2-Day Fez to Merzouga Desert Tour with Camel Trek

Two days crossing mountains and sand, sleeping under stars in the Sahara

A 2-day private tour from Fez to Merzouga in the Sahara, with pickup from your hotel and a professional multilingual driver. Day one takes you through Ifrane and Azrou into the cedar forests to see Barbary apes, then across the Atlas mountains to the Erg Chebbi dunes for a 90-minute sunset camel trek and overnight stay at a traditional Berber camp. Day two includes a sunrise camel trek back to the auberge, breakfast, and the drive back to Fez with stops along the way. Dinner, breakfast, accommodation, and all transport are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Middle Atlas

• Pickup from riad or hotel at 7am
• Stop at Ifrane ski chalet town
• Visit Berber town of Azrou
• See barbary apes in cedar forests
• Cross Atlas mountains to Rissani
• View Erg Chebbi sand dunes
• Arrive Merzouga for sunset camel trek
• Dinner and music at Berber desert camp

Day 2: Merzouga desert sunrise and return

• Wake up for desert sunrise
• Camel trek back to auberge
• Enjoy breakfast at auberge
• Depart Merzouga for Fez
• Make stops en route to Fez

The experience

Your 7am pickup from your riad or hotel sets the pace for a two-day arc that moves from the green mountains of northern Morocco into the Sahara. The first stop is Ifrane, a Swiss-style ski town built by the French in the 1930s and known locally as Swiss Morocco. From there you continue to Azrou, a peaceful Berber town where the cedar forests hold Barbary apes in their natural habitat: the only wild primates in Africa north of the Sahara. The drive winds up and down through the Atlas, crossing quickly changing terrain and vegetation as you head south toward the edge of the desert.

By late afternoon you reach Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, which rise up to 50 meters and stretch toward the Algerian border. A 90-minute sunset camel trek takes you into the shifting dunes to a traditional Berber desert camp, where dinner, tea, and music around a fire fill the evening before you sleep under the stars. The next morning you wake early to watch the sunrise and trek back to the auberge by camel, then eat breakfast before beginning the return journey to Fez. The route back includes several stops to deepen your sense of the landscape and the country you've crossed.

Your driver speaks English and French and handles all navigation and logistics. The vehicle is air-conditioned for the long stretches between towns, and mineral water is provided throughout. Pickup and drop-off at your Fez accommodation are included, so you need only be ready at 7am on day one.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional multilingual driver (English or French).
• pickup and drop-off from your Fez hotel at 7am.
• dinner and breakfast both days.
• overnight accommodation at a traditional Berber desert camp.
• a 90-minute sunset camel trek and a sunrise camel trek the next morning.
• mineral water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Fez Morocco Excursions

Is this one for you?This is a private tour with a dedicated driver, so the pace and stops are yours alone: ideal if you want to linger in Ifrane or ask questions without keeping a group waiting. The two-day format gets you deep enough into the Sahara to sleep in the desert and watch both sunset and sunrise from the dunes, something a day trip cannot reach.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens during the camel trek in Merzouga?

The sunset camel trek lasts 90 minutes and takes you from the edge of Merzouga into the Erg Chebbi dunes to reach the Berber camp where you spend the night. The next morning you trek back to the auberge by camel to watch the sunrise along the way.

Where do I sleep on the first night?

You stay at a traditional Berber desert camp in Merzouga after the sunset camel trek. Dinner and tea are served there, and you sleep under the stars before the sunrise trek back.

What are the Barbary apes I'll see in Azrou?

Barbary apes are wild primates found in the cedar forests near Azrou. They are the only wild apes in Africa north of the Sahara. The tour includes a stop to see them in their natural habitat.

How much driving is there on each day?

Day one involves several hours of driving from Fez through Ifrane and Azrou into the mountains and across the Atlas to Merzouga, with stops at each town. Day two is the return drive to Fez with stops along the route, after the sunrise camel trek and breakfast.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes private transportation, pickup and drop-off from your Fez hotel, the air-conditioned vehicle, both dinners and breakfasts, accommodation at the Berber camp, mineral water, and the camel treks. Lunch on both days is not included and is on your own.

Do I need any experience to ride a camel?

No prior experience is needed for the camel treks. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the mountain driving and physical activity involved.