Fes to Merzouga Desert Tour: Camel Ride & Berber Camp

Summary

Cross Morocco’s Atlas Mountains to Sahara dunes with camels

You’ll start in Fes’s winding streets and cross mountain forests before reaching Merzouga’s dunes for a sunset camel ride. Sleep under Saharan stars at a Berber camp with dinner included. The landscapes shift every hour — but it’s those quiet moments with locals that linger long after you return.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely left the Medina of Fes when our driver, Youssef, started telling stories about his childhood in the mountains. He bought us sticky-sweet chebakia from a street vendor as we waited for the van to warm up — I still smell the orange blossom honey on my fingers. The city faded fast, replaced by pine trees and that weirdly European look of Ifrane (it really does look like a Swiss postcard, which I didn’t expect in Morocco). Youssef pointed out cedar forests near Azrou and slowed down so we could watch monkeys dart across the road — honestly, they seemed as surprised to see us as we were them.

The drive through the Middle Atlas was long but never boring. We passed tiny Berber villages where women waved from doorways and kids chased each other past stone walls. Lunch in Midelt was simple — tagine and bread, nothing fancy but somehow perfect after hours on the road. The air got drier as we neared Merzouga; you could almost taste the dust. When we finally reached the edge of the Sahara, there was this hush — even Youssef stopped talking for a minute. Mint tea never tasted so good as it did right before our camel ride into those gold-pink dunes.

The camel ride itself? Bumpy, hilarious (my friend nearly lost her shoe), but also weirdly peaceful once you get used to it. Our guide, Hassan, sang softly in Tamazight while we watched the sun sink behind Erg Chebbi — I tried joining in but mostly just made him laugh. Dinner at camp was couscous under stars so bright it felt unreal. Lying in that Berber tent later, listening to distant drums and wind over sand, I realized how far we’d come from Fes — not just in kilometers but in feeling. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve done it yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel from Fes to Merzouga Desert

• Pick up from hotel in Fes Medina
• Drive through Ifrane ski resort
• Visit cedar forest and see monkeys
• Cross Middle Atlas Mountains and Berber villages
• Lunch break in Midelt town
• View palm oasis panorama
• Arrive in Merzouga and have mint tea
• Camel ride across Erg-Chebbi dunes at sunset
• Reach desert camp and secure camels
• Enjoy dinner and stargazing in Berber tent

Day 2 — Return to Fes or Marrakech

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

Top questions

How long is the drive from Fes to Merzouga?

The drive typically takes most of the day, with stops along the way for sightseeing and lunch.

Is pickup included for this desert tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included at your accommodation in Fes.

Do you sleep in a tent during this tour?

Yes, one night is spent in an authentic Berber tent at a desert camp in Merzouga.

Are meals provided on this 2-day trip?

Dinner and breakfast are both included during your desert camp stay.

Can infants or small children join this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; specialized seats and prams are available if needed.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with limited mobility?

The transportation options are wheelchair accessible throughout the journey.

Where does the tour end?

You can choose to return to Fes or continue on to Marrakech after breakfast on day two.

What should I bring for the camel ride?

Wear comfortable clothes; closed shoes are best for riding camels through sand dunes.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup from Fes, all transportation by air-conditioned minivan with a professional driver, dinner and breakfast at camp, an hour-long camel ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset, overnight accommodation in a Berber tent under Saharan stars, plus plenty of mint tea along the way before returning to Fes or continuing on to Marrakech as you choose.