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

The best part of this trip comes late on day one, when you leave Merzouga on camelback and cross the sand toward Erg Chebbi as the sun drops. Dinner, music, and a night in a desert camp follow. It is a quick way to reach the Sahara from Fes, but it asks you to spend long hours in a vehicle.

I like the cedar forest stop, where you can see Barbary monkeys, and I like the practical backup for anyone who cannot ride a camel: a 4X4 transfer to camp. Guides named Ali and Hassan Amiri have drawn especially warm praise for being helpful and friendly. The main drawback is time. You spend much of both days driving, so this is a highlights trip, not a slow desert holiday.

Key points to know before you book

• The camel ride lasts about 45 minutes and is timed for sunset, with a second camel experience connected to sunrise.
• The route covers a great deal of Morocco, including Ifrane, the Middle Atlas, Midelt, Ziz Valley, Erfoud, Rissani, and Merzouga.
• A standard desert camp, dinner, breakfast, showers, and sandboarding are included, while lunches, drinks, and personal items cost extra.
• You can join a private or small group tour, with groups listed at up to 17 people.
• The return to Fes is packed into the second day, so plan for a tiring but scenic drive.
• English, French, and Spanish support is available, and hotel or riad pickup can be arranged when the vehicle can reach the property.

Why the Merzouga sunset is the main event

This tour is built around a classic Moroccan desert scene: camels moving over the sand while the light turns gold across the dunes. The ride is about 45 minutes, long enough to feel like a real outing without making you sit on a camel for half a day.

You will leave your luggage at a hotel in Merzouga before meeting the camels. That is useful because you can ride with only what you need for the night. Keep a small bag with sunscreen, a hat, warm clothing, and any medication you need.

The ride ends at the desert camp, where dinner and evening entertainment are provided. The exact style of entertainment can vary, but the plan includes food and a night under the stars. Sandboarding is also included, giving you another way to enjoy the dunes if you have energy left after the drive and camel ride.

I would set expectations sensibly. This is a standard desert camp, not a luxury resort with a private bathroom and a wide range of facilities. You get a shower, dinner, breakfast, and a proper place to sleep, but the camp is part of a fast, value-focused excursion.

Day one begins with Ifrane and the Middle Atlas

Pickup is scheduled for 7:30 am from your hotel or riad, or from the nearest place the vehicle can reach. That last detail matters in Fes, where narrow streets may prevent a minibus from stopping directly at your door.

The first important stop is Ifrane, an alpine-style town known for ski slopes and a noticeably different feel from Fes. It is a brief but useful change of scene. You move from the old city and its tight streets into a cooler mountain setting, with roads that lead into the Middle Atlas.

Next comes the cedar forest. This is one of the more appealing breaks because you get out of the vehicle and see Barbary monkeys in their natural setting. You may also have the chance to feed them, though you should follow the guide’s instructions and avoid treating the animals like tame pets.

This stop gives the long drive a welcome pause. It also makes the journey feel like more than a straight transfer to the desert. If you enjoy wildlife and mountain scenery, the cedar forest may be one of your favorite parts of the first day.

Midelt provides the practical lunch break

The route continues to Midelt, a popular stopping point for lunch. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so you should budget for it separately along with drinks during the day.

Midelt matters less as a major sightseeing stop than as a chance to eat, stretch, and reset. By this point, you will have spent several hours on the road. Use the break well. Refill your water, visit the facilities, and keep a light jacket or sun protection close by because mountain weather can feel different from the heat near the dunes.

The tour uses air-conditioned transport, which is important on a route this long. Comfort will depend partly on the vehicle and the group size, but air conditioning makes a major difference during the warmer part of the journey.

Ziz Valley and Erfoud change the scenery again

After Midelt, the road continues through the Ziz Valley. The route is described as passing through lush green sections before reaching Erfoud, so you get another sharp contrast with the dry sand around Merzouga.

I like this part of the itinerary because it shows how quickly Morocco changes outside the cities. You are not simply driving from Fes to a desert entrance. The route passes mountain roads, forest, valley, and dry southern country in one long day.

Erfoud is the final listed stop before Merzouga. It acts as a transition point before the last stretch to the dunes. By the time you reach Merzouga, you will likely be ready to leave the vehicle and begin the evening activity.

What the desert camp night is really like

At Merzouga, you transfer your luggage to the hotel for storage and set off by camel. The timing is designed around sunset, so the ride is not just transport. It is the main scenic moment of the first day.

The camp provides dinner and breakfast, plus a shower. That makes the overnight stay more practical than a bare-bones outdoor night. You should still pack modestly. Comfortable clothes, closed shoes, sunscreen, and a warm layer are sensible choices, since desert temperatures can change after dark.

The night sky is one of the reasons people choose this trip, but weather and visibility can affect what you see. The tour promises a night beneath the stars, not guaranteed perfect conditions. Music and entertainment are also part of the evening, giving the camp a social feel that suits people who enjoy meeting others.

