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

The big draw here is simple: you leave Fes in the morning and reach the Sahara by sunset. Along the way, you get cedar forests, Barbary monkeys, mountain roads, the Ziz Valley, a camel ride, a camp dinner, and a sunrise among the Erg Chebbi dunes. It packs a lot into two days.

I like the route for two reasons. First, the drive is broken up by real stops rather than treated as one long transfer. Second, the tour includes the key desert moments: sunset by camel, dinner under the stars, sunrise, and sandboarding. The possible drawback is the return to Fes. Day two is a long road day, so this works best if you value seeing the desert more than lingering in each place.

Key points at a glance

• A full desert crossing from Fes: Leave around 7:30 a.m. and travel through Ifrane, the Middle Atlas, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Erfoud before reaching Merzouga.
• Barbary monkeys in the cedar forest: Stop in the Middle Atlas to see and feed the resident monkeys.
• A short but memorable camel ride: Ride for about 45 minutes toward the camp while the sun drops over the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• A night at a standard desert camp: Dinner, breakfast, a shower, and an overnight stay are included.
• Sunrise and sandboarding: Start day two early for the dunes, with a camel option and a 4X4 transfer if camel riding is not comfortable.
• Small-group or private format: Groups can reach 17 people, with English, French, and Spanish available.

From Fes to Ifrane by 7:30 a.m.

Your day starts early, with pickup from your hotel, riad, or the nearest place the vehicle can reach. In Fes, some old-town streets are too narrow for a minibus, so the exact pickup point may be a short walk from your accommodation.

The first stretch takes you toward Ifrane, a mountain town with an alpine-style look and ski slopes. It is an unusual opening to a Moroccan desert trip. Instead of heading straight into dry country, you pass through a cooler mountain setting that feels more European in style.

Ifrane is mainly a short scenic stop on this trip, not a long visit. You should think of it as a chance to stretch your legs, take in the change in setting, and see how quickly Morocco shifts from the lanes of Fes to mountain country.

The early departure matters. This is a route of many hours, and the tour needs most of the day to reach Merzouga in time for the camel ride and sunset. If you dislike long drives, this is the first point to consider carefully.

Cedar forests and Barbary monkeys in the Middle Atlas

The cedar forest stop gives the first real break from the vehicle. Here, you can see Barbary monkeys and feed them. It is a light, family-friendly moment, but it also adds variety to a day that could otherwise become a long sequence of road views.

Bring comfortable shoes and keep your sun hat and sunscreen handy. Even when the air feels cool in the mountains, you will spend much of the day outside at stops, and the sun becomes stronger as you move toward the desert.

I would treat the monkey stop as a pleasant encounter rather than a wildlife expedition. The point is to see the animals in their forest setting and enjoy a short pause, not to expect a long nature walk or a formal animal presentation.

From here, the road continues through the Middle Atlas Mountains. The winding route is part of the experience, but it also adds to the travel time. If you have motion sickness, sit where the ride feels smoothest and keep water close.

Midelt lunch and the long road south

Midelt is the practical halfway stop for lunch. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay separately for food and drinks. This is also a useful place to rest before the longer push toward Merzouga.

The tour includes comfortable air-conditioned transport, which is important on this route. Still, air conditioning does not make a long drive short. You are covering a large distance in two days, and Midelt is a pause within the journey, not a full sightseeing stop.

After Midelt, the scenery changes again. The route passes through the Ziz Valley, with its greener strip of vegetation cutting through a much drier setting. This contrast is one of the best parts of the drive because you see how water shapes settlement and agriculture in the region.

The road then continues to Erfoud, known as the final stop before Merzouga on this itinerary. The break here helps divide the final stretch and gives you another chance to get out of the vehicle before the desert portion begins.

Your driver is described as speaking English, French, and other languages, with Spanish also available. That matters on a trip with so many stops. You will want clear information about meeting times, meal breaks, the camel departure, and the next morning’s plan.

Recent praise has focused on guides named Ali and Hassan Amiri, both associated with friendly, helpful service. Guide quality can shape a road trip like this, since your driver is also the person helping the group manage a demanding schedule.

Arriving in Merzouga and storing your luggage

Once you reach Merzouga, you transfer to the hotel area to store your luggage before heading into the dunes. Pack a small overnight bag for the camp and leave the rest in the vehicle or at the designated hotel storage point.

This is a useful detail that can make the evening easier. You do not want to take a full suitcase onto a camel. Keep only what you need for the night, such as a warm layer, toiletries, sunscreen, and a phone charger if you have one.

The included camp is described as a standard desert camp. That tells you to expect a basic overnight setting rather than a luxury desert lodge. You receive dinner, breakfast, and a shower, but drinks and personal items are not included.

A 45-minute camel ride to sunset

The camel trek lasts about 45 minutes and is timed for sunset. That is long enough to feel like a real desert ride without making you spend hours in the saddle.

Your camel carries you over sandy ground toward the camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes. The appeal is not speed. It is the slow change in light, the open view, and the odd, rocking rhythm of riding a camel while the desert becomes quieter around you.

Wear comfortable clothes and closed, comfortable shoes. A scarf or light layer can also be useful, since temperatures can change quickly after sunset, though the required packing information specifically calls for comfortable shoes, a sun hat, a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing.

Camel riding is not for everyone. It can be awkward when mounting and dismounting, and a short ride may still feel demanding if you have back, hip, or knee problems. The good news is that you can use a 4X4 vehicle to reach the campsite if you cannot ride the camels.

