From Fes: 2-Day Desert Tour with Return to Fes or Marrakech

The best part of this tour is the sudden change from Morocco’s cool mountain country to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. In two days, you pass cedar forests, date palms, old villages, and wide desert silence before sleeping in a tent under the stars.

I like the friendly drivers, who often make the long road more interesting with local stories and scenic stops. I also like the camp experience: camel riding, dinner, drums by the fire, and a sunrise walk across the dunes. The catch is simple: the drive is very long, especially if you continue to Marrakech.

Key points to know before booking

• The journey starts at 7:45 AM in Fes and crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains.
• Azrou’s cedar forest offers a chance to see Barbary macaques, though animals may not always be out.
• The camel ride is short, usually about 20 to 30 minutes, but timed for sunset or sunrise views.
• Camp choices range from shared to private luxury tents, with the luxury upgrade charged per person.
• The return to Marrakech can take about 10 hours, with arrival around 8 to 9 PM.
• Bring water, warm layers, and a small fan in summer, since drinks are not included and vehicle airflow may be uneven.

The real shape of this two-day desert trip

This is not a slow desert holiday. It is a fast, scenic crossing that gives you one night in the Sahara with a great deal of Morocco packed around it.

From Fes, you travel south toward Merzouga in a 4WD vehicle or air-conditioned minibus. The group size can vary, and some solo visitors have ended up in a 4WD with only one other person. Others travel in a shared minibus. The driver matters a lot here, since you spend many hours together.

The tour has earned a strong overall rating of 4.6 from 427 reviews, and the most consistent praise goes to the drivers. Moha, Hassan, Driss, Mustapha, Zaki, Ahmed, Simo, Jamal, and others are singled out for safe driving, good humor, useful stops, and help with meals or local sights.

Still, the operation can feel like organized chaos. You may change vehicles or guides near Merzouga, and the person who drives you from Fes may not be the same person who handles the desert camp or the trip onward to Marrakech. That is not unusual for a route involving several local operators, but it can make the handoffs feel less polished.

7:45 AM from Fes to Ifrane

Pickup begins at about 7:45 AM from your hotel or a nearby meeting point. Get ready for a full day on the road. The first stretch climbs through the Middle Atlas Mountains, where the air becomes cooler and the scenery shifts from city streets to wooded hills and open highland views.

Ifrane is the first notable stop. Morocco’s alpine-style town has clean streets, sloped roofs, and a cooler climate. It is often called the Switzerland of Morocco, a comparison that is a little grand but useful enough to explain the town’s unusual appearance.

You get free time to walk around and take photos, including one beside the stone lion statue. Ifrane is not a major cultural stop, so keep your expectations in check. Its appeal is the contrast. After the narrow lanes and dense buildings of Fes, this tidy mountain town feels like another country.

Barbary macaques in Azrou’s cedar forest

The cedar forest near Azrou is one of the most enjoyable stops on the first day. The area is home to Barbary macaques, and you may see them close to the road or among the trees.

You can interact with them, but use care. Do not crowd them, grab at them, or treat them like tame pets. The animals are accustomed to people in some places, yet they remain wild.

This stop also breaks up the long drive at just the right time. You can stretch your legs, breathe cool mountain air, and enjoy a setting that feels far removed from the desert ahead. Do not be disappointed if the monkeys are absent. Rain, weather, or timing can affect what you see, and one return journey was too wet for the animals to come out.

Midelt lunch and the long road south

Midelt is the practical midday break, set between the Middle and High Atlas ranges. Lunch is not included, but the driver suggests a restaurant and you can choose whether to eat there.

The meal stop is more than a chance to fill up. It divides a demanding drive into manageable sections. Drivers such as Simo and Mustapha have been praised for recommending good places to eat, while others have offered stops for dates and local foods along the way.

Bring cash and water for this part of the day. Lunch and drinks are extra, and bottled water is not supplied as part of the tour. That detail has disappointed some people, especially during a hot journey. I would buy water in Fes or Midelt before the final push toward Merzouga.

