From Fez: 2-Day luxury Sahara Desert Tour with Camel Ride

The best part of this two-day trip is the change from Fez’s old city to the wide Erg Chebbi dunes, where you arrive by camel as the light fades. You get a real desert night, not just a roadside photo stop: dinner, drumming, dancing, and a tent in the sand beneath the stars.

I like the varied route through Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, and the Ziz Valley, and I like that the camp includes dinner, breakfast, camel trekking, and evening music for $170 per person. The catch is the long road time. You cover a great deal of Morocco in two days, so this suits you if the Sahara is the main goal and you can handle a tiring return journey.

Key points to know before booking

• The desert arrival is timed for sunset: You ride camels into Merzouga and reach camp in the evening.
• The road trip is the price of the Sahara: Fez to Merzouga is a long haul, with stops to break up the drive.
• Your night includes Berber music and dancing: Dinner, a fire, and camp activities are part of the package.
• Sunrise requires an early start: You return by camel to Merzouga before breakfast and the drive north.
• Drivers make a real difference: Youssef and Hassan are named as especially helpful, with Hassan also speaking Italian well.
• Pack for two different climates: Comfortable shoes, water, a camera, and warm clothing are essential.

The real appeal: Fez to the Sahara in one long sweep

This is not a slow desert holiday. It is a compact overland trip that links Fez with Merzouga, the main gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. In two days, you cross the Middle Atlas Mountains, pass through cedar country, follow the Ziz Valley, and spend a night in a Berber camp.

That pace has a clear tradeoff. You see a surprising amount of eastern Morocco, but you spend many hours in the vehicle. The trip works best if you have limited time in Morocco and want the Sahara experience without arranging several separate transfers.

Pickup is available from several central Fez locations, including the Blue Gate, Bab Rcif, Bab Guisa, Ville Nouvelle, Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace, and Barceló Fès Medina. The provider says it will contact you the day before to confirm the pickup time and place. That confirmation matters, especially if your accommodation is near one of the medina gates rather than at a hotel with an obvious vehicle entrance.

The driver speaks English or French. Individual drivers can vary, but Youssef is praised for being punctual, kind, and helpful, while Hassan is noted for speaking Italian very well and staying available during the trip. Those details matter on a journey with so much road time. A pleasant, attentive driver can make the difference between an enjoyable crossing and two hard days in a vehicle.

Ifrane and Azrou: a surprising start in the Middle Atlas

Your first major stop is Ifrane, a mountain town with a markedly different look from Fez. It is often called the Switzerland of Morocco because of its European-style appearance and mountain setting. You have about 30 minutes for a photo stop, a short visit, and free time.

Do not expect a long guided tour here. Ifrane is a quick introduction to the Middle Atlas, a chance to stretch your legs and see how quickly Morocco changes outside the imperial cities. If you want detailed time in the town, this trip will feel rushed. If you mainly want a break from the road and a few photographs, the stop does its job.

The route continues to Azrou, a Berber village with another 30-minute break. This is a useful stop because it adds local character to a journey that could otherwise feel like one continuous transfer to the desert. You can look around, take photographs, and walk briefly before getting back on the road.

The two short stops in Ifrane and Azrou are best viewed as brief windows rather than full sightseeing visits. Keep your expectations practical. The main destination is still several hours away.

Midelt lunch and the long crossing south

Midelt is the main pause on the first day. You have around an hour and a half for lunch and free time, with lunch not included in the $170 price. That is important when you compare the total cost. You will need to pay for your own midday meals, while dinner at camp and breakfast are included.

Midelt helps divide the drive into manageable sections. You can eat, stretch your legs, and rest before the road turns toward the desert. The trip information does not specify a restaurant or fixed lunch menu, so keep some flexibility in your budget and plans.

From there, the scenery becomes more open as you approach Drâa-Tafilalet. The region is known for the Ziz Valley, a striking corridor through southeastern Morocco. The scheduled stop here is only about 15 minutes, enough for a photograph and a quick look rather than a long walk or detailed visit.

I like this part of the route because it shows the geography behind the desert trip. The Sahara does not appear all at once. You move through mountain country and valleys first, then gradually reach the dry terrain around Merzouga. Still, the road distance means you should bring water and avoid treating the short stops as a chance to buy everything you need.

Reaching Merzouga by camel

The arrival in Merzouga is the emotional center of the tour. Once the camels are ready, you leave the vehicle and ride toward camp through the Erg Chebbi dunes. The timing is designed to bring you into the sand near sunset, when the dunes take on softer colors and the heat of the day has eased.

Camel riding is not a fast activity. The motion can feel unusual at first, and you should wear trousers or other comfortable clothing and secure anything you do not want bouncing around. Comfortable shoes are recommended for the wider trip, even though you may spend part of the desert experience on camelback.

The camel ride is also the moment when the trip stops feeling like a long transfer. The vehicle, roads, and towns fall away, and you begin moving at a slow pace through the sand. One account specifically praises the camel ride and sandboarding, although sandboarding is not listed as a formal inclusion, so treat it as something that may be available rather than a guaranteed part of the package.

The camp is described as well equipped, and one account notes a tent with a private bathroom. Because camp facilities can differ, I would confirm the exact tent arrangement when booking if a private bathroom is important to you. Either way, this is not presented as a bare-bones overnight under a simple cloth shelter. It is sold as a luxury-style camp stay, with dinner and evening entertainment included.

Dinner, drumming, and a cold desert night

After the camel ride, the evening centers on dinner, music, fire, and dancing. Berber drumming gives the night a clear sense of place, and you have time to look up at the stars away from Fez’s city lights.

