2-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Fes: Camel Trek & Luxury Camp

Summary

Luxury Overnight Sahara Experience: Fes to Merzouga Desert Camp

If you want to see Morocco’s Sahara but don’t have much time, this 2-day trip packs in everything: camel trekking at sunset, sleeping under desert stars in a luxury tent with your own bathroom, meeting monkeys in cedar forests, and soaking up local life from Fes all the way to Merzouga. It’s quick but feels like a real adventure.

What’s the experience like?

We kicked off early from Fes, the city still waking up as we loaded our bags into the van. Our driver, Hassan, had that easygoing way about him—he pointed out the old French signs as we left town and told us to look out for storks nesting on the minarets. The road climbed steadily into the Middle Atlas. Ifrane was our first real stop—honestly, it looked more like a Swiss ski village than anything I'd expected in Morocco. There were tidy flowerbeds and pointy rooftops, and you could feel the air get crisper.

Not long after, we pulled over in Azrou’s cedar forest. The smell of pine hit me right away—fresh and sharp—and then there were macaque monkeys everywhere. One bold little guy tried to snatch a piece of bread right out of my hand (Hassan just laughed). We kept winding through mountain roads until Midelt, where lunch was simple but good—lots of apples around here, so dessert was sorted. Somewhere along the Ziz Valley, we stopped for photos; date palms stretched forever down below, and you could hear water trickling even though it was dry season.

The light started shifting as we reached Merzouga. Sand everywhere—the kind that gets in your shoes no matter what you do. Camels were waiting for us at the edge of the dunes; mine was called Mouloud and he made these funny grumbling noises every time I tried to climb on. The trek itself took about ninety minutes, just as dusk settled in and everything turned gold and pink. At camp, Berber music drifted over the sand while dinner cooked (tagine bubbling away somewhere behind the tents). Later, lying back on a blanket outside my private tent, I counted more stars than I’d ever seen—no city lights for miles.

The next morning came early—someone knocked gently at my tent so I wouldn’t miss sunrise over Erg Chebbi. It’s hard to describe how quiet it is out there; just camel bells and soft voices carrying across the sand. After breakfast (strong mint tea woke me up), we rode back by camel with long shadows stretching behind us before heading back towards Fes or Marrakech through those same winding mountain roads.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fes to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Drive from Fes to Merzouga via Ifrane and Azrou
• Camel trek to Berber tent and desert camp

Day 2 — Merzouga to Fes via Atlas Mountains

• Return trek from dunes and drive back to Fes with stops

Top questions

Is this desert tour suitable for families with young kids?

Yes! Kids can ride camels or travel in a pram/stroller if needed. The camp is comfortable and safe for families.

Can I choose between returning to Fes or continuing to Marrakech?

Absolutely—you can finish your trip back in Fes or head onward to Marrakech depending on your plans.

Are there bathrooms inside the tents?

Each private luxury tent has its own bathroom and toilet for comfort and privacy.

What should I pack for this overnight desert trip?

Bring layers—it gets chilly at night even if it’s hot during the day! A scarf is handy for sand and sun.

What’s included

Your tour covers dinner and breakfast, a private luxury tent with attached bathroom at our desert camp, air-conditioned transport from Fes, camel trekking across Erg Chebbi dunes (with sand skiing if you’re up for it), plus plenty of stops along the way for photos and snacks. All ages welcome—including infants or wheelchair users—and our guides are always happy to help make things easy.