2 Days Fes Desert trip Overnight Erg chebbi End up Fes/Marrakech

Erg Chebbi is the star here: red-gold dunes, a camel ride at sunset, dinner in a desert camp, and a sunrise that makes the long road from Fez feel worthwhile. I especially like the way the trip shows you several sides of Morocco in a short time, from the cedar forest near Azrou to the Sahara.

I also like the practical finish: after returning from the dunes, you get breakfast and a shower before the drive onward. The main drawback is clear: this is a very long road trip, often around eight or nine hours each way, with only one night in the desert. You gain a memorable glimpse of the Sahara, but you give up time and comfort to do it.

Key points to know before booking

• Camel ride at sunset: Ride across Erg Chebbi for about two hours, with time to climb a dune and watch the sun go down.
• One night in a Berber camp: Dinner, mint tea, music around the fire, and a clear desert sky are included.
• A full day crossing Morocco: The road from Fez passes Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, mountain villages, rock formations, and palm oases.
• Sunrise near the Algerian border: You can walk over the dunes early in the morning before returning by camel.
• Group size up to 17: This is not a tiny private outing unless you choose a private option.
• Good value, with limits: At about $139.58 per person, transport, meals, camping, and camel riding are bundled together, but lunch and drinks cost extra.

The real price of reaching Erg Chebbi from Fez

At about $139.58 per person, this trip packs a great deal into a low price: air-conditioned minivan transport, a professional driver, dinner, breakfast, a desert camp, camel riding, and free sandboarding. For someone short on time, that combination is hard to match independently.

The price also reflects the compromise. You are not simply buying a camel excursion. You are buying a long transfer from Fez to southeastern Morocco, plus a night in the dunes. Much of your first day is spent sitting in the vehicle, and the second day includes another long return journey.

You can choose among standard, luxury, and private arrangements, so the final feel may differ. A standard group trip can include as many as 17 people. That keeps the cost down but can make departure times, meal stops, and camel arrangements less flexible.

I would judge the price as good for a quick Sahara introduction, especially if you already need to travel between Fez and the desert. If you can spare three or more days, a longer route would give you more time at Erg Chebbi and make the driving easier to accept.

From Fez to Ifrane, Morocco changes quickly

Pickup begins at 7:30 a.m. in Fez. The first stage takes you uphill into the Middle Atlas, and the shift is striking. Fez is dense and urban. Soon you are passing cooler mountain scenery and arriving at Ifrane, a ski resort built by the French in the 1930s.

Ifrane has a Swiss-village look that feels unusual in Morocco. It is a quick but worthwhile contrast, especially if this is your first trip beyond the imperial cities. Do not expect a long guided visit here. The day is built around a chain of brief stops, not extended sightseeing.

Next comes the cedar forest near Azrou. Barbary macaques live among the trees, and finding them can become one of the lighter moments of the drive. Several drivers have made a point of looking for the monkeys when they were not immediately visible, which is useful because wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

You may see people offering food for the monkeys. The stop is interesting, but it can feel hurried. If you want photographs or a proper walk in the forest, tell your driver early and be clear about how much time you hope to spend.

Midelt breaks up the mountain crossing

Midelt arrives roughly halfway through the day. The town is known for fossils and rocks, and it serves as the main lunch stop. Lunch is not included, so keep Moroccan dirhams available for food and drinks.

The road around Midelt is one of the strongest parts of the transfer. You pass springs, jagged rock faces, forests, Berber villages, and wide mountain views as the route gradually drops toward the desert. The changing scenery gives the drive a purpose. You are not taking a short shuttle to a camel saddle. You are crossing a large portion of Morocco.

Still, expectations matter. Some stops may last only a few minutes for photographs or snacks. At other points, the vehicle may pause for practical reasons that are less interesting to you. A patient driver can make this feel like a moving tour, and names praised for friendly, helpful service include Mustafa, Hassan, Abdulh, Hafet, Mohammed, Omar, and Said.

The quality of your day will depend partly on the driver assigned to your group. A good one can explain what you are seeing, stop for photographs, and help you find a reasonably priced lunch. Keep in mind that the trip is not a nonstop guided lecture. Some stretches are simply long hours on the road.

Arriving at Merzouga and meeting the camels

The group is scheduled to reach Merzouga at around 5 p.m. Your guide and camels meet you there, followed by a short break before the ride into Erg Chebbi.

The timing is important. You are aiming for sunset, so the camel departure cannot be treated as an open-ended afternoon activity. Depending on the season and the day’s road conditions, you may have limited time between arrival and departure.

The camel ride lasts about two hours. You cross sandy dunes on camelback, stop to take in the desert, and may climb a dune for sunset before continuing to camp. The red dunes are the visual payoff for the long transfer. In the fading light, the simple pattern of wind, sand, and shadow can feel far removed from Fez.

You should know that camel riding is not especially gentle. The ride involves a high saddle, a wide swaying motion, and time in the open sun. The description also includes sandboarding at no added cost, so you can try sliding down a dune if conditions and timing allow.

At camp, the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served. The evening meal is included, along with an overnight stay in a traditional Berber tent. The camp atmosphere can be lively, with drum music and dancing around a fire. One version of the experience may feel like simple desert camping, while a luxury option can include a larger tent and a proper bed.

Dinner, music, and a cold sky full of stars

Dinner usually comes after you have time to settle into the camp. The supplied meal is included, and descriptions of the food mention a generous spread with soup, tagine, and fruit. You should still bring drinks or buy them along the route, because beverages are not included.

