Fez to Merzouga: 2-Day Sahara Desert & Camel Trek

Camel Trek & Desert Night: Fez to Merzouga in 36 Hours

You get picked up from your Fez hotel, driven through the Atlas Mountains and Barbary ape forests to Merzouga, then spend ninety minutes on camel crossing the Erg Chebbi dunes to a private Berber tent where you sleep and eat. Day two reverses the route back to Fez after a dawn trek and breakfast. The whole thing takes 36 hours and includes all transport, meals, camel trekking and accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fes to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Pick up from hotel in Fes
• Drive to Ifrane, Morocco's Switzerland
• Visit cedar forests and see Barbary apes
• Stop for photos at Ziz Valley
• Lunch in Midelt, the apple capital
• Arrive in Merzouga, Sahara Desert
• Take camel trek to Berber tent
• Relax with Berber music and dinner
• Sleep in luxury desert tent

Day 2: Merzouga to Fes via Atlas Mountains

• Wake up to dawn over dunes
• Return camel to hotel
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Drive back to Fes through Middle Atlas
• Make short stops en route
• Arrive in Fes or Marrakech

The experience

Your driver arrives at your hotel or riad in Fez before dawn. The road south climbs fast into the Atlas Mountains, and by mid-morning you're in Ifrane, the alpine town that looks nothing like Morocco: steep roofs, cool air, Swiss chalets transplanted into North Africa. It's a quick stop for photos, then down into the cedar forests around Azrou where Barbary apes move through the trees. They're used to tourists, which means they're also used to stealing snacks, so keep your lunch close. The drive winds through the Ziz Valley, lunch happens in Midelt (the apple capital, they'll tell you), and then the landscape opens into desert.

By afternoon you're in Merzouga, standing in front of the Erg Chebbi dunes. A ninety-minute camel trek takes you deeper into the sand, the dunes shifting around you as the light changes. Your guide leads you to a private luxury Berber tent with its own bathroom, not roughing it, but close enough to feel real. Dinner is cooked on-site, and after dark the sky fills with stars in a way that doesn't happen near cities. You sleep in the tent, the desert quiet around you except for the wind.

Day two starts before sunrise. You trek back across the dunes on camel, watching the shadows lengthen as the sun comes up, then return to the vehicle for breakfast. The drive back to Fez follows the same route in reverse, with a few short stops along the way. You're back by evening, having crossed the Sahara and slept under it in less than two days.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Fez, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle to Merzouga, a ninety-minute camel trek to the Berber tent, a private luxury tent with attached bathroom and toilet, dinner and breakfast, a dawn camel trek back across the dunes, and the return drive to Fez with short stops along the way.

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 160 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Samitrip

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the Sahara experience without spending three or four days on the road. The overnight format gets you across the desert and back to Fez in 36 hours, which is what makes the whole trip fit into a short break.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

How long is the camel trek?

Ninety minutes each way, once on the way to the tent on day one, and again at dawn on day two.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup in Fez, air-conditioned vehicle for both days, camel trekking, the private luxury tent with bathroom, dinner and breakfast, and the drive back to Fez.

Can I do this trip if I've never ridden a camel?

Yes. The trek is designed for all fitness levels and the pace is steady. Your guide will show you how to mount and ride.

Is the tent really in the middle of the desert?

It's in a luxury desert camp surrounded by the Erg Chebbi dunes. It has a private bathroom attached, so it's not a basic setup.

What time do I need to wake up on day two?

Early: the trek back starts before sunrise so you can see the dawn over the dunes.

Can I choose to return to Marrakech instead of Fez?

Yes, the tour can end in Marrakech instead. Confirm your preference when you book.

Are there stops on the drive back to Fez?

Yes, a few short stops are made along the route through the Atlas Mountains and Ziz Valley.

Is this accessible for wheelchair users?

The vehicle and tent are wheelchair accessible, and all surfaces are accessible. Camel trekking itself may not be suitable depending on mobility needs. Contact the operator before booking.