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

Two Days Crossing Morocco's Mountains & Sahara, Camel to Tent

You leave Marrakech at dawn in an air-conditioned vehicle, climb the High Atlas, drive through the Valley of Roses and Dades Valley, then ride a camel into Erg Chebbi at sunset. You spend the night in a traditional Berber tent with dinner and live music, wake for a desert sunrise, and return to Fez by afternoon. The driver and all transport, meals, and camel are included. You just show up at your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

• Meet at hotel in Marrakech
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Pass Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass
• Travel through Ouarzazate and Rose Valley
• Reach Kasbah near Erg Chebbi dunes
• Take mint tea break
• Ride camels across Erg Chebbi dunes
• Arrive at desert camp
• Enjoy dinner and campfire with Berber music

Day 2: Merzouga to Fes via Ziz Valley

• Watch sunrise over sand dunes
• Return to camp by camel
• Have breakfast and rest
• Stop briefly in Rissani
• Pass through Ziz Valley and Berber villages
• Drive through Midelt and Middle Atlas Mountains
• Arrive in Fes in afternoon

The experience

The van is already rolling when you step in at your Marrakech hotel before dawn. Your driver knows the route by heart, and the High Atlas is waiting. You'll climb through the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, which sits at 2,260 meters, watching the landscape shift from dry plains to terraced villages and small waterfalls as the mountains close in around you. The air gets cooler, the colors sharper. By mid-morning you're through Ouarzazate and into the Valley of Roses, then the Dades Valley, where the road narrows and the rock walls turn rust and gold. It's a long drive: the kind where you stop for mint tea and realize you're not in a city anymore.

Late afternoon, the dunes appear. Erg Chebbi rises in front of you, and that's when the camel ride begins. One hour across the sand, your guide leading, the light turning amber as the sun drops. You reach the traditional Berber camp as the sky goes purple, and you're shown to your tent. It has an ensuite bathroom, which is the kind of detail that matters after a full day of travel. Dinner is served, and after dark the nomads bring out drums and play traditional songs around the fire while mint tea steams in glasses. You sleep under stars in a way that feels both ancient and oddly comfortable.

The second morning starts early if you want it to. You can walk out onto the dunes before sunrise. The Algerian border is about 50 kilometers away, and the light at that hour is why people come here. Breakfast happens back at camp, and then it's the return journey: a short stop in Rissani, a pass through Midelt, and the long drive north through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas. Berber villages flicker past. By afternoon you're in Fez, the desert already feeling like something you crossed rather than visited.

What’s included

Your two days include hotel pickup in Marrakech in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver, passage through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, stops in Ouarzazate, the Valley of Roses, and the Dades Valley, a one-hour camel ride to Erg Chebbi at sunset, one night in a traditional Berber tent with an ensuite bathroom, dinner with live Berber music and drums around the campfire, a sunrise walk on the dunes (optional), breakfast, and the return drive through the Ziz Valley, Berber villages, and the Middle Atlas to Fez in the afternoon.

Options for this experience

5 options

Transportation only for 2 daysGuide in English, French or Arabic · 06:00Shared transportation only: No camp or activities are included with this option. Duration: 2 days. Marrakech to Fes or back. Minibus or van. Meeting points: This option suits travelers who want to book their own accommodation in Merzouga and only need transport. Pickup is included.

Budget trip (tent shared with others)Guide in English, French or Arabic · 06:00Shared Standard Tent (for up to 4 people): Includes an ensuite bathroom. This tent can be shared by up to 4 people. Budget. Duration: 2 days. Dinner and breakfast. Pickup is included.

Standard trip (tent for private use)Guide in English, French or Arabic · 06:00Private Standard Tent: You get your own private tent with an ensuite bathroom. Shared tour with private accommodation. Dinner and breakfast. Marrakech to Fes. Pickup from Cafe De France. Pickup is included.

See 2 more options

Luxury tent (comfortable)Guide in English, French or Arabic · 06:00Private Luxury Tent (luxury desert camp): A luxury tent with an ensuite bathroom. Shared tour with a luxury camp. Duration: 2 days. Dinner and breakfast. Pickup is included.

Private tour (premium trip)Guide in English, French or Arabic · 5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 09:30Private Luxury Tent: A private luxury tent with an ensuite bathroom. Private VIP tour with private accommodation. Dinner and breakfast. Marrakech to Fes. Pickup and drop-off at flexible times, including the stops along the way. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 114 per person, with a live guide in English, French and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 09:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, French and Arabic

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by 3T Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the Sahara experience without arranging your own transport, camel guide, or camp: the fixed itinerary and included driver mean you move through three landscapes in two days without stopping to plan.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

How long is the camel ride each day?

About one hour on the way to camp on day one. On day two, the sunrise walk is optional and self-paced.

What's included in the price?

One night in a Berber tent with ensuite bathroom, camel ride, dinner, breakfast, air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional driver. Entry fees and lunch are not mentioned as included.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the high altitude of the pass (2,260 meters).

What time does the tour start?

Early morning pickup from your Marrakech hotel. The exact time depends on your hotel location and the tour operator's schedule.

Is the tent comfortable?

It's a traditional Berber tent with an ensuite bathroom. It's designed for the experience rather than luxury, but it's clean and functional.

Can I end in Marrakech instead of Fez?

The itinerary shown ends in Fez. Check with the operator about a return-to-Marrakech option, as the title suggests both are possible.

What if I'm not comfortable on a camel?

The camel ride is a core part of the experience. Discuss any concerns with the operator before booking.