Fez - Marrakech: Sahara tour with camel trek & camp

Summary

Ride camels in Merzouga, sleep under desert stars & cross Morocco’s wild heart

You’ll travel from Fez to Marrakech by way of camel rides in Merzouga’s Sahara dunes, taste mint tea with locals, spend a night in a Berber camp under endless stars, and wake up early for sunrise over Erg Chebbi — moments you’ll remember long after you leave Morocco.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that happened was we left Fez almost half an hour late because I couldn’t find my sunglasses (I know, classic). Our driver Youssef just grinned and said something about “Moroccan time” — which made me feel better. The road out of the city got quiet fast, and soon we were winding through pine forests near Ifrane. It’s weird seeing Swiss-style houses in Morocco; I kept expecting to smell fondue instead of cedar and dust. We stopped for coffee at a roadside place where the owner handed us tiny glasses of mint tea without asking. It tasted like sugar and fresh leaves — honestly, I could’ve stayed there all morning.

By the time we reached Midelt, the landscape had changed again — more rocky now, with sheep everywhere and kids waving from the side of the road. Youssef pointed out the Ziz valley below us, all green stripes against red earth. He told us stories about Berber villages as we drove; I tried repeating one of the village names back to him and he just laughed (my accent is hopeless). When we finally got to Merzouga it was late afternoon, sun low and everything golden. The camels were waiting — taller than I expected — and our guide Hassan tied my scarf for me so I wouldn’t eat sand on the ride.

Camel trekking into the Erg Chebbi dunes felt both peaceful and kind of surreal. There’s this silence you don’t get anywhere else; just wind over sand and the soft thud of hooves. At camp, dinner was tagine cooked over coals (I burned my tongue because I couldn’t wait) and then Berber drumming started up around a fire. Someone tried to teach me a rhythm but my hands didn’t cooperate — still fun though. Later, lying on a scratchy blanket outside my tent, I saw more stars than I thought possible. Didn’t sleep much but didn’t really care.

Next morning Hassan woke us before sunrise (“five minutes!” he promised — it was more like twenty), so we could watch light spill across the dunes. My legs were sore from riding but breakfast tasted better than usual somehow — maybe it was just being there. The drive to Marrakech after felt long but kind of dreamy; everyone was quiet for a while, watching Morocco slide past outside the windows. Even now when I see sand in my shoes back home, it makes me smile.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fez to Merzouga via Atlas Mountains

• Drive to Merzouga via Middle Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco
• Explore Midelt town
• Visit Ziz Valley and camel trek to Berber camp

Day 2 — Sunrise and Transfer to Marrakech

• Sunrise camel ride and drive to Marrakech

Top questions

How long does it take to travel from Fez to Merzouga?

The drive from Fez to Merzouga takes about seven hours by car or minibus.

Is camel trekking included on this Sahara tour?

Yes, camel trekking in Merzouga is included as part of the tour experience.

Do you sleep in a desert camp during this trip?

Yes, you spend one night in a standard Berber desert camp near Erg Chebbi dunes.

Are meals provided on this 2-day Sahara tour?

Dinner at camp and breakfast are included during your stay in Merzouga.

Is hotel pickup available in Fez?

Yes, pickup from your riad or hotel in Fez is included at around 7:30 am.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants can join; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What’s special about visiting Ziz Valley?

Ziz Valley offers striking green landscapes set against red earth and traditional Berber villages along the route between Midelt and Merzouga.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup from your hotel or riad in Fez by an English or French-speaking driver, comfortable transport across Morocco’s Middle Atlas mountains with stops along the way, a camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga, dinner and overnight stay at a standard Berber desert camp under the stars, breakfast before departure for Marrakech, plus drop-off at your final destination.