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

The best part of this trip is the sudden change from Fes’s old-city lanes to the open gold of Erg Chebbi. In one long day, you pass alpine Ifrane, cedar forests with Barbary macaques, rocky Atlas roads, palm-filled valleys, and finally the Sahara. I like the camel ride at sunset, and I like that the night includes a real dinner, campfire music, and time under the stars rather than a quick photo stop.

The trade-off is clear: this is a long road trip, not two leisurely days in the dunes. The Fes to Merzouga drive takes roughly seven to eight hours, and the return to Marrakech can take 10 hours or more. If you want more time for villages, kasbahs, and desert activities, choose a three- or four-day route.

Key points to know before booking

• The cedar-forest stop adds wildlife to the journey: You can see Barbary macaques near Azrou, though their presence is not guaranteed.
• Erg Chebbi is the main event: Ride a camel across the dunes, watch the sunset, and wake early for sunrise.
• The camp is more comfortable than basic camping: Standard, private, and luxury tent choices are available, with some private tents offering bathrooms and showers.
• Your driver matters: Moha, Hassan, Mustapha, Driss, Zaki, Abdul, and others are praised for safe driving, local knowledge, and well-timed stops.
• The return route affects the value: Fes is the easier return, while Marrakech lets you connect two major Moroccan cities but requires a very long second day.
• Pack water and warm layers: Drinks are not included, desert nights can be cold, and camp supplies vary.

What this two-day desert trip really offers

This is best understood as a fast crossing of Morocco with one memorable night in the Sahara. You spend much of the first and second days in a vehicle, but the route is scenic and broken up by useful stops.

The tour leaves Fes at about 7:45 AM from your hotel or a nearby meeting point. Transport is by air-conditioned 4WD vehicle or minibus, with the exact setup depending on the group. Some people end up in a 4×4 with only one other person, while others travel in a minibus with several passengers.

That variation matters. A small group can make the long drive more comfortable and makes photo stops easier. A larger vehicle may cost less, but you have less control over when to stop. The company usually aims to keep the journey moving while allowing breaks for toilets, food, photos, and viewpoints.

Your driver is likely to shape the day. Drivers named in the feedback include Moha, Hassan, Mustapha, Driss, Zaki, Abdul, Ahmed, Jamal, Simo, and Yassine. The strongest experiences came when the driver treated the route as more than a transfer, explaining Morocco, suggesting sensible lunch stops, and pausing at scenic places.

Ifrane gives you a very different Morocco

The first stop is Ifrane, a mountain town with clean streets, alpine-style buildings, and a cooler climate. It is often called the Switzerland of Morocco, a comparison that makes more sense here than it does in most tourist slogans.

You have free time to walk around and take photos, including at the stone lion statue. This is a short stop rather than a full visit, but it breaks up the early drive and gives you a glimpse of a polished mountain town before the road becomes more rugged.

Do not expect a deep tour of Ifrane. The value is the contrast. Fes is dense, historic, and urban; Ifrane feels open, tidy, and mountain-oriented. If you enjoy noticing how quickly Morocco changes from one region to another, this is a worthwhile introduction.

Azrou’s cedar forest and its Barbary macaques

The road continues to the cedar forests near Azrou. This stop is popular because of the resident Barbary macaques, which may come close to the roadside. You can watch them and take photos, but use care when interacting with them.

The monkeys are a welcome change from sitting in the vehicle, especially for families. One family found the stop especially enjoyable for children, alongside later camel and donkey encounters. Still, this is a wild-animal stop, not a zoo visit. The animals may be less active in bad weather, and one person reported missing them on the return because of rain.

The forest air is cooler than the desert, and the road here passes through mountain scenery, rocky slopes, and Berber villages. Take a jacket from your luggage rather than packing it away for the night. You may start the morning in cool mountain air and end it in desert heat.

Midelt is a practical lunch break

Midelt sits between the Middle and High Atlas ranges and is used mainly as a lunch stop. Lunch is not included, but the driver suggests a restaurant and you can choose whether to eat there.

This arrangement keeps the tour price down and gives you some choice, but you should budget for the meal. Drinks are also not included, and bottled water is not supplied as part of the tour. Several people specifically wished that water had been available during the drive and meals, so bring or buy enough before the remote parts of the route.