If you prefer peace and quiet, a group camp may feel lively. Private booking can give you more control over the pace and company, though the supplied details do not specify how every private-tour feature differs from the group option.

Sunrise requires an early start

Day two begins early. You walk across the dunes to watch the sunrise from a point described as just behind the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga. The wording is unusual, so you should confirm the exact sunrise location and timing with the operator before departure.

This is the part of the tour that rewards people who do not mind an early alarm. Sunrise over the dunes can be striking, but you will not be getting a lazy morning. The second camel experience is connected with the sunrise plan, so expect more time on or around the camels before breakfast and the return drive.

You do not have to ride if a camel is unsuitable for you. A 4X4 transfer to the campsite can be arranged for people who cannot ride, making the tour more accessible for mixed-age groups and families. The activity is described as easygoing and suitable for all ages, but the long vehicle journey still makes it tiring for very young children or anyone who dislikes extended road travel.

The return route is scenic but demanding

After breakfast, the return journey includes the Ziz Valley and a lunch break. The plan then heads back through the Midelt and Ifrane areas before drop-off in Fes.

This is a lot of ground for one day. You should expect the second day to feel more like a road trip than a relaxed desert morning. The benefit is that you return to Fes without adding another hotel night or arranging a separate transfer. The cost is less time at each stop and a late, potentially tiring arrival.

Your final drop-off will be at your hotel or riad when the vehicle can reach it, or at the nearest accessible point. In the old city, that may mean walking the last stretch with your luggage, so ask about the exact drop-off plan if your accommodation is inside a pedestrian area.

What the $108 price includes

At $108 per person, the tour offers solid value if you want transport, desert activities, and one overnight stay arranged together. The price includes air-conditioned transportation, a professional driver, multilingual guiding, the standard desert camp, dinner, breakfast, a shower, camel riding, and sandboarding.

The value comes from the distance covered. Reaching Merzouga independently from Fes requires arranging transport, a place to sleep, camel access, and the return journey. Here, those pieces are combined into one booking.

You still need money for two lunches, drinks, and personal items. Those extras are easy to overlook because the headline price covers many major parts of the trip. Bring enough cash or confirm accepted payment methods before leaving Fes, since no payment details for meals and drinks are specified.

A private tour may be worth considering if you want more control over stops or do not enjoy sharing a vehicle. A small group is likely the better deal for solo visitors or couples who want to keep the cost down. The advertised group size can reach 17 people, so ask for the expected group size at your chosen date rather than assuming every departure will be tiny.

Guides, languages, and the human side

The tour offers English, French, and Spanish support. That gives you a better chance of asking questions and understanding practical instructions during the long drive and desert activities.

Ali is praised for being kind and ready to help, while Hassan Amiri is singled out as a friendly guide. Guide assignments can change, so treat those names as useful possibilities rather than a promise that one of them will lead your departure.

The strongest pattern in the feedback is not a single sightseeing stop. It is the attitude of the driver and guide, plus smooth organization. That matters here because the itinerary has many moving parts: pickup in Fes, mountain stops, lunch timing, luggage storage, camels, camp arrival, sunrise, and the long return.

Who should choose this two-day trip

I would recommend it to you if you have limited time in Morocco and want to see the desert without giving up a night in Fes. It suits people who enjoy a busy route, changing scenery, group meals, and a first taste of camel travel.

It is also a good fit for families or mixed groups because the camel ride is short, the pace is described as easygoing, and a 4X4 option is available for people who cannot ride. Sandboarding gives children and active adults something else to do at camp.

I would hesitate if you want a slow desert stay, a luxury camp, or long walks in each town. Two days is enough for the main sights, but not enough for a relaxed exploration of every stop. The road time is the tradeoff for the low price and quick return to Fes.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and a second hat if you like extra protection. The desert can be bright and exposed, while the mountain section may feel cooler. Keep water and essential items with you rather than packing them in the stored luggage.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing the Sahara from Fes in the shortest practical time. The camel sunset, desert camp, sunrise, cedar forest, and mountain route give you a lot for $108, especially with dinner, breakfast, transport, and sandboarding included.

Choose another plan if you can spare more than two days and want a gentler pace. For everyone else, this is a well-packed introduction to southern Morocco. Confirm the pickup point, expected group size, sunrise arrangements, and lunch costs before paying, then go in ready for long drives and a memorable night among the dunes.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 2 days, with pickup in Fes scheduled for 7:30 am on the first day.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup can be arranged from your hotel or riad when the vehicle can access it. Otherwise, you will meet the vehicle at the nearest accessible point.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. Camel riding is included for the sunset journey, with a camel experience also connected to the sunrise program.

What meals are included?

Dinner and breakfast are included. Lunches and drinks are not included.

Can I join if I cannot ride a camel?

Yes. A 4X4 vehicle can transport you to the campsite if camel riding is not suitable.

What languages are available?

Guiding is available in English, French, and Spanish.