-style facilities. You should book it for the setting and the shared desert atmosphere, not for resort comfort.

A shower is included in Merzouga, which is useful before or after the camp stay. Breakfast and dinner are included, but drinks are not. Bring water, protect your phone and camera from sand, and keep a warm layer handy if your trip falls during a cooler season.

The social side can be part of the fun, especially in a shared group. Recent feedback gives special credit to the friendly atmosphere and to guides such as Ali and Hassan Amiri. If you prefer quiet evenings and personal space, a private trip may be worth the extra cost, if available at booking.

Sunrise at Erg Chebbi requires an early start

Day two begins early. You rise to walk across the dunes and watch the sunrise from a location behind the Algerian border, described as roughly 50 kilometers from Merzouga.

The exact timing will depend on the season and local arrangements, so you should expect a pre-dawn wake-up rather than a leisurely breakfast. Bring a jacket or warm layer, even if the daytime forecast looks hot.

Sunrise is one of the reasons this tour works despite its short length. The camp night alone can feel like a quick stop, but waking before dawn gives you a second quiet moment in the dunes. The sand changes color as the sun comes up, and the lack of city lights makes the setting feel far removed from Fes.

The included details refer to camel rides at sunset and sunrise, while the day-by-day plan describes walking to the sunrise viewpoint. I would confirm the morning camel arrangement with the operator before departure if riding at sunrise is important to you.

The return to Fes is the hard part

After sunrise and breakfast, the route begins the long return to Fes. It includes the Ziz Valley again, a lunch break, and the road back through the Midelt and Ifrane areas.

This is where the tour demands the most from you. You have already spent a full day reaching Merzouga, slept in a camp, and woken early. The return is not a gentle travel day. If you get carsick or dislike long drives, bring whatever helps you stay comfortable.

The benefit is straightforward: you return to your Fes hotel, riad, or the nearest accessible point without arranging another transfer. For a visitor with only a short window, that convenience can be worth more than the lost time.

I would avoid scheduling an important evening commitment in Fes. The tour gives a two-day framework, but road conditions, stops, and the long distance can affect the final arrival time.

What the $108 price really covers

At $108 per person, the tour offers a lot for a short desert trip:

• Air-conditioned transportation
• A professional driver
• English, French, and Spanish language options
• One night in a standard desert camp
• Camel riding at sunset, with sunrise camel details to confirm
• Breakfast and dinner
• A shower in Merzouga
• Sandboarding
• Hotel or riad pickup when the vehicle can reach it

The price is especially attractive for someone who would otherwise need to pay separately for a driver, desert camp, camel trek, and meals. A shared group keeps the cost down, with groups of up to 17 people.

The value is weaker if you want a slow, deeply local trip with plenty of free time. Lunches, drinks, personal purchases, and any optional extras are not included. You should also compare the group size and vehicle arrangement before booking if comfort matters more than the lowest price.

The private option may suit couples, families, or small groups that want more control over stops. A shared tour is the better bargain if you mainly want to reach the dunes and do not mind traveling with others.

How the guides affect the experience

Your driver has a big role because so much of the trip takes place on the road. The advertised languages are English, French, and Spanish, which gives you a fair chance of communicating comfortably.

Ali is praised for being especially kind and ready to help. Hassan Amiri is also singled out as a friendly guide. You cannot guarantee which guide will lead your departure, but these names give you a useful sense of the service style associated with the operator.

I would ask clear questions at the start about meal timing, the camp transfer, the morning camel option, and the planned return time. Good communication matters more here than a long formal commentary because the route has many moving parts.

The overall rating is 4.8 from 80 ratings, with repeated praise for the guides, organization, and the feeling of having a memorable desert adventure. One recent note also says quad biking was worth the extra cost. Quads are not listed among the included features, so treat that as an optional add-on, not part of the $108 package.

Who should book this two-day desert trip?

I would recommend it to you if you:

• Have only two days available from Fes
• Want the main Sahara highlights without arranging each part yourself
• Enjoy scenic road travel and do not mind long driving days
• Want a camel ride, desert dinner, camp night, and sunrise
• Like the social feel of a small shared group
• Need a 4X4 alternative to camel riding
• Prefer a low price over a slower, more spacious itinerary

I would think twice if you:

• Need lots of free time at each stop
• Find long vehicle journeys tiring
• Want a luxury desert camp
• Prefer to choose every meal and stop yourself
• Have a fixed appointment in Fes on the return evening
• Want several nights in the Sahara rather than one

Pack comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, and loose comfortable clothing. The trip notes list both a sun hat and a hat, so the practical message is simple: protect your head. Take water money for lunches and drinks, and bring a light layer for the early morning.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing the Sahara from Fes in the shortest practical time. You get the cedar forest, mountain roads, valley scenery, camel sunset, desert camp, dinner, sandboarding, and sunrise in one tightly packed trip.

Do not book it expecting a restful escape. The road time is the price of reaching Merzouga in two days, and the standard camp keeps the focus on the setting rather than comfort. For $108, the package is good value for an active first taste of the desert, especially with the helpful guide service and 4X4 backup.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

Pickup is available from your hotel or riad in Fes when the vehicle can reach it, or from the nearest accessible point. The tour returns you to your Fes hotel, riad, or the closest accessible drop-off point.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts two days.

What time is pickup in Fes?

Pickup begins at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the first day.

Is the tour private or shared?

You can choose a private tour or a small-group tour. Shared groups can include up to 17 people.

Which languages are available?

The tour offers live guidance in English, French, and Spanish.

Is food included?

Breakfast and dinner are included. Lunches and drinks are not included.

Is camel riding included?

Yes. Camel riding is included for the desert experience, with a sunset ride of about 45 minutes. The tour information also lists sunrise camel riding, while the day plan describes walking to the sunrise viewpoint, so confirm the exact morning arrangement.

Can I skip the camel ride?

Yes. If you cannot ride the camels, you can be transported to the campsite by 4X4 vehicle.