From Fes: 2-Day Luxury Desert Tour to Marrakech & Back Fez

The best part of this two-day Sahara trip is the sudden change from Fes city streets to the tall orange dunes of Erg Chebbi. You leave early, cross the Middle Atlas, pass cedar forests and mountain towns, then trade the vehicle for a camel ride into the desert at sunset.

I like the friendly driver-guides, with names such as Mohammed, Mustafa, Imad, Hamid, and Pedro appearing in the service, and I like the camp setup: clean private tents, bathrooms, hot and cold water, air conditioning, dinner, music, and a sky full of stars. The main thing to consider is the driving. The route can take about seven hours each way, and this is a very full two days.

Key points to know before booking

• Erg Chebbi after dark: Ride camels over the dunes at sunset, then sleep among the sand rather than returning to a town hotel.
• A long but scenic crossing: The road runs through Ifrane, cedar forests, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and the High Atlas.
• Luxury means comfort, not solitude: Your tent may have a private bathroom, air conditioning, and hot and cold water, but the camp remains a planned tourist experience.
• Fes to Marrakech is possible: The second day can finish in Fes or continue to Marrakech by a roughly 550-kilometer transfer.
• Pack cash and water: Lunch and drinks are extra, roadside food can be pricey, and some stops accept cash only.
• Weather affects the magic: Clouds can hide sunrise, monkeys, or stars, and arrival times may run later than planned.

The long road from Fes to the Middle Atlas

Pickup begins around 7:30 in the morning from your hotel or riad. The air-conditioned vehicle is important here, since the first day covers a great deal of ground. Private and small-group options are available, so the feel of the ride depends on the arrangement you book.

Your first notable stop is Ifrane, a tidy mountain town built by the French in the 1930s. Its chalet-style buildings and cool mountain setting have earned it the nickname Morocco’s Switzerland. This is a quick scenic break rather than the main event, but it gives you a sharp contrast with the desert you will reach later.

Beyond Ifrane, the road passes through cedar forests in the Middle Atlas. A stop near the monkeys is part of the route, though the animals may stay hidden in poor weather. If you feed them, bring small cash: one stop was described as charging 20 MAD for food offered to the monkeys.

The cedar forest is one of the most pleasant sections of the drive. You get mountain air, trees, rock formations, and a chance to stretch your legs. It also breaks up the long hours in the vehicle, which matter more than the itinerary makes clear.

Midelt lunch and the shift toward the desert

Around midday, you reach Midelt, a practical mountain town and the usual place for lunch. Lunch is not included, and the available stop may feel aimed at tour groups rather than independent diners. One meal was priced at 120 MAD per person, and the food quality can be uneven.

I would carry snacks from Fes and ask your driver about the menu and price before sitting down. Drinks are also extra. A 1.5-liter bottle of water was reported at about €2, and some roadside stops accept cash rather than cards.

After Midelt, the scenery dries out. The road continues through the Atlas region toward the Ziz Valley, where steep rock walls and a ribbon of green vegetation create one of the route’s most striking views. This is a good time to ask for a photo stop. Drivers such as Imad, Mustafa, Mohammed, Hamid, and Pedro have been praised for stopping at scenic places and explaining the towns along the way.

The route is not a quick transfer to the dunes. It is a full day of changing scenery. You will pass mountain streams, bare rock, broad valleys, and settlements that make the trip feel like a crossing of Morocco rather than a simple excursion from Fes.

First sight of Erg Chebbi and the camel ride

The approach to Merzouga brings the biggest visual surprise of the day. After the stony, dry road, the Erg Chebbi dunes appear in large waves of orange sand. Some dunes reach about 50 meters, and the scale feels much bigger than photographs suggest.

At the desert base, you usually have time in a lounge area before the camel ride. The guides help tie headscarves and get you settled on the animals. The ride leads into the dunes toward camp, with the timing arranged around sunset.

Camel riding is not especially comfortable for everyone. The high seat and rocking motion can be tiring, particularly after a long drive. Still, it gives you a slow, quiet way to enter the desert, and the changing color of the sand in the evening is the reason this route is worth the effort.

Sandboarding is included in the advertised package, but it has not always been available in practice. If it matters to you, confirm it before departure and do not treat it as guaranteed. A quad ride may also be offered in the morning, but it costs extra.

A private tent, dinner, and Berber music

The camp is described as a luxury desert camp, but keep your expectations sensible. You are not booking a remote wilderness shelter. You are staying at a prepared camp with organized meals, staff, electricity or air conditioning in some tents, and private bathroom facilities.

The reported tent setup is a strong point. Some visitors had a large, clean tent with a private bathroom, hot and cold water, and air conditioning. Hot water can run out, so do not expect hotel-level supply at every moment. The camp is comfortable enough to make the overnight stay easy, especially after the long road from Fes.

Dinner usually includes bread, several courses, fruit, and a Moroccan-style main dish. Portions have been described as generous, though one account found the main course repetitive and another criticized a pasta dish at a restaurant stop. Food is part of the experience, but it is wise to judge it as camp cooking rather than a carefully designed restaurant menu.

