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

The best part of this two-day Sahara trip is the sharp change in scenery: green cedar forests and mountain roads give way to the enormous Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. I like the camel ride at sunset and the private tent with a bathroom, hot and cold water, and air conditioning. The catch is the distance. You spend long hours in the vehicle, so this suits you only if reaching the desert quickly is not your main goal.

I also like the human touch. Drivers such as Imad, Mohammed, Hamid, Mustafa, and Pedro have been praised for clear explanations, safe driving, and well-timed stops. Bring plenty of water and cash, though. Lunch stops can be costly, drinks are not included, and the desert leg is not a polished, clockwork operation.

Key points

• Erg Chebbi at sunset: Ride camels through the dunes and stop for sandboarding and changing desert colors.
• A real cross-country route: Travel from Fes through Ifrane, the Middle Atlas, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and the High Atlas.
• Comfort after the sand: Sleep in a clean luxury tent with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and dinner with Berber music.
• A very long day on the road: The drive to and from Merzouga can take about seven hours each way, with the Marrakech transfer reaching roughly 550 kilometers.
• Flexible finish: Return to Fes or continue toward Marrakech, but confirm the final drop-off before you book.
• Good value at $112: Transport, a driver-guide, camel ride, camp, breakfast, dinner, and sandboarding are included, while lunch and drinks are extra.

From Fes to the Sahara in One Long Day

This trip is built around one big payoff: getting you from the old streets of Fes to the dunes of southeastern Morocco with only one night away. Pickup is scheduled around 7:30 in the morning from your hotel or riad, and the route then runs south through the Middle Atlas Mountains.

The first hours are scenic rather than hurried. You pass Ifrane, a tidy mountain town with chalet-style buildings built by the French in the 1930s. It is often called Morocco’s Switzerland, a nickname that makes more sense once you see the pitched roofs and cooler mountain setting.

From there, the road enters cedar forests. This is one of the more pleasant parts of the drive, with wooded slopes, mountain streams, and rock formations replacing the dense streets of Fes. A stop in the forest may also bring you close to Barbary macaques. Feeding them is an optional extra, and one practical detail matters: food offered for the monkeys may cost about 20 Moroccan dirhams.

You should not expect a long nature walk here. This is a road trip with short stops for photographs, coffee, bathrooms, and scenery. Still, the contrast is useful. The desert does not appear out of nowhere as a single attraction. You watch Morocco change from forested mountain country to dry high plains and then to sand.

Midelt Lunch and the Long Road South

Around midday, the vehicle reaches Midelt for lunch. The town is a natural stopping point between the Middle Atlas and the Sahara, but the meal is not included in the $112 price.

Plan for this stop with care. Lunch may be served as a buffet and can cost around 120 dirhams per person. Some roadside restaurants feel aimed at organized tours, and the food may not be the strongest meal of your trip. I would treat lunch as a convenient pause, not a culinary highlight.

Drinks are also extra. A 1.5-liter bottle of water has been sold for about €2 at desert-route stops, and cash is important because some places do not take cards. Carry water from Fes if you can, while remembering that you will need space in the vehicle for your bags.

After Midelt, the road runs toward the Ziz Valley. The valley gives you a welcome change of color, with palms and cultivated ground following the line of the river. You will also see dry hills and broad open views as the road works its way toward the desert.

This is where the trip tests your patience. The full drive to Merzouga can take about seven hours, depending on stops and road conditions. A good driver makes a real difference here. Mustafa, Mohammed, Hamid, Imad, Pedro, and others have been singled out for stopping at points of interest, answering questions, and keeping the mood light during the long ride. The exact driver is not guaranteed, but the driver-guide is central to the quality of this experience.

Arriving at the Erg Chebbi Dunes

Near Merzouga, the scenery changes quickly. The huge orange dunes of Erg Chebbi rise from the flatter desert, with some dunes reaching about 50 meters. After so much time on the road, the sight feels dramatic and well earned.

The camel ride normally begins near the dunes, taking you toward the desert camp. The camels move at a steady walking pace, and the ride is more about the setting than speed. You cross shifting sand, climb toward a high point, and aim to reach a good place for sunset.

Ask the camel guides to help with your headscarf before setting off. Guides named Azize, Yousiff, and Ali have been praised for helping with this and for making the ride comfortable. You may also have a chance to sandboard near the dunes, since sandboarding is included, although equipment and timing can vary.

The sunset ride is one of the strongest parts of the trip. Sand changes color as the sun drops, and the simple rhythm of the camel gives you time to take it in. Bring a phone or camera, but keep it secure during the ride. The combination of loose sand, movement, and a high saddle is not ideal for handling delicate equipment.

A Luxury Tent, Dinner, Music, and Stars

The word luxury needs a little context here. This is not a luxury hotel in the city. It is a comfortable desert camp that gives you a private tent, a proper bed, a bathroom, and more convenience than a basic camping setup.

Tents have been described as clean and spacious, with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and hot and cold water. One stay ran out of hot water, so do not expect city-hotel reliability. Even so, having a private bathroom after a camel ride is a major comfort.

Dinner is included and has been described as generous, with bread, several courses, fruit, and a Moroccan main dish. One meal was criticized for having only one main course, while another was described as plentiful and delicious. In practical terms, you should expect a filling group dinner rather than a highly personal restaurant menu.

