2-Day Desert Tour from Fes to Merzouga: Camel Trek & Erg Chebbi

Two days crossing forest, mountains and sand: monkeys in Azrou, a camel trek at sunset, a night under the stars in the desert.

A 2-day desert tour from Fes that crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains and ends with camel trekking and an overnight stay in a Berber tent camp in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi. You depart Fes at 8am on day one, pass through cedar forests and Berber villages, stop in Midelt for lunch, then ride camels across the dunes at sunset before sleeping in the desert. Day two brings an optional sunrise walk over the sand, camel ride back, breakfast, and a visit to Rissani's souk before the drive back to Fes. A professional driver and live guide in English, Spanish or French lead the way. Dinner, breakfast and overnight accommodation in the desert camp are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fez to Merzouga via Middle Atlas

• Depart from Fez at 8:00
• Pass through Ifrane and cedar forest
• Stop at Azrou cedar forest to see monkeys
• Drive across Middle Atlas Mountains
• Lunch break in Midelt
• Stop at panoramic oasis view
• Arrive in Merzouga around 5 PM
• Camel trek across Erg Chebbi dunes
• Arrive at desert camp for overnight

Day 2: Merzouga to Fez via Rissani

• Sunrise walk over sand dunes
• Camel ride back to hotel
• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart to Rissani
• Explore Rissani monuments and souk
• Drive to Fez with lunch break

The experience

The route leaves Fes at 8am and spends the first day climbing through the Middle Atlas. You'll stop at Azrou's cedar forest to see the monkeys, then wind through mountain passes, Berber villages and springs as the landscape shifts from forest to open desert. Lunch happens in Midelt, a town known for fossils and rocks, and by late afternoon you reach Merzouga. After a rest, your guide and camels are waiting. A one-hour camel trek takes you across the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi, timed to catch the sunset from camelback. You'll reach the desert camp in the evening, where the camels are hobbled, mint tea is served, and dinner follows. The night is spent in a Berber tent.

Day two starts early if you want it. An optional sunrise walk over the dunes puts you near the Algerian border, about 50 km away, before you ride camels back to camp for breakfast. From there, the drive heads to Rissani to explore its monuments and colorful souk, then continues toward Fes with a lunch break along the way. The tour ends back in Fes. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French throughout, and a professional driver handles all the driving. Sandboarding is available on request if you want it during the desert portion.

The overnight accommodation is in the desert camp at Erg Chebbi, and the tent setup depends on which option you choose at checkout: luxury tent, private standard tent, or shared tent for up to four people. Dinner and breakfast are both included, along with the camel rides and all taxes and fees for the tour itself. Lunch on both days, drinks and water, tips, and any optional activities like quad biking or monument entrance fees are separate. The tour suits all fitness levels and public transport options exist nearby if you need them, though pickup from Fes is included in most options.

What’s included

• Camel trekking across Erg Chebbi's dunes with sunset and sunrise views.
• overnight in a Berber tent at the desert camp in Merzouga.
• dinner and breakfast both days.
• professional driver and live guide in English, Spanish or French.
• all taxes and applications.
• mint tea at the camp.
• sandboarding on request.

Options for this experience

4 options

Transfer only, no accommodationGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Accommodation is not included. Ends in Marrakech or Fes: please tell our team, once they contact you, whether you would like to finish in Fes or Marrakech. Duration: 2 days. Pickup is included.

Group tour, shared tent for up to 4Guide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Shared tent for up to 4 people: you will share your tent with other travelers, and the tent has an ensuite bathroom. Ends in Marrakech or Fes: when our team contacts you, confirm with them whether you would like to finish in Fes or Marrakech. Duration: 2 days. Dinner and breakfast are included, and a vegetarian option is available. Pickup is included.

Group tour, private standard tentGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Private standard tent with an ensuite bathroom. You will have the tent to yourself. Tour ends in Marrakech or Fes: once our team contacts you, confirm with them whether you would like to finish in Fes or Marrakech. Duration: 2 days. Dinner and breakfast are included, and vegetarian options are available. Pickup is included.

Group tour with a luxury tentGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:00 and 07:30Private luxury tent with an ensuite bathroom. You will have the tent to yourself. Ends in Marrakech or Fes: once our team contacts you, confirm with them whether you would like to finish in Fes or Marrakech. Duration: 2 days. Dinner and breakfast are included, and vegetarian options are available. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 34

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by 3t Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you have only two days but want the full desert experience: the Middle Atlas crossing, the camel trek at sunset, and a night in the Sahara. The fixed itinerary and included guide mean you don't arrange transport, accommodation or meals. The route itself holds the whole journey together. If you're returning to Fes at the end, confirm that option at checkout. Marrakech is also available as your endpoint.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

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 happens on the first day of the 2-day desert tour from Fes?

Day one departs Fes at 8am and passes through Ifrane and Azrou's cedar forest, where you stop to see the monkeys. The route then winds through the Middle Atlas Mountains past Berber villages and springs, with lunch in Midelt. By late afternoon you reach Merzouga, rest briefly, then ride camels across Erg Chebbi's dunes at sunset before reaching the desert camp for dinner and an overnight stay in a Berber tent.

Do I ride camels on this tour, and for how long?

Yes, camel trekking is the main activity in Merzouga. On day one you have a one-hour camel trek across the sandy dunes of Erg Chebbi timed for sunset. On day two, if you take the optional sunrise walk over the dunes near the Algerian border, you ride camels back to camp afterward. The camel rides are included in the tour price.

What's included in the overnight desert camp stay?

The overnight stay in the Berber tent at Erg Chebbi includes the tent accommodation, dinner, breakfast, mint tea, and the camel rides. Your choice of tent type (luxury, private standard, or shared for up to four) depends on which option you select at checkout. Lunch on either day, drinks and water, and tips are not included.

Can I see a sunrise in the desert on this tour?

Yes, day two offers an optional early morning walk over the sand dunes to watch the sunrise near the Algerian border, about 50 km from Merzouga. After the sunrise, you ride camels back to the camp for breakfast before the drive continues toward Rissani and then Fes.

What's the difference between the tent options on this tour?

The tour offers three accommodation choices: a luxury tent, a private standard tent, or a shared tent that sleeps up to four people. All three are in the same desert camp at Erg Chebbi and include the same meals and camel rides. You select your preference when you book.