Fez to Marrakech: 2-Day Sahara & Merzouga Camel Trek

Two Days Crossing the Sahara: From Fez's Medina to Desert Stars

You travel from Fez through the Middle Atlas to Merzouga's Erg Chebbi dunes, spend a night in a Berber camp with dinner and starlight, ride camels at sunrise and sunset, and wake to breakfast before driving on to Marrakech. Transport, meals, and accommodation are all arranged, so you only show up ready to go.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Pick up from riad at 7:30 am
• Drive through Middle Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ifrane and see lion statue
• Stop at Midelt town
• Explore Ziz valley
• Arrive Merzouga and camel ride
• Enjoy Berber camp dinner and drumming

Day 2: Sunrise and drive to Marrakech

• Wake up early for Sahara sunrise
• Camel ride back to hotel
• Have breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Marrakech

The experience

You're standing in your Fez riad the night before, and something shifts. Tomorrow you leave the narrow streets and tile-work behind for seven hours of driving south through the Middle Atlas, and by evening you'll be on a camel watching the light drain from the Sahara. The pickup happens at 7:30 am (early enough that the city is still waking up), and your driver collects you with an air-conditioned van, speaking French or English depending on the group. The route takes you through Ifrane, known for its alpine chalets and pine forests (it's called the Switzerland of Morocco, and you'll see why), then down through Midelt, a market town sitting between two mountain ranges where the landscape starts to open up and flatten.

By afternoon you're in the Ziz valley, and the Sahara is no longer something you're driving toward. It's what you're driving through. The dunes appear first as a line on the horizon, then they're everywhere, and the van pulls into Merzouga where the camels are actually waiting. The camel trek lasts about 45 minutes, and it's slower and more rhythmic than you'd expect, the animal's pace forcing you to look around instead of checking your phone. You reach the Berber camp as the light goes gold, and dinner happens under canvas with the smell of tagine and woodsmoke. At night the sky fills with stars in a way that feels almost aggressive, so many that you stop trying to find constellations and just stare.

The second morning starts before sunrise. You ride the camel back to camp for breakfast while the dunes are still gray, then watch the sun actually arrive, turning everything amber and pink. After that, the drive to Marrakech is long, around six hours, but you're heading west now, back toward the cities, carrying the desert with you in a way that doesn't quite fade.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel or riad pickup at 7:30 am on day one, air-conditioned transport with a professional driver throughout, passage through Ifrane and the Ziz valley, a 45-minute camel trek in Merzouga, one night in a standard Berber desert camp, dinner and breakfast, and drop-off in Marrakech on day two. The sunrise camel ride on the second morning is part of the experience.

Information

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 137 per person, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

GroupUp to 14

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Group Morocco Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Sahara and sleep under stars without arranging transport, camp bookings, or camel logistics yourself: the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you arrive in Fez and leave from Marrakech with nothing else to organize.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Fez to Merzouga?

Approximately seven hours on the first day, passing through Ifrane, Azrou, and Midelt before reaching the desert camp.

What's included in the price?

Pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport with a professional driver, one night in a standard desert camp, dinner, breakfast, and camel trekking.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup is at 7:30 am from your Fez riad or hotel.

Is the camel ride difficult?

The trek lasts about 45 minutes and is suitable for all fitness levels. Children can participate, and infants can sit on an adult's lap.

What's the desert camp like?

It's a standard Berber camp with basic accommodation. Dinner and breakfast are provided, and you'll experience traditional Berber hospitality and drumming in the evening.

Can I see the sunrise from the dunes?

Yes. The second morning includes an early camel ride to watch the sunrise over the Sahara before returning for breakfast.

What language does the driver speak?

The driver speaks French and English.

Is there a toilet and shower at the camp?

The camp is basic but equipped. Specific amenities depend on the camp's facilities. Confirm details when booking.