After dinner, traditional Berber music and dancing around the fire create the social center of the night. This is a tourist experience, not a private visit to an isolated nomad household. Still, it can be warm and enjoyable, especially if you take part instead of sitting back with your phone.

Then look up. The desert has little artificial light, so the stars are often one of the clearest memories of the night. You do not need special equipment. A little patience and a dark spot away from the camp lights are enough.

Sunrise, Breakfast, and the Return Ride

Wake early for sunrise. The light over the dunes is softer than the evening show, and the sand takes on pale gold and pink tones. Breakfast is included and is served among the dunes or at camp, depending on the morning plan.

The schedule can shift. Cloud, wind, and timing may prevent a clear sunrise, just as animals in the cedar forest may stay hidden. Nature is part of the deal, so do not book this expecting a guaranteed photograph.

After breakfast, you ride camels back toward Merzouga. A quad-bike ride may also be available for an extra fee. One option has been to use a quad to reach a high dune for sunrise, but this is not included in the tour price. If you want that, ask about the cost before committing.

The camel ride back is shorter in spirit than the first ride, since you now know the setting. You can focus on the wide view, the shadows in the sand, and the practical challenge of sitting comfortably. If camel riding is hard on your knees or back, tell the guide early and ask about the timing of the ride.

Returning to Fes or Continuing to Marrakech

The basic return route goes back through the Middle Atlas toward Fes, with stops for lunch, drinks, photographs, and bathrooms. You may stop again near the cedar forest and look for the macaques.

There is also a transfer option toward Marrakech. The second day can involve about 550 kilometers of driving, with High Atlas stops along the way. This makes the Fes to Marrakech version especially demanding. You see more of Morocco in less time, but you give up the slower rhythm that a three or four-day desert route allows.

Confirm the endpoint carefully. The trip information allows a return to Fes or a transfer to Marrakech, and drop-off arrangements can vary. One person was left at a Marrakech medina square rather than directly at a hotel. That may work well if you are heading into the old city, but it is not the same as door-to-door hotel service.

If you have a flight or train to catch, leave a generous buffer. The route includes mountain roads, several stops, and a very long second day. The price is attractive partly because the operator combines transport and the desert stay into a tight schedule.

What the $112 Price Really Covers

At $112 per person, the package offers strong value if you want the major desert sights without arranging separate transport, accommodation, meals, and camel logistics. You get pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a driver-guide, one night in the camp, the camel ride, sandboarding, breakfast, and dinner.

The price does not cover lunch or drinks. Those costs are easy to overlook because the first day already feels like a full package. Budget extra for at least one lunch, bottled water, coffee, and any optional activity such as quad biking or monkey food.

The value also depends on group size. Private and small-group options are available. A private vehicle gives you more control over photo stops and the pace, while a shared trip can keep the cost low. Ask which arrangement you are receiving and whether the Marrakech transfer is private or shared.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later terms add useful flexibility. Pickup details are confirmed after booking, so give a clear hotel or riad address and check the final meeting time.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would choose this trip if you have only two days, want a first taste of the Sahara, and do not mind long drives. It also makes sense if you are moving from Fes toward Marrakech and want the desert to serve as your overnight route rather than making a separate return journey.

You will probably enjoy it most if you value:

• A camel ride at sunset and sunrise
• A comfortable camp instead of basic outdoor camping
• Scenic road stops through several Moroccan regions
• A driver who can explain places along the way
• A social evening with dinner and Berber music
• A fixed price that includes the main desert activities

I would choose a longer desert trip if your priority is quiet time in the dunes, more time with local communities, or less time in a vehicle. This itinerary gives you the desert highlight, but it does so at speed.

The tour is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want reassurance. The driver handles the route, the camp staff help with the night, and the camel guides manage the dune crossing. English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Italian guides are available, though you should confirm your preferred language before departure.

Should You Book This Fes Desert Tour?

Book it if you want the biggest Morocco scenery in the shortest practical window. The camel ride, clean private tent, desert dinner, music, and star-filled sky give you the core Sahara experience, while the road through Ifrane, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and the Atlas Mountains adds much more than a simple transfer.

Think twice if you dislike long drives or need precise arrival times. Bring water, cash, sun protection, and patience. Confirm whether you return to Fes or continue to Marrakech, ask about the drop-off point, and accept that weather may hide the sunrise or forest monkeys.

At $112, the package is hard to beat for a compressed desert experience. I would book it for convenience and scenery, but I would not mistake two days for a relaxed desert holiday.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts two days. The first day runs from Fes through the Middle Atlas, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Merzouga. The second day returns to Fes or can continue toward Marrakech.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. A camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes is included, along with the return camel ride toward Merzouga.

Is sandboarding included?

Yes, sandboarding is listed as included. Equipment and timing may vary, so confirm the details with the guide on arrival.

Are lunch and drinks included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. Carry cash, since some stops may not accept cards.

What is included at the desert camp?

The package includes one overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast. The luxury tents have been described as clean and spacious, with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and hot and cold water.

Can the tour finish in Marrakech?

Yes. The second day can continue toward Marrakech as a transfer of about 550 kilometers. Confirm the exact final drop-off point before booking, since the drop-off may be at a medina square rather than directly at a hotel.