The stop also gives you a chance to stretch your legs. After several hours on winding roads, that matters more than the food itself. Drivers such as Mustapha and Moha were praised for choosing pleasant places to eat, while others offered more than one option.

The Ziz Valley changes the scenery again

After Midelt, the road follows the Ziz River toward the Ziz Valley. Date palms fill the lower ground, with fortified villages and dry slopes rising around them.

This is one of the most rewarding parts of the drive because it shows how water shapes life in southeastern Morocco. The palm groves are not just pretty scenery. They support date farming and mark the route into the drier regions near the Sahara.

Your driver may stop for a view or a photo, but timing can be tight. The goal is to reach Merzouga in the late afternoon, when the dunes are at their best. If your group takes long breaks, the camel ride or sunset timing may be shortened.

Arriving at Merzouga and riding into Erg Chebbi

Merzouga sits beside the Erg Chebbi dunes, a broad area of sweeping orange sand. Depending on the day’s timing, you may have a short rest at a local kasbah before heading to the camels.

The included camel ride is generally a short transfer into the desert camp, advertised at about 20 minutes. Some accounts describe around 30 minutes, while one described a much longer ride, so do not book this expecting an all-day camel trek. The main purpose is to cross the dunes at sunset and reach camp in a memorable way.

Camels can be bumpy when they stand up and sit down. The climb up soft sand is also harder than it looks, particularly if you walk on the dunes before or after the ride. Wear shoes that stay on your feet and keep your phone secure.

The sunset is the point. As the sun drops, the sand changes color and the shadows stretch across the ridges. If the weather prevents the evening ride, the staff may shift the camel activity to sunrise, as happened for one group after rain.

The desert camp is comfortable, but not always rustic

At camp, you choose among a shared tent, a private standard tent, or a private luxury tent. The exact facilities depend on the category, and the luxury upgrade is charged per person.

Many people were surprised by the comfort. Private tents were described as large and clean, with good beds, power, bathrooms, and in some cases hot showers. That is excellent value if you want the desert setting without giving up basic comfort.

If you picture a simple Berber camp with only blankets and a lantern, the standard setup may feel more developed than expected. One person preferred a more local and less luxurious atmosphere. That is not a fault, but it is worth knowing: this tour offers desert scenery with camp comfort, not a survival-style night in the sand.

Dinner is included and is usually traditional Moroccan food, including tagine. Vegetarian food was available for at least some groups, but you should state dietary needs in advance rather than assume every meal will suit you.

After dinner, local staff play Saharan music around the fire. The evening is simple and social. You may sit with your group, listen to drums, and look up at a much darker sky than the one over Fes. Power may be available in the tents, but cell service and Wi-Fi can be limited or absent.

Sunrise is worth the early alarm

The next morning begins before sunrise. You can walk across the dunes to a high point behind the large dunes, then return to the camp for breakfast and time to freshen up.

The sunrise is arguably the strongest part of the schedule. The low light brings out the curves in the sand, and the quiet feels very different from the music and dinner of the previous night.

Quad bikes may be available as an optional extra, charged per person for one hour. Several people considered the ride worthwhile, especially at sunrise, but it is not part of the standard price. Decide before you leave the camp area if you want it, and keep in mind that it replaces some quiet time in the dunes.

After breakfast, you ride or drive back to the nearby starting point and collect your luggage before beginning the return journey.

Returning to Fes or continuing to Marrakech

The Fes return is the more straightforward option. The drive from Merzouga to Fes takes about seven hours, though stops, road conditions, and traffic can extend that. It lets you finish in the city where you started and avoids another major mountain crossing.

The Marrakech option is useful if you are moving across Morocco. The route passes through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, Berber villages, and the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Arrival is expected around 8 or 9 PM, but it can be later.

The Marrakech leg is commonly described as about 10 hours, and one account reported a 14-hour return. That difference reflects traffic, stops, weather, vehicle changes, and road conditions. The scenery can be excellent, but you should not plan an important evening reservation after arrival.