That option makes the tour more accessible, but you should tell the operator ahead of time. The trip is described as easygoing and suitable for all ages, yet the long road days and dune conditions still require basic comfort with travel.

Dinner, stars, and a standard desert camp

At camp, dinner is included, followed by the overnight stay. Entertainment is part of the evening, although the exact program is not specified, so I would keep expectations open rather than book this for one particular show.

The desert night is the main event. Away from Fes and the busy roads, you have a chance to sit outside, look across the dunes, and enjoy a setting that feels very different from the city and mountain sections earlier in the day.

A standard camp is best for people who want the desert experience without paying for a higher-end camp. You receive the basic comforts listed, including a shower, but this is not the place to expect a hotel room or a wide range of services.

The camp includes breakfast the next morning. Lunches are not included on either day, and drinks are extra, so carry some cash and buy water before the remote stretches of the route.

Sandboarding is also included. You may use it around the dunes during the desert portion, adding a bit of activity to an evening that otherwise centers on the camel ride and camp meal.

Sunrise near the Algerian border

Day two begins early. You rise and walk across the dunes to watch the sunrise from a viewpoint described as near the Algerian border, roughly 50 kilometers from Merzouga. The wording of the itinerary makes this a planned sunrise outing in the direction of the border area, not a claim that you will walk 50 kilometers.

Sunrise is worth the early alarm. The dunes catch the first light gradually, and the morning is usually the calmest time to be outside. You will want warm clothing if the season is cool, along with shoes that can handle sand.

The tour includes a camel option for sunrise as well as the sunset ride. If you prefer not to ride, the 4X4 transfer to camp provides an alternative for the desert section. Ask the guide how the morning transport is arranged when you arrive, since timing matters on a short tour.

After sunrise, you return for breakfast and prepare to leave the desert. This part of the trip is less leisurely than a three or four-day desert route. The goal is to see the sunrise and begin the return journey, not spend a full morning at camp.

The return through Rissani, the Ziz Valley, and Midelt

The return route includes Rissani and another look at the Ziz Valley before a lunch stop. Rissani is part of the road journey here, and the schedule does not describe a long guided visit, so treat it as a regional stop rather than a major sightseeing session.

The Ziz Valley is especially welcome on the return because you can recognize the change from the dry desert to the greener valley corridor. It is one of the route’s best visual contrasts, even when viewed from a vehicle with only short breaks.

Lunch remains at your own expense. You will also need to buy drinks and cover personal items yourself. Since the schedule runs across two long days, budget for these costs rather than assuming the $108 price covers every meal.

The road then retraces the mountain route through Midelt and Ifrane before returning to Fes. The final arrival time is not given, and traffic, road conditions, and stop lengths can affect it. Avoid booking an important evening activity in Fes that requires a precise arrival time.

Is $108 a good value?

At $108 per person, the price is strong for what is included if your priority is seeing the Sahara from Fes in only two days. You receive air-conditioned transport, a professional driver, a desert camp, dinner, breakfast, a shower, sunset and sunrise camel rides, and sandboarding.

The price also includes the main transport problem: getting you from Fes to Merzouga and back. Organizing that journey alone would mean arranging long-distance transport, desert transfers, camp access, and camel rides separately.

The tradeoff is pace. You are paying for access and convenience, not for long stops or slow travel. Lunches, drinks, and personal purchases add to the final cost, and a private vehicle or smaller format may cost more than the advertised per-person price.

Groups can reach 17 people, while private and small-group options are available. A group of that size may make stops and camel departures less personal, but it can keep the base price low. If you want more control over breaks or more direct time with the driver, ask about the private option.

The booking terms are also flexible. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Check the available starting times for your date, since the listed pickup is around 7:30 a.m.

Who should choose this Fes desert trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Morocco and want the major Merzouga moments without arranging a complex trip yourself. It suits first-time visitors who want a guided route through the Middle Atlas, a camel ride, a camp night, and a sunrise.

It also fits families and mixed-age groups because the tour is described as suitable for all ages and offers a 4X4 alternative to camel riding. The easygoing format helps, though young children and older adults may still find the long driving days tiring.

This is less suitable if you want deep time in the desert, a luxury camp, or a relaxed pace. For that, you would want a longer trip with more nights around Merzouga.

Language should be straightforward for many people. English, French, and Spanish are listed, and the driver is expected to provide practical guidance throughout the route. The exact guide matters, so ask who will lead your departure if you have a preference.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a compact Sahara sampler and accept that the road is half the experience. The cedar forest, monkeys, mountain towns, valley views, camel sunset, camp dinner, sunrise, and sandboarding give you a broad taste of southern Morocco for a reasonable price.

Skip it if two long driving days would overshadow the desert for you. In that case, spend more time and money on a longer Merzouga stay. For a short trip from Fes, though, this is a practical way to reach the dunes and return with the classic desert memories intact.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two days.

What time does pickup take place in Fes?

Pickup is scheduled for around 7:30 a.m. from your hotel, riad, or the nearest accessible point for the vehicle.

What places do you visit on the way to Merzouga?

The route includes Ifrane, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Erfoud before reaching Merzouga.

Are meals included?

Dinner at the desert camp and breakfast are included. Lunches and drinks are not included.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The tour includes a camel ride at sunset and a camel option for sunrise.

How long is the sunset camel ride?

The sunset camel ride lasts about 45 minutes.

Can I avoid riding a camel?

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

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English, French, and Spanish.