After dinner, traditional Berber music around the fire gives the evening its character. You may hear drums and singing, and the open setting makes the music feel more personal than a standard hotel performance. The camp staff, including guides such as Azize, Youssif, and Ali, have been praised for helping with headscarves, camel rides, and general arrangements.

Stars above the dunes, with weather as the wild card

The desert is a fine place for stargazing because there is little artificial light. On a clear night, the sky can be the most memorable part of the overnight stay. You can sit outside the tent, listen to the camp music fade, and watch the stars over the dunes.

Do not count on a perfect night sky or a flawless sunrise. Clouds have hidden the sunrise on some departures, just as bad weather has kept the monkeys out of sight. Nature decides what you get. The camel ride, camp, and sunset remain worthwhile even when the weather does not cooperate.

Wake early for sunrise. You will have breakfast among the dunes, then ride the camels back toward Merzouga. The morning light is cooler and softer than sunset, and the return ride gives you a different view of the same sand formations.

If you want to improve your chance of seeing sunrise from a high dune, ask about the optional quad ride. One couple paid extra for it and found it worthwhile, but this cost is not included in the $112 package price.

The second day: back to Fes or onward to Marrakech

After breakfast and the return camel ride, you begin the long drive north. The standard return goes through the desert and Middle Atlas, with stops for lunch, coffee, photographs, and restrooms. The itinerary also mentions a possible return to Marrakech, with a transfer of about 550 kilometers.

This point needs careful planning. A two-day Fes desert trip that ends in Marrakech is a very efficient connection, but it is not a relaxed journey. You are covering a great deal of Morocco in a short time. Confirm your final drop-off location before booking, especially if you need to reach a specific hotel.

One departure finished in Marrakech Medina rather than directly at the hotel. That may be convenient if you are staying in the old city, but it can be awkward with heavy bags or a riad that is far from the square. Ask where the vehicle will stop and how the final transfer works.

The return route includes the Middle Atlas and a possible stop near the monkeys. Again, the animals are not guaranteed to appear. Coffee, water, and bathroom breaks help, but you should still expect a tiring day.

Is $112 good value?

At $112 per person, the package covers a lot: pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a driver-guide, the camel ride, one night in a desert camp, dinner, breakfast, and sandboarding as advertised. For a private or small-group trip, that is a strong price if you want to link Fes with the Sahara in only two days.

The price is less generous once you add lunch, drinks, and optional activities. The long route also means you are paying in time as much as money. A longer desert itinerary would give you more time in Merzouga and less time in the vehicle, but it would not be as useful if your schedule requires Fes to Marrakech.

The value is best for a first visit to Morocco, especially if you want the major desert sights without arranging transport, camp, camel handling, and meals yourself. It is less suitable if you dislike long road days or prefer quiet time in one place.

What the driver can make or break

The driver-guide matters enormously on this route. You spend many hours together, and a good driver turns the road into part of the experience. The strongest accounts describe drivers who were punctual, cheerful, willing to answer questions, and happy to stop for photos and snacks.

The listed guide languages are English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. Ask for your preferred language when arranging the trip, since the quality of explanation depends on the individual driver assigned to you.

There can be changes to timing. One arrival was about two hours later than the stated schedule, and camel rides sometimes began later than planned. This is not a tour for a tightly timed onward connection unless you allow plenty of room.

The operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Pickup details are confirmed after booking, so give a clear hotel or riad location and keep your phone available.

Who should book this desert trip?

I would choose this tour if you want three things at once: a Sahara overnight stay, a practical Fes departure, and the option of reaching Marrakech afterward. It is especially useful for first-time visitors who want a driver to handle the route and explain what they are seeing.

It also suits couples and small groups who value a private tent, a bathroom, air conditioning, and a straightforward camp meal over a more basic desert night. The safe, helpful atmosphere described by two women on one departure is reassuring, though normal travel care still applies.

I would hesitate if you want a slow desert visit, a guaranteed sunrise, or a carefully timed food tour. The road days are long, lunch stops can be touristy, sandboarding may not always be available, and weather can change the program.

Should you book it?

Book it if you can accept the long drive as part of the Moroccan experience. The rewards are substantial: Middle Atlas scenery, the Ziz Valley, towering Erg Chebbi dunes, a sunset camel ride, music by the fire, a comfortable tent, and stars over the sand.

Before paying, confirm three details: your final destination, the exact drop-off point, and whether sandboarding is available on your date. Carry water, snacks, and cash for lunch and drinks. With those expectations in place, this is a good-value way to fit Morocco’s desert into a short itinerary.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two days. The first day runs from Fes through the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley to Merzouga, with the overnight stay in a desert camp. The second day returns to Fes or may continue to Marrakech.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. A camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes is included, along with the return ride to Merzouga after breakfast.

Is sandboarding included?

Sandboarding is listed as included, but it has not always been available during the experience. Confirm this before departure if it is important to you.

Are meals included?

Breakfast and dinner are included. Lunch and drinks are not included, so bring cash and budget for roadside meals and bottled water.

What languages can the guides speak?

Guides are available in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. Private and small-group options are offered.

Can the tour end in Marrakech?

Yes. The second day may continue from the desert to Marrakech by a transfer of about 550 kilometers. Confirm the final drop-off location, since one departure ended in Marrakech Medina rather than directly at a hotel.