There is another practical issue: the driver who takes you from Fes to Merzouga may not be the person who takes you onward to Marrakech. Several strong experiences came from drivers who handled both the route and the commentary, while some return journeys involved joining another group and using a less comfortable bus.

If you need a dependable, relaxed transfer to Marrakech, a longer three- or four-day route is the better choice. If you have limited time and want to combine transport with a night in the desert, this two-day option makes sense.

Food, water, weather, and what to pack

Breakfast and dinner are included. Lunches, drinks, and water are not. Bring a refillable bottle and buy extra water before the long remote stretches, especially in summer.

The desert has sharp temperature changes. June through August can bring very hot days, and December through February can bring cold nights. One person found the tent freezing, while another found the tents warm and well insulated. Both experiences are possible depending on the season and tent category.

Pack:

• Warm layers, even in a warm season
• Sun protection and a hat
• Comfortable shoes with a secure fit
• A small towel, since one camp did not provide them
• Water and snacks for the road
• A portable battery, because charging and signal may be limited
• A small personal fan for summer vehicle rides if you are sensitive to heat

The vehicles have air conditioning, but airflow may not reach every seat evenly in June, July, and August. A minibus can feel particularly warm during long stretches.

How good is the value?

The value is strongest when you see this as both a desert tour and a cross-country transfer. You get transportation, a professional driver, breakfast, dinner, a camel ride, and one night at camp in a single package. You also avoid paying separately for a long private transfer between Fes and the desert.

The price is less attractive if your only goal is to spend time in the dunes. Much of the trip is spent on the road, and the camel ride is short. The two-day schedule keeps the cost and time down, but it also compresses the experience.

The private tent upgrade can be worth paying for if you want your own room and bathroom. The luxury choice is charged per person, so confirm the added cost before booking. Quad biking is also extra and individual, not a shared group activity included in the tour.

The strongest value comes from a good driver. People praised Moha, Hassan, Mustapha, Driss, Zaki, Abdul, and others for safe driving, regular stops, local explanations, and small kindnesses such as finding dates to taste or stopping at scenic spots. You cannot usually choose your driver with certainty, but the operator’s communication before departure was described as prompt and helpful by several people.

Who should book this trip?

You should book it if you have only two days, want to see the Sahara from Fes, and accept a fast pace. It suits couples, solo visitors, families with children, and anyone who wants an overnight desert camp without arranging several separate transfers.

Families can manage the route, and children may enjoy the monkeys, camel ride, camp music, and optional quad bikes. The long vehicle hours are the main challenge, so bring quiet entertainment and be ready for breaks rather than constant activity.

Solo visitors can also fit in well, particularly when the group is small. The experience may be less private in a shared minibus, but the camp and dinner provide an easy social setting.

Skip it if you dislike long road journeys, need guaranteed arrival times, or want a slow desert stay. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users. For a more relaxed trip, choose three or four days and allow extra time in the Draa Valley, the kasbah country, and the High Atlas.

Should you book the Fes desert tour?

I would book this tour if the Sahara is a priority and your schedule is tight. The drive is demanding, but the route has real variety, the camp night delivers the main desert moments, and the overall package can be strong value.

Choose the return to Fes if comfort and simplicity matter most. Choose Marrakech only if you need the connection and can handle a very long second day. Bring water, warm clothes, and patience, then focus on the sunset, the stars, and the first light over Erg Chebbi. Those are the parts you will remember.

FAQ

How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?

The journey takes roughly seven to eight hours, depending on stops, traffic, and road conditions.

What time does pickup begin in Fes?

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

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, and a suggested restaurant is available during the Midelt stop. Lunch is optional.

Is water included?

No. Drinks and water are not included, so bring or buy water for the drive and desert stay.

How long is the camel ride?

The camel ride is advertised at about 20 minutes. Some experiences describe around 30 minutes, so you should expect a short ride into the camp rather than a full-day trek.

Can I return to Marrakech instead of Fes?

Yes. The Marrakech route passes through the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Arrival is usually around 8 or 9 PM, but the journey can take longer.

Are quad bikes included?

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

Will I have Wi-Fi and cell service in the desert?

Cell service and Wi-Fi may be limited or unavailable near the camp. Share your itinerary with someone before leaving and prepare to be offline.