Best Fes to Merzouga Desert Tour 2 Days

The big draw here is simple: you can reach Erg Chebbi and the Sahara from Fez in only two days, with your own vehicle and group rather than a crowded coach. The route packs in cedar forest, mountain roads, fossil workshops, date palms, wide desert views, and one night under canvas.

I like the private format, especially for a long road trip where you may want a photo stop or a quiet break. I also like the chance to meet guides such as Idir or Mubarak, both praised for safe driving, good communication, and a warm knowledge of Moroccan culture.

The catch is the mileage. This is a fast out-and-back journey, not a slow desert circuit. You spend many hours in the vehicle, and lunches, drinks, tips, and some optional activities cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Erg Chebbi in two days: You reach the famous dunes from Fez, but the schedule is tight and road-heavy.
• Private group of up to eight: Your party travels together, with room to ask for photo and rest stops.
• A varied first day: Ifrane, Azrou’s cedar forest, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, Errachidia, Aoufous, and Erfoud break up the drive.
• Sunrise at the dunes: You get an early start from the camp, with time to walk up the nearby hills.
• Desert night included: Camel trekking, Berber music, and one night at camp are part of the package.
• Lunch is extra: Bring money for two lunches, drinks, and tips, and confirm the exact camel or quad-bike setup before departure.

Why this Fez to Merzouga trip works

A Sahara visit from Fez takes serious road time. There is no quick shortcut across Morocco’s Middle Atlas and eastern plains, so this tour makes a practical trade: you see a lot in a little time, but you accept long driving days.

The private setup makes that trade easier. You travel with only your own party, up to eight people, and can ask the driver to stop for a photograph, a stretch, or a view. That matters on a route where the best moments often arrive between the named stops.

The cost is $331.01 per person. That is not a cheap day trip, but the price covers private transport, the desert night, camel trekking, camp music, and the return to your Fez hotel. For a full private vehicle shared by several people, it can be fair value. For one or two people, the price feels harder to justify unless reaching the Sahara is a top priority.

The operator has used guides and drivers named Idir, Mubarak, Mohammed, Said, Hassan, and others. Ask who will lead your departure. Several of these guides have been praised for calm driving, quick communication, kindness, and their grasp of local culture. The guide can make a long road day feel far more useful, especially when explaining what you see rather than treating the stops as simple photo breaks.

8 a.m. departure from Fez

Pickup is offered from your Fez hotel, with the stated start time at 8 a.m. Have breakfast before leaving or confirm what is available near your pickup point, since the first proper meal in the schedule is lunch in Midelt and lunches are not included.

The vehicle is described as comfortable and new in the strongest comments about the service. Still, comfort is personal, and two days of long-distance driving will test anyone’s patience. Pack water, snacks, sunglasses, a phone charger, and a light layer. You will move from cooler high ground to warmer desert conditions, so layers are more useful than one heavy jacket.

This is a private activity, not a shared group departure. That gives you more control, but do not mistake private for leisurely. The route still has to cover the distance to Merzouga and back to Fez.

Ifrane, Morocco’s polished mountain stop

Ifrane is the first planned stop. It is often called the Switzerland of Morocco because of its tidy appearance and mountain setting. The tour uses it mainly for photographs, so expect a short scenic pause rather than a long town visit.

Ifrane provides a sharp change from Fez. You get cooler air, carefully kept streets, and a different side of Morocco than the old medina. It is a pleasant opener, but if you want museum time or a detailed walk, this schedule may not allow it.

Use the stop to take photos, stretch your legs, and ask your guide about the region. The value here is contrast. The road to the Sahara is not one endless stretch of sand, and Ifrane makes that clear from the start.

Azrou’s cedar forest and Barbary apes

From Ifrane, the route continues toward Azrou and its cedar forest. The main reason to stop is the chance to see Barbary apes. This is one of the more memorable breaks because it gives you an animal encounter before the desert portion begins.

Keep your expectations sensible. The animals are wild, and sightings are not guaranteed by the schedule. The supplied plan specifically says you will go to the forest to see them, but nature does not run on a timetable.

This is also a good point to ask your driver about the forest and the Middle Atlas. A guide such as Idir or Mubarak can add useful context to what would otherwise be a quick roadside stop. Do not rush the moment, but remember that lunch and the long afternoon drive still lie ahead.

Midelt lunch and the long southern run

The tour stops in Midelt for lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is not included, so budget separately for this meal. You also pay for drinks, and it is wise to keep some Moroccan dirhams handy.

Midelt marks the practical middle of the first day. By now, you have left the greener mountain zone and are moving toward the drier eastern part of the country. The meal is less about sightseeing than refueling.

After lunch, the drive becomes the main event. You continue toward Errachidia along the Tizi N Talghamt road. This is where the tour asks most of you. The route is scenic, but the hours in the vehicle are real. If you dislike long drives, two days may feel rushed. If you want the desert and have limited time, this is the price of getting there.

Ziz Valley, Errachidia, and the road to Erfoud

The route reaches Errachidia and stops for views of the Ziz Valley and Ziz Gorges. This is one of the strongest scenic sections of the trip. From the viewpoints, you can take in the sharp rock formations, the valley, and the sudden green shapes created by palms and settlement.

The Ziz Valley is valuable because it shows how varied southeastern Morocco can be. The Sahara is not only dunes. Water, palms, cliffs, and cultivated pockets give the region its character.

