2-Day Desert Trek From Fes to Merzouga: Camel Ride & Berber Camp

Cross the Sahara on camel, sleep in Berber tent, wake to sunrise over endless sand dunes

This 2-day desert tour departs from Fez, crosses the Atlas Mountains and Middle Atlas cedar forests, and ends with a camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, where you spend the night in an authentic Berber camp. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French, and hotel pickup is included. Lunch and drinks are not covered by any option; you choose between a luxury tent, a standard tent, or a private tour at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — From Fes to Merzouga

• Pick up from Fes Medina hotel
• Drive through Ifrane ski resort
• Visit cedar forest in Azrou and Middle Atlas Mountains
• Lunch break in Midelt town
• View oasis panorama before arriving Merzouga
• Enjoy mint tea break
• Camel ride across erg-Chebbi dunes at sunset
• Arrive desert camp and secure camels
• Dinner and stargazing in Berber tent

Day 2 — Back to Fes or Marrakech

• Watch sunrise and have breakfast
• Travel back to Fes or Marrakech

The Experience

The journey starts with pickup from your hotel in the Medina of Fez. Your driver and guide take you south through Ifrane, a French-built ski resort from the 1930s designed to echo a Swiss village, then into the cedar forests of Azrou where you'll spot monkeys before climbing into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The road winds through forests, springs, rock formations and Berber villages as you descend toward the Sahara. At midpoint, you stop in Midelt—a town known for fossils—for a lunch break, then continue toward Merzouga.

In the late afternoon, you reach a panoramic overlook of the palm-filled oasis before arriving in Merzouga. After mint tea, your guide and camels are ready. You ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes for roughly an hour, watching the sunset from the saddle, then arrive at the desert camp. The camels are tethered, mint tea is served, and dinner follows. You sleep in an authentic Berber tent beneath the open sky.

The next morning, you watch the sunrise, eat breakfast, and then depart for either Fez or Marrakech—your choice at booking. The air-conditioned minivan, professional driver, one night's accommodation, dinner, breakfast and the camel ride are all included. The travel time counts as part of the experience, not dead time.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Fez and return to either Fez or Marrakech.
• air-conditioned minivan with professional driver.
• one night in an authentic Berber tent (luxury or standard, your choice).
• dinner and breakfast.
• camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset.
• mint tea service at the camp.
• sunrise viewing the next morning.

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 luxury tent if you want more comfort after a full day of travel and riding; the standard tent suits travelers who prioritize the desert experience over amenities. Choose the private tour option if you prefer a smaller group and more flexibility with timing and stops along the way.

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Top questions

What is Erg Chebbi and why does the camel ride cross it?

Erg Chebbi is the vast sand dune field near Merzouga in the Sahara Desert. Your camel ride takes you across these dunes during the sunset hour, which is when the light and the landscape are most dramatic, and when the temperature drops enough to make the crossing comfortable.

Do I sleep in a tent, and what is it like inside?

Yes, you spend the night in an authentic Berber tent at the desert camp in Merzouga. The tent is furnished for sleeping; you choose between a luxury tent or a standard tent when you book. Both options include dinner, breakfast, and mint tea service.

How long is the camel ride, and what happens after?

The camel ride lasts roughly an hour across the dunes. After you arrive at the camp, the camels are secured, mint tea is served, and you have dinner before settling in for the night under the stars.

Can I choose where the tour ends—Fez or Marrakech?

Yes. After watching the sunrise and eating breakfast on the second morning, you return to either Fez or Marrakech, whichever you prefer. You make this choice at checkout.

What landscapes do I see on the drive from Fez to Merzouga?

The route crosses the Medina of Fez, the French ski resort of Ifrane, cedar forests in Azrou where monkeys live, the Middle Atlas Mountains with their forests and Berber villages, and finally the descent into the Sahara Desert. The drive includes a lunch stop in Midelt and a panoramic overlook of the Merzouga oasis before you arrive.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children are welcome from age 1. Specialized infant seats are available in the minivan, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. All transportation and camp areas are wheelchair accessible.