Fez to Merzouga desert tour: 2 days with camel trek

Ride camels into the Sahara at sunset, then wake for the desert sunrise

A 2-day shared group tour from Fez to the Merzouga desert with camel trekking, overnight stay in a desert camp, and return to Fez. The route crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains through Ifrane and Midelt, stops at the Ziz Valley and Erfoud, and includes a Berber show around the fire pit, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all meals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fez to Merzouga Desert Journey

• Pick up from hotel at 07:30 am
• Stop at Ifrane cedar forests
• Break for lunch in Midelt
• Drive through Ziz Valley
• Stop in Erfoud
• Arrive Merzouga and store luggage
• Camel trek for sunset (45 min)
• Dinner under stars with Berber show

Day 2: Merzouga to Fez Return

• Early wake for Erg Chebbi sunrise
• Camel trek back to hotel/riad
• Breakfast and shower
• Visit Rissani and Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif
• Drive through Ziz Valley and visit Damn Hassan El-Awal
• Lunch break
• Visit cave family at Immouzar
• Return and drop off at Fez hotel/riad

The experience

The tour picks you up at 7:30 am from your Fez hotel or riad and heads southeast toward the Sahara. The drive itself is the first half of the experience: you stop in Ifrane to walk among cedar forests in the Middle Atlas, break for lunch in Midelt, then pass through the green Ziz Valley before reaching Erfoud. By late afternoon you arrive in Merzouga and check into the desert camp, then mount a camel for a 45-minute trek across the sand to watch the sunset from the dunes. Dinner happens under the stars at a nomad tent, followed by a Berber folklore show around the fire pit.

The second morning starts early with a camel trek back to catch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, then breakfast and a shower at the camp. The return route retraces the valley but adds a stop at Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif in Rissani and a visit to a family home built into the caves at Immouzar, before lunch and the final drive back to Fez. You're dropped at your hotel by evening.

The group stays small and shared, with a professional driver who speaks English and French. Transportation is air-conditioned, and the desert camp is standard accommodation, not luxury tents, but comfortable enough for one night. Camel guides accompany the treks, so you're not navigating alone.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Fez.
• air-conditioned transport.
• camel rides with guides on both days.
• one night in a standard desert camp.
• dinner and breakfast.
• Berber folklore show around the fire pit.
• professional English and French-speaking driver.

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 125 per person, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

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 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Fez City Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Fez without a rental car and want the full Sahara experience in two days: the pickup at your riad settles the logistics, and the fixed itinerary means the camel treks, the camp, and the return drive are all arranged around a single departure time.

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Top questions

What's the camel trekking like on this Fez desert tour?

You ride camels twice: a 45-minute trek at sunset on day one to reach the nomad tents, and another trek at sunrise on day two before breakfast. A camel guide leads both rides, and the experience is suited to all fitness levels.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Fez to Merzouga?

No. Hotel pickup at 7:30 am from your Fez riad or hotel is included, and the driver brings you back to the same place on day two. The entire journey (stops, transport, and camel rides) is arranged.

What happens at the desert camp overnight?

After the sunset camel trek, you have dinner under the stars at a nomad tent, then watch a Berber folklore show around the fire pit. You sleep in the standard desert camp and wake early for the sunrise trek.

Are meals included in the 2-day tour?

Dinner on day one and breakfast on day two are included. Lunch on both days is a break at a restaurant along the route, and you pay for it separately.

What's the Ziz Valley stop like?

The Ziz Valley is a lush green corridor through the desert landscape. You pass through it twice (once on the way to Merzouga and again on the return), and stop to see the dramatic terrain and the Hassan El-Awal dam.

Can I bring an infant on this tour?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap in the vehicle, and specialized infant seats are available if you request one when booking.