From Marrakech: 2 Days Desert trip back to Fes or Marrakech

The main event is the sunset camel ride across Erg Chebbi, Morocco’s famous orange-sand desert near Merzouga. After a long crossing from Marrakech, you reach camp in time for dunes, dinner, drums, and a starry night. At dawn, you climb the sand for sunrise, then begin another long road day toward Fes or Marrakech.

I like two things here: the route gives you a quick look at the High Atlas and southern Morocco, and the camp turns a rushed visit into a real overnight experience. Drivers such as Hassan, Mahfoud, Moha, Mustapha, and Mohamed Buzga have been praised for safe driving, clear communication, and thoughtful stops.

The catch is simple: this is a lot of driving. Marrakech to Merzouga can take about 10 hours, and the return journey is also long. Snow, road closures, traffic, or extra stops can stretch the schedule. If you dislike long van rides or get motion sickness, choose the extra-day option instead.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunset by camel: Ride for about 50 minutes through the Erg Chebbi dunes to reach the camp.
• Two possible endings: Continue to Fes through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas, or return to Marrakech by way of the Thousand Kasbahs road.
• A genuine time-saving plan: You get the desert in one night, but there is little time for long sightseeing stops.
• Comfortable camp choices: Standard and luxury tents are available, with some luxury tents offering private bathrooms and air-conditioning.
• Bring a small overnight bag: Your larger luggage stays safely in the vehicle.
• Good value at $113: Transport, camel ride, camp, dinner, breakfast, and sandboarding are included, but lunch, drinks, quad bikes, and some sightseeing extras cost more.

The real trade-off: one desert night, two very long road days

At $113 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to add the Sahara to a Marrakech trip. You are paying not only for a bed in the dunes, but also for a driver, an air-conditioned vehicle, the camel transfer, dinner, breakfast, and the long connection to another Moroccan city.

The price works best if you already plan to visit both Marrakech and Fes. Instead of returning to Marrakech and arranging another journey, you can cross the country while adding the desert overnight. The Fes ending is especially useful for an itinerary that starts in Marrakech and continues north.

Still, keep your expectations straight. This is not a slow southern Morocco tour. The operator has built it for people with limited time. You will see the High Atlas, Ouarzazate, the Rose Valley, and the Dades Valley, but the schedule is designed to reach Merzouga before sunset. Long photo stops are limited.

That makes the tour a good fit for a first visit when the desert is high on your list. If you want time at Ait Benhaddou, Ifrane, Rissani, or the valleys, pay for the extra day. That option adds a night at a kasbah hotel, with more stops and a less compressed pace.

Crossing the High Atlas from Marrakech

Pickup is early in the morning. The usual meeting point is near Café France in Jemaa el-Fna, though a closer car-accessible point can be arranged if you stay in the Medina. Hotels outside the Medina can receive pickup when the vehicle can reach them.

The road climbs quickly from Marrakech toward the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which reaches about 2,260 meters. You pass small mountain villages, changing rock colors, and occasional waterfalls. The Atlas crossing is one of the most scenic parts of the trip, but it is also the first test for anyone prone to motion sickness.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and some departures use Mercedes Sprinter vans with Wi-Fi and USB charging. Conditions vary by vehicle and season. In summer, from June through August, air may not circulate evenly, so a small personal fan is a sensible idea. Carry water and snacks in the van, even though the driver can stop at a shop if needed.

The road day includes breaks for toilets, lunch, and photographs, but do not expect a leisurely morning in the mountains. You are working toward the desert.

Ouarzazate, the Rose Valley, and the Dades route

Ouarzazate is the gateway between the Atlas and the desert regions. It is known for film studios and its position on the old caravan routes, though the exact stops on this fast tour can change with timing and road conditions.

The route continues through the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley. In spring, the Rose Valley is especially appealing, but its charm is not limited to flowers. The road cuts through dry hills, small settlements, and broad stretches of southern Moroccan scenery.

Some departures include a stop at a women’s cooperative selling argan oil products. Other optional stops may include Ait Benhaddou, the famous fortified village. Ait Benhaddou is not included in the base price and must be arranged at extra cost. It also takes time, so adding it can make an already tight day even tighter.

I would not book this trip mainly for Ouarzazate or Ait Benhaddou. Choose it for the desert. Treat the road sights as valuable bonuses, not as a full sightseeing program.

Arriving in Merzouga before sunset

The final approach to Merzouga changes the mood of the trip. The road gives way to the wide, sandy Erg Chebbi dunes, and the reward for the long ride becomes clear.

At the meeting point, camels are waiting. The ride to camp takes about 50 minutes, depending on the exact camp and conditions. You cross the sand at the best time of day, as the low sun brings out orange and gold tones in the dunes.

Camel riding is not difficult, but it is not a smooth carriage ride either. The animal rises and sits in stages, so hold on when instructed. Comfortable trousers and closed shoes will serve you better than tight clothing or delicate sandals. If the ride is uncomfortable, the staff can explain the options, but the camel transfer is the main way to reach camp.

Sandboarding is included and can be requested from camp staff before the camel ride. It depends on conditions and organization at the camp. Quad biking is separate and costs extra. Several visitors have found the quad option worthwhile, especially for reaching farther into the dunes and watching sunrise from the vehicle.

A night in the desert camp

At camp, the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served. Dinner follows, with a campfire and traditional music. Drums, singing, and dancing are part of the evening, and you may be invited to try the instruments yourself.

The camp is not a wilderness survival exercise. Comfortable tents are available, and the luxury option can include a proper bed, seating, an en-suite bathroom, and air-conditioning. Standard tents may also have en-suite facilities, depending on the selected package. In hot months, the luxury tent with air-conditioning is worth considering.

