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

The best part of this trip is the sudden change from forested mountain roads to the giant Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. You leave Fes in the cool Middle Atlas, pass cedar forests and monkey country, then reach a Sahara camp by camel at sunset. It feels like several Moroccan regions packed into one long day.

I like the careful drivers, especially guides such as Mohammed, Mustafa, Imad, Hamid, and Pedro, who have made the long road more enjoyable with stops, explanations, and snacks. I also like the camp setup: private tents, bathrooms, dinner, Berber music, and a sky full of stars. The catch is simple: the driving is intense, with roughly seven hours each way and only one desert night.

Key points to know before booking

• A very long road day: Fes to Merzouga takes most of the day, with mountain stops and a lunch break in Midelt.
• Camel access to camp: You ride through the dunes for sunset, then return by camel after breakfast.
• Luxury means comfort, not solitude: Tents may include air conditioning, hot and cold water, and private bathrooms, but the camp remains a tourist setup.
• Two possible endings: You can return to Fes or continue toward Marrakech, with the Marrakech transfer covering about 550 kilometers.
• Bring cash and water: Lunch and drinks are extra, and some desert stops accept cash only.
• Weather controls the show: Clouds can hide the sunrise, monkeys, or stars, and camel timing can shift.

The long road from Fes to the Sahara

This is not a gentle two-day outing. It is a fast transfer across Morocco with a memorable overnight stop in the desert. From Fes, you set off around 7:30 in the morning in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide, then spend much of the day crossing the Middle Atlas and the eastern plains.

The price is about $112 per person, including transport, a driver-guide, one night in a desert camp, camel rides, sandboarding, breakfast, and dinner. That is a strong value if you need to connect Fes with the Sahara and possibly Marrakech. It is less attractive if you want long visits at each stop or several nights in the dunes.

The private and small-group choices matter here. A small group gives you company and usually keeps the cost down. A private trip gives you more control over photo stops and breaks, which can be helpful on such a demanding route. Pickup is arranged from your hotel or riad, and the operator contacts you to confirm the location.

Ifrane and the cedar forests

Your first notable stop is Ifrane, a mountain town built by the French in the 1930s. Its chalet-style buildings and cooler mountain setting give it a distinctly different look from Fes. The stop is brief, but it breaks up the early drive and gives you a first taste of the Middle Atlas.

The road then passes through cedar forests, with mountain streams, rock formations, and high wooded slopes. This is one of the most pleasant parts of the first day because Morocco may not look the way you expect here. Instead of bare desert, you see trees, high country, and open mountain roads.

A stop in the forest may include a chance to see Barbary macaques. You might be offered food to give them, but one useful detail is easy to miss: a visitor was charged 20 MAD for food. Ask the price before accepting anything. The monkeys may also be hidden, especially in poor weather, so do not treat this as a guaranteed wildlife stop.

Midelt gives you a useful lunch break

Around midday, you reach Midelt, an important road stop between the mountains and the Sahara. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay separately. One buffet stop cost 120 MAD per person, and some diners found the food expensive and aimed at tour groups.

This is a practical pause more than a major sightseeing stop. You can stretch your legs, use the bathroom, and refill supplies. Buy water here if the price is reasonable, since drinks become more expensive farther south. A 1.5-liter bottle cost about €2 at one stop, and cash was required.

Your driver may make additional breaks for coffee, photographs, and bathrooms. That helps, but it does not change the basic fact that the first day is a road marathon. Drivers such as Mustafa, Mohammed, Lozi, and Imad have been praised for making the hours easier with local information, humor, and well-timed stops.

The Ziz Valley marks the change to desert country

As you continue south, the scenery shifts again. The Ziz Valley provides broad views and a welcome contrast to the forests of the morning. This is where the trip begins to feel like a journey into the Sahara rather than a simple transfer.

You will have chances to stop for pictures, but exact timing depends on the road, traffic, group size, and the driver. If photography matters to you, a private or small-group booking gives you a better chance of slowing down at a viewpoint.

Eventually the Erg Chebbi dunes appear. Some rise as high as 50 meters, and their sudden appearance after the mountain route is part of the thrill. The dunes are large, soft-edged, and constantly changing in color as the sun lowers.

The camel ride into Erg Chebbi

Near Merzouga, you leave the vehicle and mount a camel for the ride to camp. The guides can help tie your headscarf and settle you onto the animal. The route leads through the sand toward the camp, with time to stop around the dunes for photographs, sunset, and sandboarding.

Camel riding is not physically complicated, but it can be uncomfortable for some people, especially when the camel stands or sits. Wear practical clothing and expect dust. The ride is included, while quad biking is not. One visitor paid extra for a morning quad ride and used it to reach a high dune for sunrise.

The exact sunset timing can slip. Some camel rides have started later than planned, and that can affect how much time you have at the best viewpoint. The operator cannot control cloud, wind, or the pace of the group, so keep your expectations flexible.

Sandboarding is listed as included, but it has not always been available in practice. If it matters to you, confirm it before departure and ask whether boards are supplied at the camp or dune stop.

A luxury tent with a real desert night

The camp is designed for comfort rather than isolation. Tents may be large and clean, with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and hot and cold water. That is a welcome surprise after a long day in the vehicle and on camelback.

Water service can be uneven. One stay ran out of hot water, so do not expect a hotel-level system in the middle of the dunes. The camp is comfortable, but the word luxury should be read in context. You are getting a private tent and useful amenities, not a silent wilderness camp with no other visitors.