The itinerary also passes through Aoufous before reaching Erfoud. These stops and drive-through sections help you see the transition from mountain country to desert country. Ask the driver where the best short stops are, since the tour allows you to request breaks and photographs.

Erfoud’s fossil workshop

Near Erfoud, you stop at a local workshop making crafts from fossils. Erfoud is known for this type of stonework, and the visit gives you a look at a regional craft rather than another broad viewpoint.

This stop may appeal to you if you like seeing how local products are made. It can also become a shopping stop, so keep your budget and luggage space in mind. You are not required to buy something simply because the vehicle stops there.

The workshop adds variety to a day otherwise dominated by roads and scenery. It also gives your guide a chance to explain why fossils are important to the area. Confirm how much time is planned if you would rather spend more of it reaching the dunes.

Arriving at Erg Chebbi and settling into camp

The final goal is Erg Chebbi, the large dune area near Merzouga. Here, the road trip changes pace. You trade the vehicle for a desert camp and camel trekking, with the open dunes providing the setting for the evening.

The package includes overnight camel trekking and Berber music at camp. The wording also presents camel rides as optional, so confirm the exact arrangement when you book. If you want a quad-bike ride, confirm that separately as well. It is described as an available feature, but it is not listed among the included items.

The camp night is the emotional center of the trip. You have crossed half of Morocco by road, then finish with sand, darkness, music, and a night away from town lights. Stargazing is part of the promised experience, though conditions will depend on weather and visibility.

Do not expect a full resort stay unless your booking specifically says so. The material provided confirms a desert camp and Berber entertainment, but it does not give tent category, private bathroom details, or bedding standards. Ask before paying if comfort level matters to you.

Sunrise before the return to Fez

Set an alarm. The schedule asks you to get up early for sunrise, and you can walk up the hills from your tent. This is one of the best reasons to accept the early start. The dunes take on different shapes and colors as the light changes, and you do not need a separate excursion to reach the viewpoint.

After breakfast at camp, you leave for Rissani. Breakfast is supplied at the camp, while lunches are not included. Pack anything you need for the morning drive, especially water.

Rissani is tied to the present royal family’s origins, and the tour may pass through the town on Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday, when its market is operating. If your return falls on one of those days, the market adds a more local stop to an otherwise repetitive drive. The schedule does not promise a market visit on other days.

Rissani, Erfoud, and the return drive

From Rissani, the vehicle returns through Erfoud and along the Ziz Valley. You see some of the previous route again, this time with the desert behind you. The return is not a new circuit, so the second day has less variety and more road time.

That is the main weakness of this tour. You get the Sahara, but you do not get much time to explore the desert region beyond the camp and nearby stops. A longer itinerary would let you slow down, spend more time around Merzouga, or continue toward another city instead of retracing the route to Fez.

On the other hand, a return to Fez is useful if you have a fixed hotel or flight plan. The driver drops you at your Fez hotel at the end of the second day, which removes the need to arrange separate transport back.

What the $331.01 price really covers

The price makes the most sense for a private group sharing the vehicle. With four to eight people, the per-person cost spreads across a useful private arrangement. With just one or two people, compare the price against a longer shared tour or a separate desert transfer before booking.

Included benefits are practical:

• Private vehicle and driver service
• Hotel pickup and return in Fez
• One night at the desert camp
• Overnight camel trekking
• Berber music at camp
• Breakfast at the camp
• Scenic stops and requested photo breaks

Lunches, drinks, tips, and optional add-ons are not included. The description says most meals are provided, but the detailed inclusions specifically exclude lunches. I would plan on paying for both lunches and any drinks, and I would ask in advance about quad bikes, camel ride timing, tent facilities, and the exact camp standard.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this desert tour

I would choose this tour if you have only two days, want a private vehicle, and consider seeing the Sahara more important than having a relaxed schedule. It suits couples, families, and small groups who want to stop for photos without coordinating with strangers.

It also suits anyone who values a driver who communicates well. Names connected with the operator include Idir and Mubarak, and you can ask whether one of them is available. Safe driving matters here more than fancy wording, since the route is long and the return trip is just as demanding as the outward run.

I would think twice if you dislike early mornings, long drives, or repeated roads. I would also avoid booking without clarification if you expect a luxury camp, a full meal plan, or a guaranteed quad-bike ride. Those details are not fully specified.

Should you book the two-day Fez to Merzouga trip?

Book it if reaching Erg Chebbi from Fez is a priority and your schedule is tight. The private format, flexible photo stops, camp night, camel trekking, music, and sunrise give you the main Sahara moments without requiring a larger Morocco itinerary.

Skip it if you can spare more time. A longer desert route will give you less windshield time and more room for Rissani, Merzouga, and the desert itself. At $331.01 per person, this is best viewed as a high-mileage shortcut to a major Moroccan highlight, not a slow holiday.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Fez, with pickup offered from your hotel.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 8 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two days.

How many people can join the private group?

The private group can include up to eight people.

Is transport included?

Yes. Private vehicle service is included, along with hotel pickup and return in Fez.

Is a desert camp night included?

Yes. One night of camping accommodation is included.

Is camel trekking included?

Overnight camel trekking is listed as included. The description also presents camel rides as optional, so confirm the exact arrangement before departure.

Are lunches included?

No. Lunches are specifically excluded from the price.

Can I stop for photographs?

Yes. You can ask the driver to stop for breaks and photographs when suitable.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.