Dinner is included, while drinks and bottled water are not. Bring cash in Moroccan dirhams because card payments are not always accepted around Merzouga. Breakfast is included the next morning. It is generally a light meal of bread and pastries, so keep a snack in your small bag if you need a larger breakfast.

The best part of camp may be outside the tent. Once the fire settles and the music ends, the desert gives you a clear night sky. Mobile connection may still work, but put the phone away for a while. The quiet is part of what you came for.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the road out

Set an alarm before dawn. You can walk up the dunes and watch the sun appear beyond the sand. The description of the route places the sunrise near the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga, though the exact viewpoint depends on the camp and morning arrangements.

The dunes are cooler and quieter at this hour. Wear shoes that can handle loose sand, and bring a layer because desert temperatures change sharply between night and day.

After sunrise, you return to camp for breakfast, a shower, and a short rest. Then the road begins again. This is where the tour’s limits become clear: the desert portion feels special, but it is brief. You have one sunset, one night, and one sunrise before another full day in the vehicle.

Returning to Fes through the Ziz Valley

The Fes route passes through Rissani, the Ziz Valley, Berber villages, and the Middle Atlas. Rissani is an important southern Moroccan town, and the route gives you a look at the transition from desert to greener mountain country.

The Ziz Valley offers striking views from the road, with palms and settlements gathered around the river corridor. You will see the scenery change as you climb north. Later, the Middle Atlas brings cooler air and a different feel from the dry desert.

Arrival in Fes is expected around 7 to 8 PM, depending on traffic, stops, and road conditions. Do not schedule a tight dinner reservation or an evening train. Give yourself room for delay.

Winter deserves extra caution. Snow in the Middle Atlas has caused route changes and much longer drives. One departure took around 16 hours on the first day and 10 hours on the second after snow and rockfall affected the main road. That is not the normal schedule, but it shows why you should keep the next morning flexible.

Returning to Marrakech through the Thousand Kasbahs road

The Marrakech return follows the famous Thousand Kasbahs route and then crosses the High Atlas again. The schedule aims to reach Marrakech around 8 PM.

This ending is practical if Marrakech is your base, but it means two heavy driving days there and back. The road scenery remains worthwhile, yet you will not have much spare time for wandering through kasbahs or villages.

A driver who explains the route can make a major difference. Guides and drivers assigned to this trip have included Hassan, Mahfoud, Moha, Said, Ibrahim, Mustapha, Driss, and Mohamed Buzga. The driver’s style matters because you spend so many hours together. Good communication, regular breaks, and safe driving are more important here than a long speech at every stop.

What is included, and what costs extra

The base package includes:

• Air-conditioned transport
• A professional driver
• One night in a desert camp
• Camel riding
• One dinner
• One breakfast
• Sandboarding, when requested from camp staff

You pay separately for lunch, drinks, monument entry, and quad biking. The Ait Benhaddou stop is also an extra-cost option. Confirm the price before agreeing to add anything.

There is also a two-day transport-only option that does not include the overnight stay or desert activities. That version is useful only if you have arranged your own camp and camel experience. For most people, the package with the overnight stay makes more sense.

The activity allows cancellation up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve while paying later. Include your WhatsApp number when booking so the company can confirm pickup details.

Who should book this desert trip?

I would choose this for a first Morocco visit when time is tight and the Sahara is a priority. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors comfortable in a small group, and families who can handle long road days.

It also works well if you want to travel from Marrakech to Fes without losing a day to separate transport. The included camp, dinner, camel ride, and breakfast keep planning simple.

I would not choose it if you dislike sitting in a vehicle, need frequent long stops, or want a relaxed visit to the Atlas valleys. People with motion sickness should think carefully before booking. Bring medication if you normally use it, and sit where you feel most comfortable.

Pack comfortable shoes, loose clothing, sunglasses, sun protection, water, snacks, and a small overnight bag. Leave the large suitcase in the vehicle. In summer, consider the luxury tent and bring a personal fan. In winter, pack warm layers for the night and early morning.

Should you book the two-day Merzouga trip?

Book it if your main goal is to ride a camel at sunset, sleep in the dunes, see sunrise, and continue to Fes or Marrakech for a low price. The desert night is memorable, and the route gives you a fast look at several regions of Morocco.

Skip it in favor of the extra-day version if you want Ait Benhaddou, longer valley stops, more time in the mountains, or a gentler pace. The two-day plan is not a relaxed tour. It is a smart shortcut with one excellent desert night attached.

For the right person, $113 is strong value. Just remember what you are buying: not two easy sightseeing days, but one long road crossing, one magical night in Erg Chebbi, and another long ride home.

FAQ

How long does the trip last?

The activity lasts about 38 hours. The first drive from Marrakech to Merzouga takes around 10 hours with lunch and comfort breaks. Arrival on the second day is expected around 7 to 8 PM, depending on the route, traffic, and stops.

Can I finish the trip in Fes or Marrakech?

Yes. You can travel from Merzouga to Fes through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas, or return to Marrakech via the Thousand Kasbahs road and High Atlas. Choose the ending that fits your wider Morocco itinerary.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The camel ride to the desert camp is included and takes about 50 minutes. You can also request sandboarding from the camp staff before the camel ride.

Are meals and drinks included?

One dinner and one breakfast at the desert camp are included. Lunch, drinks, and water are not included, so carry supplies or ask the driver to stop at a shop.

Can I book a quad bike?

Yes, but quad biking costs extra. You can arrange it at the camp. It is separate from the included camel ride and sandboarding.

What should I bring for the overnight stay?

Bring comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing, water, snacks, and a small bag with overnight essentials. Your larger luggage stays in the vehicle. A warm layer is useful at night, and a personal fan may help during summer.