Dinner is included and has been described as generous, with bread, several courses, fruit, and a Moroccan main dish. Food quality can vary. One dining stop was criticized for overcooked spaghetti, while the camp meal was generally considered filling and enjoyable. Drinks are not included, so carry cash for tea, bottled water, or other purchases.

After dinner, expect traditional Berber music around the fire. This is one of the evening’s strongest features because it gives the overnight stop a sense of place without pretending the camp is untouched by tourism. You can listen to drums and singing, join the dancing, and spend time outside under the stars.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the ride back

Set an alarm before dawn. The sunrise over the sand is one of the main reasons to accept the long drive. After watching the dunes change color, you have breakfast at camp and ride the camels back to Merzouga.

Cloud can block the sunrise, just as it can hide the stars. That is disappointing, but it is not a failure of the itinerary. If the weather is clear, the early light is worth the effort. If it is cloudy, the camel ride and the shapes of the dunes still provide the main desert experience.

The return drive follows the route toward Midelt and the Middle Atlas. If you finish in Fes, you may stop again in the cedar forest and look for monkeys. If you continue to Marrakech, the transfer is much longer, about 550 kilometers, with stops for lunch, coffee, photographs, and bathrooms.

The Fes return option is already tiring. The Marrakech option makes sense mainly if you need to connect the two cities and would otherwise pay for a separate transfer. It is not the right choice if you want a relaxed second day.

Fes return or Marrakech transfer

The route description allows you to return to your accommodation in Fes or continue to Marrakech. In practice, the Marrakech drop-off may be at a Medina square rather than directly at your hotel. Confirm the exact end point before you set off, especially if you have heavy luggage or a riad that is not close to vehicle access.

Continuing to Marrakech turns the desert night into part of a larger Morocco route. It can save time and the cost of booking another long transfer. The tradeoff is a very long second day, with limited sightseeing beyond roadside stops and the High Atlas crossing.

The High Atlas section gives you more mountain views and a final change of scenery. It is useful to think of this as transportation with scenic breaks, not a guided visit to each mountain town. Your driver’s attitude makes a large difference, and several guides have been praised for answering questions and keeping passengers comfortable.

Guides, vehicles, and the human side

The strongest part of the service is the driver-guide. Names attached to particularly positive experiences include Mohammed, Mustafa, Imad, Imad Tr, Hamid, Pedro, and Lozi. Their role is important because you spend so many hours with them. A good driver turns a dull highway stretch into a useful lesson in local towns, geography, and daily life.

The desert staff also help make the night work. Guides such as Azize, Yousiff, and Ali have helped with headscarves, camel boarding, and camp routines. Friendly service matters when you are tired, dusty, and trying to understand where to go next.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which is essential during the hotter months. Private and small-group formats are available, and the listed guide languages include English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. Ask ahead about your preferred language and group arrangement.

What the $112 price really buys

At $112, this is a good-value transport and desert package. You receive pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a guide, the camp, camel rides, sandboarding, dinner, and breakfast. A separate Fes to Merzouga journey, desert camp, camel trip, and onward transfer could easily cost more and require extra planning.

Still, budget for the costs outside the package:

• Lunches
• Bottled water and other drinks
• Optional quad biking
• Food offered around the monkey stop
• Any extras at the camp

The lunch stops may be tourist-oriented and pricier than food in Fes. Bring Moroccan dirhams, since cash is needed at some places. Water is especially important because the route is long and supplies cost more in the desert.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option make the booking less risky. The key risk is not the money. It is your tolerance for long hours in a vehicle.

Who should book this desert trip

I would choose this tour if you have only two days, want to see the Sahara, and need to travel between Fes and Marrakech. It also suits first-time visitors who want the main desert elements in one package: dunes, camels, sunset, camp dinner, music, stars, and sunrise.

It is a good fit for couples, families, and small groups that value a private bathroom and air conditioning. Solo travelers can also benefit from the small-group option, which makes the camel ride and camp evening more social.

I would hesitate if you dislike long road journeys, need a slow pace, or want a quiet desert camp far from other groups. This is a polished tourist experience with a strong comfort level. It is not a remote expedition, and the two-day schedule leaves little room for delays.

Should you book it?

Book it if the Sahara is a priority and you can accept that most of the trip is spent reaching the dunes. The best reasons are the dramatic change from the Middle Atlas to Erg Chebbi, the helpful driver-guides, the comfortable tent, and the simple pleasure of sitting outside after dinner under a clear desert sky.

Skip it, or choose a longer desert itinerary, if you want more time in Merzouga or dislike rushing. Before paying, confirm the final drop-off city, ask about sandboarding, pack water and cash, and treat sunrise, monkeys, and hot water as possibilities rather than guarantees.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two days and includes one night in a desert camp.

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is from your hotel or riad in Fes, with the pickup point confirmed before departure.

Can I finish in Marrakech instead of returning to Fes?

Yes. The second-day route can return to Fes or continue to Marrakech. The Marrakech transfer is about 550 kilometers and includes stops for lunch, drinks, photographs, and bathrooms.

What is included in the price?

The price includes pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transportation, a driver-guide, one night in a desert camp, camel rides, sandboarding, breakfast, and dinner.

Are lunch and drinks included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included, so bring cash and budget for these separately.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The camel ride into the dunes and the ride back to Merzouga after breakfast are included.

Is quad biking included?

No. Quad biking is an optional extra charge and is not part of the package.

What languages are available?

Guides may speak English, French, Arabic, Spanish, or Italian.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.