The setting is simple but powerful. You are eating after a long day on the road, in a camp surrounded by sand, with the desert night around you. That combination is why the overnight matters. A quick sunset stop would not provide the same sense of being away from ordinary Moroccan routes.

Bring warm clothing. Desert temperatures can drop sharply after dark, even when the afternoon felt hot. The practical packing advice is straightforward:

• Comfortable shoes for stops and camp
• Warm layers for the evening and early morning
• Enough water for the journey
• A camera or phone with room for photographs

Dinner is included, as is breakfast the next morning. Lunch is not included on either day, so budget for it separately. The included meal and evening program add useful value to the price, since you do not have to arrange dinner after arriving at camp.

Sunrise over Erg Chebbi and back to the road

The second day begins early so you can watch sunrise over the dunes. This is one of the strongest reasons to stay overnight rather than return after a sunset visit. The sand changes again in the morning light, and the quiet is usually the main attraction.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back to Merzouga and have breakfast. This return ride is a practical part of the schedule, but it also gives you another look at the dunes from a different angle. If you found the first ride uncomfortable, the second one may feel long. People with back problems should not book this activity, and it is not suitable for pregnant women.

Once breakfast is finished, you begin the drive north toward Fez. The return route includes Tafilalt and Rissani, along with the Zawiya Moulay Ali Sharif. Rissani receives a short stop of about 15 minutes for photographs and a visit. That is enough for a brief look, but not enough for a full exploration of the town or its religious sites.

You also pass through Imouzar Kandar and return via the Ziz Valley and Ifrane area. The route gives you another view of the country you crossed on the way down, but do not expect the second day to feel like a relaxed sightseeing day. It is mainly a return journey with selected stops.

Arrival in Fez is planned for the early evening. Traffic, road conditions, and the long distance can affect the exact timing. If you have a flight, train, or fixed dinner reservation that same evening, leave plenty of room.

Is $170 good value for two days?

At $170 per person, the price is reasonable for what is included, especially if you value convenience. You receive transport with a driver, camel trekking, a night at camp, dinner, breakfast, music, fire, and dancing. Booking one package also removes the need to arrange the Fez to Merzouga transfer, camp, camel operator, and return transport separately.

The value is strongest for a first Sahara visit. The tour gathers the main elements in one booking and includes several scenic stops along the way. It also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve now, pay later option, which helps if your Morocco plans are still shifting.

The price does not cover lunch, and the two-day format means you are paying partly for speed. A longer desert trip would give you more time in the southeast, while this one gets you to the dunes and back with little spare time.

I would also read luxury in a practical sense rather than a resort sense. The camp is described as comfortable and well equipped, and a private bathroom is mentioned in one account, but exact facilities can vary. Ask what type of tent and bathroom you will receive if those details affect your decision.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would recommend it to you if the Sahara is high on your Morocco list and you are starting in Fez. It is particularly useful for people who do not want to plan a complicated route through the Middle Atlas and Drâa-Tafilalet on their own.

It also suits you if you enjoy a mix of scenery and activity: short town stops, a long scenic drive, camel riding, a desert dinner, music, and sunrise. The evening camp program gives the trip more atmosphere than a simple transport-and-hotel package.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives or need a slow schedule. The trip covers a great distance in only two days, and even the return to Fez takes much of the day. A back problem, pregnancy, or strong discomfort with camel riding is also a clear reason to choose another plan.

The driver’s role is central. Youssef is described as punctual and helpful, and Hassan as attentive, available, and fluent in Italian. One account also credits the driver with stopping often enough for photographs and leg stretching. Those are small details, but they are valuable on a road trip of this length.

Practical booking advice for Fez and Merzouga

Confirm your pickup point the day before. The available locations cover both the medina and Ville Nouvelle, but a medina gate can be easier than trying to arrange a vehicle at a narrow street.

Wear layers rather than one heavy item. You may experience warm daytime conditions, cool mountain air, and a cold desert night in the same 48 hours. Keep water with you, and do not rely only on the stops for supplies.

Tell the operator about language needs before departure. English and French are offered, and Hassan is reported to speak Italian well. If you are hoping for a particular driver, ask, but do not assume that a named driver is guaranteed.

Respect local customs and the desert environment. Keep rubbish with you, follow camp instructions, and treat the Berber music and village stops as part of a living culture rather than a staged backdrop.

Should you book the Fez Sahara tour?

Book it if you want the main Erg Chebbi experience and have only two days. The camel ride, Berber camp, dinner, drumming, and sunrise give you the essential desert moments, while the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley add real variety to the drive.

Skip it if you want a leisurely desert holiday or cannot tolerate a long return journey. This is a brisk crossing, not a restful escape. For the right person, $170 is a fair price for having the major arrangements handled in one trip, with the important caveat that lunch is extra and the road time is substantial.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two days, with pickup in Fez, an overnight stay near Merzouga, and return to Fez in the early evening of the second day.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a driver, camel trekking, one night in a Berber camp, dinner, breakfast, music, a fire, and dancing.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should budget separately for the midday meals.

Where can pickup take place in Fez?

Pickup options include Barceló Fès Medina, Bab Rcif, Bab Guisa, Hôtel Royal Urban Concept, Ville Nouvelle, Blue Gate, Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace, Bab Ziat, and Bab Sidi Boujida.

What languages does the driver speak?

The available driver languages are English and French. One named driver, Hassan, is also reported to speak Italian very well.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, warm clothing, water, and a camera. Warm layers are especially important because desert nights can be cold.

Is camel riding included?

Yes. Camel trekking is included on the ride from Merzouga to the camp and on the return to Merzouga the next morning.

Is the tour suitable for people with back problems?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with back problems or for pregnant women.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve now, pay later option allows you to book without paying at the time of reservation.