After Midelt, the road continues through rocky hills, Berber villages, and broad open country. The route is scenic, but this is also when you begin to feel the time spent in the vehicle. Frequent stops help, and a good driver makes a real difference. Pack a book, downloaded music, or a film for quiet stretches.

The Ziz Valley and the first sight of the desert

The road follows the Ziz River into the Ziz Valley. Date palms gather around the water, and fortified villages appear among the dry slopes. This is a useful reminder that the desert is not simply a sea of sand. Water, farming, and old settlement patterns shape the region.

The valley provides some of the day’s best views, especially when the palms and buildings appear below the road. Drivers often stop for photos, though the number and length of stops depend on traffic, timing, and how close you are to sunset.

By late afternoon, you reach Merzouga, the gateway to Erg Chebbi. Timing is important here. The first day is tightly scheduled, and a late departure, traffic, or a slow group can reduce the time available for sunset.

Camel riding into Erg Chebbi

The camel ride is the emotional center of the tour, but it is shorter than some people expect. The published description puts it at about 20 minutes, and some itineraries provide roughly 10 minutes going up toward the dunes and another 20 minutes returning to camp.

That is enough to experience the rhythm of camel travel and see the sand change color in the evening light. It is not a long expedition. You will spend more time looking at the dunes than riding across them, which is fine for many people but worth knowing in advance.

The ride can be bumpy. Climbing onto and getting down from a camel is also a physical moment, and walking over soft sand works your calves. If you have limited mobility, take the short ride seriously when deciding if this trip fits you.

The camel handlers usually help with photos, and you may have time to walk on the dunes or try sand surfing. If rain prevents a sunset ride, the operators have sometimes substituted a sunrise camel ride the next morning.

A night in a Berber-style desert camp

At camp, you check into a shared tent, private standard tent, or private luxury tent. The quality can be much higher than the word camping suggests. Several tents are described as large, clean, comfortable, and equipped with a bathroom and shower. Some even have hot water.

That comfort comes with a tradeoff. If you want a rough, basic night under canvas, the upgraded camps may feel too polished. One person found the camp more luxurious than expected and wanted something more local and simple. Others were delighted by the private rooms, beds, showers, and protection from the cold.

Choose carefully in winter. Desert nights can be very cold from December through February, and one basic tent was described as freezing. The luxury upgrade costs extra per person, but it may be worth considering for warmth and private facilities. Bring thick sleepwear either way.

Dinner is included, usually a Moroccan meal such as tagine, with breakfast the next morning. Vegetarian meals are available in at least some camp arrangements, but one visitor found that a vegetarian request was not handled well, so state dietary needs clearly before departure.

After dinner, local staff gather around the fire for Saharan music and drumming. This is the part that turns a transport-heavy tour into a real desert night. Step outside after dark if the sky is clear. The stars are one of the strongest reasons to sleep here rather than simply visit the dunes during the day.

Sunrise before the road starts again

Wake early and walk up the dunes to watch sunrise behind the larger ridges. You can return to your tent afterward to wash and prepare for breakfast.

The sunrise is not just a repeat of sunset. The morning light is quieter, and the dunes show their curves more clearly as the sun rises. If you want photographs without a crowd around you, this is your best window.

You can also pay extra for a quad bike ride, generally offered for one hour. It is an individual add-on, not part of the included price. Some people found the morning quad ride well worth the cost, particularly when combined with sunrise. It adds speed and noise to an otherwise quiet morning, so choose it for activity rather than solitude.

Returning to Fes: the simpler option

The Fes return follows the route back through the Tafilalte region and the mountain roads. The drive from Merzouga to Fes is described as roughly seven hours, though actual timing depends on stops, traffic, and handoffs.

This option makes sense if Fes is your base and you want the desert as a round trip. It is still a long day, but the route is more direct than continuing across the High Atlas toward Marrakech.

