2-Days Desert Tours from Fes with Overnight in Luxury Camp

The best part of this two-day Fes desert tour is the sharp change in scenery. You leave cool mountain forests near Ifrane and Azrou, cross the Middle Atlas, pass Berber villages and rocky hills, then reach the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi by late afternoon. That is a lot of Morocco in a short time.

I like the camel ride at sunset and the chance to sleep in a desert tent rather than simply visit the dunes for an hour. I also like the human touch: drivers such as Zaki are praised for safe driving, clean air-conditioned vehicles, local tips, and a calm manner during the long road sections.

The catch is simple: this is a very ambitious trip. You spend many hours in the vehicle on both days, and the desert itself gets only one night. If you want slow village visits or several hours to explore Merzouga, choose a longer tour.

Key points to know before booking

• A full Fes to Sahara run in two days: You cover the Middle Atlas, Midelt, Errachidia, Rissani, and Merzouga on a tight schedule.
• Sunset by camel at Erg Chebbi: The ride takes about an hour and ends at the desert camp.
• An overnight Berber tent stay: Dinner, breakfast, accommodation, and camel transport are included.
• Early sunrise before the return drive: You can walk over the dunes, then ride the camels back to the hotel.
• Small-group transport: The maximum group size is 17 people, with pickup offered and a mobile ticket.
• Good value at $139.37 per person: The price covers the vehicle, driver, lodging, meals listed, and camel ride, but not lunches, drinks, or insurance.

What this two-day Fes desert trip really involves

This is not a relaxed desert holiday. It is a fast road journey with a memorable desert night built into the middle.

You leave Fes at 8 a.m. in a comfortable vehicle with a professional driver. The exact driving time depends on road conditions and stops, but the schedule makes clear that much of both days is spent on the road. That is the price of reaching Merzouga and returning to Fes in only two days.

The reward is variety. In the morning, you are looking at cedar trees and mountain towns. By afternoon, the scenery has dried out, the roads run through broad valleys and rocky country, and palms begin to signal the approach of the Sahara. It is a strong choice for you if the desert is a must-see but your Morocco trip leaves little spare time.

The group can include up to 17 people. That keeps the cost down, but it also means the pace and stop times are shared. Pickup is offered, and confirmation is provided when you book. Most people can take part, but the schedule is not designed for a leisurely pace or long independent walks.

Day one: from Fes to the cedar forest near Azrou

The first stop is the cedar forest at Azrou, reached after passing through Ifrane. You get about 30 minutes here, enough for a short walk and a look at the Barbary macaques that live in the area.

This is a pleasant early break after leaving Fes. The forest gives you a cool, green beginning before the road heads toward the dry interior. You may see the monkeys close to the stopping area, and the short visit gives you a chance to stretch your legs.

Do not expect a long forest hike. The stop is brief, and its main purpose is a quick encounter with the monkeys and a taste of the Middle Atlas. Keep food secure and follow the driver’s instructions around the animals.

Crossing the Middle Atlas and stopping in Midelt

After Azrou, the trip winds through the Middle Atlas. This is one of the most scenic parts of the drive, with forests, springs, jagged rock faces, and Berber villages appearing along the route.

You are not simply being transported from Fes to the desert. The road itself is part of the experience. Watch the scenery change through the vehicle windows, and keep your camera ready during the mountain sections. The contrast between the wooded highlands and the dry country ahead helps you understand Morocco’s geography better than a straight flight ever could.

Midelt is the main midday stop. The town is known for fossils and rocks, and the schedule allows around three hours. Lunch is not included, so you pay for your own meal and drinks. That arrangement gives you some choice, but ask your driver about the planned stop and prices before ordering.

Three hours can feel generous on a tightly packed tour. In practice, some of that time includes arriving, eating, and getting ready to leave. Still, Midelt is an important pause. By this point, you have already spent several hours in the vehicle, and a proper meal and walk make the afternoon easier.

Errachidia and the first palm oases

The road continues toward Errachidia before turning toward Merzouga. The drive takes you through a marked change in terrain, with dry hills and broad views replacing the forests of the morning.

A planned viewpoint gives you a look over a large palm oasis. This is one of those brief stops that makes the route feel like a journey through several regions rather than a single long transfer. The palms offer a strong visual clue that you are nearing the desert communities.

The stop is listed at about two hours, though the exact timing can depend on the day’s traffic, road conditions, and group. This is another reason to treat the tour as a guided road trip rather than a schedule of fixed museum visits. Your driver controls much of the rhythm.

Several people praise drivers such as Zaki for safe driving, clean vehicles, language skills, and useful local advice. One practical benefit mentioned is help finding suitable food and an ATM. Those small details matter on a long route, especially when you are managing meals and cash in unfamiliar towns.

Reaching Merzouga and riding into Erg Chebbi

You should reach Merzouga in the afternoon, around 5 p.m. After a short rest, your guide and camels meet you for the ride into the dunes.

The camel trek takes about an hour. It is not a full-day expedition, but it gives you time to cross the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi and watch the light soften toward sunset. The ride can feel slow and slightly awkward at first, so use the handholds and listen to the camel handlers.

Sunset is the emotional high point of the first day. From the camel saddle, you see the sand change color as the sun drops. The broad, quiet setting is very different from the busy roads and towns you crossed earlier.

