3-Day Fez to Sahara Tour: Camel Trekking & Berber Camp

Ride camels at sunset and sunrise across Erg Chebbi dunes, then sleep in a Berber camp under the Sahara sky.

A 3-day guided tour from Fez to Merzouga in the Sahara with two nights' accommodation (one in a desert camp, one in a Merzouga hotel), camel trekking, transport with an English-, Spanish- or French-speaking driver, and hotel pickup and drop-off included. The route crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains, passes through cedar forests and the Ziz valley, and includes a half-hour camel trek to the camp each afternoon and a sunrise ride back the following morning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Fez to Merzouga

• Drive through Middle Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ifrane cedar forest
• Stop at Azrou
• Stop at Midelt
• Visit Ziz valley palm groves
• Arrive at Merzouga hotel
• Dinner at hotel

Day 2: Explore Merzouga and camel trek

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit black volcanic rocks and marble fossils
• Learn about Gnawa music in Khamlia village
• Excursion to Rissani city
• Return to hotel for rest
• Camel trek to Berber camp
• Dinner and Berber drumming at camp

Day 3: Return from Merzouga to Fez

• Sunrise camel trek at Erg Chebbi
• Breakfast at Merzouga hotel
• Drive back via Tafilalt and Zawiya Moulay Ali Sharif
• Visit Ziz Valley and Imouzar Kandar
• Arrive in Fez and drop off at hotel

The experience

The journey starts with a seven-hour drive from Fez toward Merzouga, cutting through the Middle Atlas Mountains and the cedar forests near Ifrane. You stop at Azrou and Midelt, then descend into the Ziz valley with its palm groves before reaching Merzouga in the late afternoon. That first night you stay in a 3-star hotel or riad in town, giving you time to rest before the desert itself.

On day two, after breakfast, you explore the Merzouga area with your driver: visiting the black volcanic rocks and marble fossils, then the Gnawa musicians in Khamlia village to learn about their music. You drive to Rissani, the city founded by the Alaouite dynasty, and break for lunch on your own. Back at the hotel by mid-afternoon, you have time to rest before the camel trek: a 45-minute ride out to a well-equipped Berber camp where you spend the night in a standard tent. Berber drumming and the star-filled sky close the day.

The third morning, you wake early to ride a camel back to Merzouga at sunrise, then return to the hotel for breakfast and a shower. The drive back to Fez takes the afternoon, retracing the route through Tafilalt, the Zawiya Moulay Ali Sharif shrine, the Ziz valley again, and Imouzar Kandar. You arrive in Fez in the early evening and are dropped at your hotel.

What’s included

• Two nights' accommodation (one in a 3-star Merzouga hotel or riad, one in a standard Berber camp tent).
• all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• camel trekking with a guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Fez.
• breakfast and dinner each day.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 222 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

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 tour if you want the full desert immersion: two nights away from the city, a night under stars in a Berber camp, and camel rides at both sunset and sunrise. The shared group format and fixed itinerary mean the route, timing and camp are already arranged, so the three days hold together without you building them.

Traveler reviews

4.94★★★★★★★★★★

17 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What's the drive like from Fez to Merzouga on the first day?

The seven-hour journey crosses the Middle Atlas Mountains through cedar forests and passes stops at Ifrane (known for alpine-style architecture), Azrou, Midelt, and the Ziz valley with its palm groves before you reach Merzouga in the late afternoon.

How long is the camel trek each day?

The afternoon trek to the Berber camp runs about 45 minutes. The sunrise ride back to Merzouga the next morning covers the same distance.

Where do I sleep on this tour?

Night one is in a 3-star hotel or riad in Merzouga. Night two is in a standard tent at a Berber camp in the desert where you sleep under the stars.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes two nights' accommodation (one hotel, one camp), all transport with an air-conditioned vehicle and professional driver, camel trekking with a camel guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off in Fez. Lunch on day two is on your own.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the drive, and specialized infant seats are available. Infants ride on an adult's lap during camel trekking.