3-Day Desert Tour from Fez to Merzouga: Camel Trek & Berber Camp

Ifrane, Azrou's macaques, the Ziz Valley, a camel trek at dusk, and two desert sunrises

A 3-day guided tour from Fez through the Middle Atlas Mountains to Merzouga in the Sahara, with two nights' accommodation, camel trekking and a night in a Berber desert camp. The route crosses cedar forests where Barbary macaques live, descends through the Ziz Valley—Africa's largest oasis—and ends with a return drive to Fez. Your driver handles the wheel and the route; you choose your afternoon activities in Merzouga, from exploring Khamlia village's Gnawa music to resting before the camel trek.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fes to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Pick up from hotel in Fes
• Visit Ifrane town
• Explore cedar forests near Azrou
• Lunch in Midelt city
• Drive through Ziz Valley oasis
• Arrive in Merzouga and dinner
• Overnight in desert luxury camp

Day 2 — Desert exploration and camel trek

• Breakfast in Merzouga
• Optional visit to historical towns and palm groves
• Experience Gnawa music in Khamlia village
• Relax around desert tents
• Camel trek to Berber campsite
• Dinner and cultural evening at camp
• Overnight in hotel or similar

Day 3 — Return journey to Fes

• Early sunrise over sand dunes
• Breakfast and prepare for departure
• Drive back through Erfoud and Ziz Valley
• Return to Fes

The Experience

Pickup from your Fez hotel or riad happens at 7:30 am, and the drive climbs into the Middle Atlas Mountains toward Ifrane, a French-built town from the 1930s that locals call Morocco's Switzerland. The road passes through cedar forests around Azrou, where Barbary macaque monkeys live in the wild—you may encounter them during lunch. The landscape shifts as you descend: winding mountain paths, forest canopy, streams cutting through rock walls, and eventually the High Atlas coming into view. By midday you'll stop in Midelt, the City of Apples, positioned where the Middle and High Atlas meet.

The afternoon carries you deeper into the Atlas range and down into the Ziz Valley, the largest oasis in Africa. Palm trees and mountains merge across a single vista, divided by the Ziz River—one of the region's major waterways. You arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon, settle into a traditional Kasbah for the night, and eat dinner with Saharan music. The second day is yours to shape: wake early for the sunrise over the dunes if you choose, or sleep in and explore at your own pace. Rissani and Merzouga towns, palm groves around the Tafilalt Oasis, or Gnawa music in Khamlia village are options. In late afternoon, when the heat breaks, you'll mount a camel and trek into the dunes to a Berber campsite. Your hosts prepare traditional desert meals—including Madfona, a slow-cooked dish—and you might taste camel's milk. The night unfolds around a campfire, under stars, with the desert surrounding you completely.

On the third morning, rise early again for what many call one of the world's best sunrises over sand. Return to camp, wash, gather your things, and begin the return journey to Fez with your driver, retracing the Ziz Valley and the Atlas passes by afternoon.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan with professional driver throughout.
• two nights' accommodation (one in a traditional Kasbah in Merzouga, one in a Berber desert camp).
• camel trek into the dunes on day two.
• breakfast and dinner in the desert camp.
• hotel or riad pickup in Fez at 7:30 am.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Desert Smile Tours

Is this one for you?Book the return-to-Fez option if your schedule requires you back in northern Morocco by day three; choose the Marrakech extension if you want to continue south and have the extra travel time. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included transport mean the three days hold together without you arranging rides, camp logistics or the camel trek—you show up and the route unfolds.

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Top questions

What are the Barbary macaques I might see near Azrou?

The Barbary macaques are wild monkeys native to the cedar forests around Azrou—the only macaque species found outside Africa's tropical regions. They may appear during your lunch stop in their natural habitat, though sightings are not guaranteed.

Can I choose to end the tour in Marrakech instead of returning to Fez?

Yes. The tour offers two options at checkout: return to Fez on day three, or continue to Marrakech. The Fez return follows the same route back through the Atlas; the Marrakech option extends the journey onward from Merzouga.

What happens during the camel trek on day two?

In late afternoon you'll ride a camel from Merzouga into the Erg Chebbi dunes to reach a Berber campsite deep in the sand. Your hosts prepare traditional meals, and you spend the evening around a campfire, explore the dunes, or watch the stars from a sand ridge before sleeping in the camp.

Is the sunrise viewing mandatory, or can I sleep in?

The sunrise is optional. Day two begins with breakfast whether you wake early to watch the sun rise over the dunes or choose to rest. The day's activities—visiting nearby towns, Khamlia village, or relaxing at the camp—are yours to decide.

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

The tour includes the air-conditioned minivan, professional driver, two nights' accommodation, and the camel trek. Lunch and drinks are not included, so budget for meals during the drive and in the towns you visit.