At the camp, the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served. Dinner follows, and you spend the night in a Berber tent. The tour describes the accommodation as luxury camping. One detailed account describes a spacious, clean tent with an ensuite bathroom, though you should confirm the exact tent setup when booking if private facilities matter to you.

The included dinner and breakfast help make the price more useful. You still pay separately for lunches and drinks, so keep that in your budget. At night, step outside if the weather is clear. The open desert gives you a good chance to see a star-filled sky, which several comments single out as one of the strongest memories of the trip.

Some desert camps also have Amazigh music or evening entertainment, but that is not guaranteed by the supplied tour details. Treat the quiet, the tea, the meal, and the stars as the reliable highlights.

Day two: sunrise, breakfast, and the ride back

The second day starts early. You can walk over the dunes and watch the sunrise, with the tour description placing the viewpoint near the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga.

Sunrise requires an early alarm, but this is the best time to see the dunes before the heat builds. The sand has a cooler color, the air is calmer, and the first light gives the ridges a sharp outline. If you want photographs, this is usually better than waiting for the middle of the day.

After breakfast, you take the camels back to the hotel. The return ride takes about two hours according to the schedule. You may be ready for a shower and a change of clothes by then, so the hotel stop is useful before the long drive north.

The camel ride is included, but you should still consider your comfort. Sitting on a camel for two rides can be tiring, especially if you are not used to it. The tour is suitable for most people, but the schedule does not leave much room to opt out and replace the ride with a longer rest at camp.

Rissani gives the return journey a local stop

After leaving the desert, the route passes through Rissani. You have about an hour to see its monuments and colorful souk.

This is a good addition because it gives you a glimpse of a settled desert town rather than only the dunes. A souk visit can be more interesting when you have a little context from the road and the camp experience behind you. Still, one hour is short, so expect a quick look rather than a detailed market visit.

The stop also breaks up the return drive. After the early sunrise and camel ride, you will appreciate any chance to walk around before getting back in the vehicle.

The long return through Midelt to Fes

The return route includes another stop in Midelt for lunch, with about three hours scheduled there before continuing to Fes.

This is the least glamorous part of the trip, but it is important to be honest about it. The second day is largely a transfer day. You get another look at the Middle Atlas from a different direction, but you should expect a long ride and limited time for extra sightseeing.

Bring water, keep a light layer within reach, and use the rest stops to stretch. Drinks are not included, and you should not assume every stop will provide exactly what you want. A small amount of Moroccan dirham is useful for lunch, drinks, and personal purchases.

The comfortable vehicle helps, but comfort cannot erase the distance. If you dislike long road journeys, this two-day schedule may feel rushed and tiring. If you see the drive as part of the route, the changing scenery makes it far more worthwhile.

What the $139.37 price includes

At $139.37 per person, the tour offers strong value if you want the main desert experience without arranging several separate bookings.

The price includes:

• Transportation in a comfortable vehicle
• A professional driver
• Accommodation in the desert
• Camel rides
• Dinner
• Breakfast

You pay extra for lunches, drinks, and travel insurance. The biggest value comes from combining transport, camp accommodation, meals, and camels in one package. You avoid having to coordinate a vehicle from Fes, a Merzouga transfer, a camel operator, and a desert camp yourself.

The group limit of 17 people also helps explain the price. This is not the same as a private journey with flexible stops. If you want the driver to change the route for your interests, ask about a private option before booking.

The guide and driver can shape the whole day

On a trip with so many hours in a vehicle, the driver matters a great deal. Zaki is repeatedly praised for friendly service, safe driving, patience, local information, and a clean air-conditioned van. Those qualities are not minor extras here. They affect how comfortable you feel during the longest parts of the journey.

Driver assignments can vary, so do not assume Zaki will be your driver unless the operator confirms it. The useful thing to look for is the same set of qualities: careful driving, clear communication, help with stops, and willingness to explain what you are seeing.

The camel handlers are also part of the experience. The information provided describes them as helpful and multilingual, which can make the ride easier if you have questions or need help mounting and dismounting.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you have only a short time in Morocco and the Sahara is high on your list. It suits people who want a clear route, included transport, and a simple overnight camp experience without planning each part themselves.

It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want to see how quickly Morocco changes from mountain forest to desert. The route gives you more than dunes: you see Azrou, Midelt, Errachidia, palm oases, Rissani, and several types of rural scenery.

I would think twice if you want quiet mornings, long market visits, or more than one night in the desert. A three-day or longer trip would give you more time to pause and reduce the amount of driving packed into each day.

The tour requires decent weather. If bad weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book the Fes to Merzouga trip?

Book it if you want the maximum desert experience in minimum time. The camel ride, sunset, tent, dinner, sunrise, and return through Rissani make the short schedule worthwhile, and the price covers the major costs.

Skip it if the idea of many hours on the road bothers you. The honest trade-off is simple: you save time and money, but you give up a slower pace. For a short Morocco holiday, that can be a smart bargain. For a trip built around rest and local wandering, add another day.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m. Pickup is offered.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 17 people.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. Camel rides are included on the route to the desert camp and on the return to the hotel.

Are meals included?

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

Where do you sleep?

You spend the night in a Berber tent at a desert camp near Merzouga. The experience is described as luxury camping.

What happens on the first day?

You travel from Fes through Ifrane and Azrou, stop at the cedar forest, continue through the Middle Atlas to Midelt, pass Errachidia, reach Merzouga, ride camels across Erg Chebbi, watch the sunset, eat dinner, and sleep at the camp.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.