The music around the fire is one of the night’s most memorable details. You may hear Berber songs and drums, and there can be time to sit, listen, or join the dancing. This is a shared camp activity rather than a private cultural performance, so the mood depends on the group and the camp staff.

The desert sky is another major reason to spend the night. With little city light around you, the stars can be startlingly clear. The experience works best if you treat the camp as a place to slow down rather than as a hotel with desert decorations.

That distinction matters. The luxury camp option may offer a double bed and a roomier tent, but the camel ride and camp program can still feel arranged for visitors. If you want total solitude or a long period alone in the dunes, this short group tour will not provide it.

Sunrise comes early, then the return begins

The next morning starts before sunrise. You can walk over the dunes and watch the sun rise near the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga. This is the quietest part of the trip and one of the best uses of your limited time in the desert.

Wear shoes that can handle sand and bring a layer for the early morning. The desert can feel cool before the sun is up, even after a warm afternoon. The walk over the dunes requires some effort, but you can choose how far to go.

After sunrise, you return to camp and ride the camels back toward Merzouga. The plan then changes vehicles: a 4×4 takes you to Rissani, where you switch to the minivan. You get breakfast and a shower at a hotel before the drive toward Fez, which is a welcome practical touch after the night in the desert.

The return includes rest and lunch stops, but lunch and drinks remain your responsibility. You are expected to reach Fez in the late afternoon or evening. Exact arrival time can shift because this is a long mountain and desert route.

Fez return or onward travel to Marrakech

The day-two details describe a return to Fez, while the tour title also refers to ending in Fez or continuing to Marrakech. The supplied information does not set out a fixed Marrakech itinerary, so confirm your final drop-off point before paying.

This route makes the most sense as part of a larger Morocco plan: Fez to the desert, then onward toward Marrakech. One night in Erg Chebbi is easier to justify when the desert is part of your transfer rather than a round trip from Fez.

If you return to Fez, you will spend much of day two in the minivan after an early start. If your trip can be arranged to continue to Marrakech, the long transfer may serve a more useful purpose, though you should confirm the vehicle, route, and exact arrival details in advance.

What the group size means in practice

The maximum group size is 17 people. That is small enough to feel manageable, but it is not the same as a private tour. You may share the van, camel line, meals, and camp with a mixed group.

The group format helps explain the price. It also means that the pace is not entirely yours. A stop that matters greatly to you may be brief, while another stop may take longer than expected.

Private and upgraded options are available for people who care about space or flexibility. If you are traveling with children, they must be accompanied by an adult, and most people can participate. You should still think carefully about the long vehicle days and the camel ride if anyone in your group dislikes heat, bumpy transport, or early starts.

How to make the long drive easier

The difference between an exhausting trip and a manageable one often comes down to preparation. I would bring:

• Water and extra snacks, since lunch and drinks are not included
• A light jacket for the mountain roads and early desert morning
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat for the dunes
• Shoes that are comfortable in sand
• A small overnight bag rather than relying on a large suitcase at camp
• Cash for lunch, drinks, and optional purchases

Ask your driver about the timing of the monkey stop, lunch, and camel departure. It is also smart to contact the provider before departure if you have questions about pickup or the camp arrangement. Several passengers found it useful to raise practical questions ahead of time.

You may also want to ask which camp category you have booked. Standard and luxury can mean different sleeping arrangements, and the difference matters after a camel ride and an early sunrise.

Who will enjoy this two-day desert trip?

I would recommend it to you if you have only a short time in Morocco and want a real taste of the Sahara without arranging transport, camp, meals, and camels separately. It also suits people who enjoy changing scenery and do not mind using the road as part of the experience.

Families can find plenty to enjoy here, especially the monkeys, camels, dunes, music, and sandboarding. Children must have an adult with them, and the long drive should be taken seriously. The overnight camp gives the desert a stronger sense of place than a quick sunset ride.

This trip is less suited to you if you dislike long drives or want slow, detailed sightseeing. A two-day schedule leaves little room for delays, long walks, or an extended stay among the dunes. You will see a lot of Morocco, but much of it will pass through the minivan window.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If the provider cancels for either reason, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 7:30 a.m. start time.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if the camel ride, desert sunset, camp dinner, music, and sunrise are the experiences you most want, and you have only two days available. At $139.58, the package offers strong value because transport, meals, camping, and camel riding are included.

Skip it, or choose a longer desert route, if your schedule allows three or more days. The strongest praise centers on the drivers, the dunes, the night sky, and the camp hospitality. The clearest weakness is the amount of time spent on the road.

My practical advice is to treat the drive as part of the Moroccan journey, not as dead time. Confirm the final city, ask about your camp category, bring water and layers, and accept that the desert reward comes after a very full day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The first day includes the drive from Fez to Merzouga and the camel ride to camp. The second day includes sunrise, the return to Merzouga, and the journey toward Fez.

What time does pickup begin?

The stated start time is 7:30 a.m.

What is included in the price?

The price includes dinner, breakfast, an overnight desert camp, the camel ride, an air-conditioned minivan, a professional driver, and sandboarding at no extra charge.

Are lunch and drinks included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included, so you should budget for them during the mountain and desert road stops.

How many people can join the group?

The activity has a maximum of 17 participants. Standard, luxury, and private options are available.

Does the tour finish in Fez or Marrakech?

The day-two plan describes a return to Fez, while the tour title refers to ending in Fez or continuing to Marrakech. Confirm the exact final drop-off point before booking.