The return can feel less consistent than the outward journey. Your original driver may have another assignment, and you might join another group in a different vehicle. One person reported an uncomfortable bus, poor air conditioning, and cramped seats on the way to Marrakech after having an excellent first driver.

Continuing to Marrakech through the High Atlas

The Marrakech option is useful if you are moving between Morocco’s two major inland bases. After breakfast, you travel along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, through Berber villages and toward the High Atlas.

The route crosses the Tizi n’Tichka Pass before descending toward Marrakech. This gives you a broad view of southern Morocco in one trip, but the cost is time. The drive can take around 10 hours, with arrival expected around 8 to 9 PM, depending on traffic and stops.

For some people, this is an efficient solution. You see the desert and avoid paying for a separate transfer between Merzouga and Marrakech. For others, it is simply too much time in a vehicle after an already demanding first day.

If you can spare three or four days, choose a longer desert itinerary instead. Extra nights give you more time for the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, village stops, and the High Atlas without treating every stop as a quick break.

What you pay for, and what you still need to budget

The tour includes transportation, an air-conditioned 4WD or minibus, a professional driver, breakfast, dinner, one night at camp, and the camel ride. Since no price is provided here, I cannot judge the exact deal in dirhams or euros. I can judge the structure of the value.

You are paying for access to a difficult-to-reach place, not just a camel ride. The route covers major distances, includes a driver, handles the camp transfer, and gives you meals and a place to sleep. Compared with arranging transport, accommodation, and a desert excursion separately, it can be a practical choice when your schedule is tight.

The value drops if you dislike long drives or expect a long camel trek. Lunches, drinks, water, the luxury tent, and quad biking are extra. You may also spend more than expected on meals during the road journey.

Heat, cold, and comfort on the road

Summer, from June through August, brings very hot days. The vehicle has air conditioning, but airflow may not reach every seat evenly. If you are sensitive to heat, bring a small personal fan and keep water within reach.

Winter, from December through February, brings cold desert nights. Pack a warm jacket, layers, thick socks, and sleepwear. A scarf or hat is useful on the camel ride and early morning dune walk.

Cell service and Wi-Fi may be limited or absent around the camp. Tell someone your route before leaving Fes, especially since the tour crosses remote areas. Bring a charged phone and a power bank, but do not count on a strong signal.

This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. The camel ride, soft sand, tent access, and vehicle changes make the route physically demanding.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose it if you have only two days, want to see the Sahara from Fes, and can accept a hard-driving schedule. It is especially useful if you want to finish in Marrakech rather than return to Fes.

You will likely enjoy it if you care about scenery, local food, desert stars, and meeting friendly drivers more than a polished, perfectly timed operation. The strongest part is the combination of the mountain route and the night at Erg Chebbi, not any single roadside stop.

I would avoid it if you need a relaxed pace, dislike long minibus journeys, or want several hours alone in the dunes. In that case, take the three or four-day option. For a short visit, though, this tour offers a lot: cedar forest, monkeys, palms, mountain passes, camels, drums, sunrise, and one memorable night in the sand.

FAQ

What time does the tour leave Fes?

Pickup begins at about 7:45 AM from your hotel or the nearest meeting point.

How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?

The drive takes roughly eight hours, although the total time can change with stops, traffic, and road conditions.

Can I return to Fes after the desert stay?

Yes. The tour offers a return to Fes, with the drive from Merzouga taking approximately seven hours.

Can I continue to Marrakech instead?

Yes. The Marrakech option travels through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Arrival is usually around 8 to 9 PM, depending on traffic and stops.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunches are not included, though the driver suggests restaurants along the route.

Are water and drinks included?

No. You need to pay for drinks and water yourself. It is sensible to buy water before reaching the remote desert camp.

What type of accommodation is provided?

You can choose a shared tent, private standard tent, or private luxury tent. The luxury upgrade is charged per person.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. A camel ride is included and usually lasts about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the exact camp arrangements and timing.

Is quad biking included?

No. Quad biking is an optional activity charged per person for one hour.