Fez to Merzouga: 2-Day Desert & Camel Trek with Luxury Tent

Two Days in the Sahara: Fez to Merzouga with Camel & Campfire

You spend the first day driving from Fez through cedar forests and valleys to reach Merzouga at the Sahara's edge, sleeping in a luxury tent. The second day includes camel trekking across the Erg Chebbi dunes, sunset in the desert, a nomad-cooked dinner by campfire, and the return drive to Fez. Hotel pickup, all meals, and transport are included. The whole trip is private, so timing stays yours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Drive Fez to Erg Chebbi Dunes

• Pick up from hotel in Fez
• Drive through cedar forest of Ifrane
• See Barbarous apes in forest
• Short stop in Midelt city
• Pass through Ziz valley and Efous oasis
• Arrive in Merzouga for overnight stay
• Dinner at lodging

Day 2: Explore desert and return to Fez

• Enjoy relaxed morning
• Visit Kasabah of Ressani
• Watch Gnawa music exhibition
• Overnight camel trekking with nomad guide
• Watch sunset in desert
• Evening meal cooked by guide
• Relax by campfire and climb dunes
• Spend night by campfire
• Return to Fez
• Breakfast

The experience

You're probably wondering if two days is enough to actually feel like you've been in the desert. It is, if you skip the rushed stuff and go straight to the dunes. The drive from Fez to Merzouga takes most of the first day. Your private driver picks you up from your hotel in the morning and heads southeast through the cedar forests of Ifrane, where you might spot Barbary apes moving through the trees. Then the landscape opens up: Ziz valley, the Efous oasis, smaller towns like Midelt where the light hits differently. By evening you're in Merzouga, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, and that's where you stay the night in a proper tent with real beds, not a sleeping bag on sand.

Day two is when the desert tour actually happens. You wake up without an alarm, have breakfast, and your nomad guide takes you out on camel for the real trek, not a photo stop, but actual hours moving through the dunes. You're there for the sunset, which is the part people remember. After that, back to the camp where your guide cooks dinner over a fire, and you either sit by the flames or climb the sandy hills if you want to move around. The whole night is spent there, so you get the quiet of the desert after dark, which is different from what you see during the day. Morning comes, and then it's the drive back to Fez: same route, but you've already seen it once so you can just sit with it.

The Merzouga desert tour works because it's private, which means your driver and guide move at your pace and stop where you actually want to look. You're not waiting for a group to finish photos or rushing to catch up. The camel trekking is included, the meals are cooked by someone who lives there, and the tent is the kind of place you'd actually want to sleep, not a tourist gimmick. Hotel pickup and all transport are handled, so you don't arrange anything except showing up ready to go.

What’s included

Your two-day desert tour from Fez includes hotel pickup and drop-off, private vehicle transport through the cedar forests and valleys, one night in a luxury tent in Merzouga, camel trekking with a nomad guide on the second day, breakfast and dinner (cooked by your guide at the camp), bottled water, local taxes, and fuel surcharge. All transport between Fez and Merzouga is covered.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Morocco travels

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see the Sahara without the logistics. The private format means your driver and guide work around your pace, and hotel pickup removes the need to arrange anything except showing up ready to go. Moderate fitness helps with the camel trekking and desert walking, but the pace is set by you, not a group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Fez to Merzouga?

Most of the first day. You leave in the morning and arrive by evening. The route passes through Ifrane, Midelt, and Ziz valley.

Is the camel trekking included?

Yes. A nomad guide takes you out for afternoon and evening trekking on the second day, including the sunset.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private vehicle transport, luxury tent accommodation, all meals (breakfast, dinner), bottled water, local taxes, and fuel. Camel trekking is included.

Can I see Barbary apes on the drive?

Yes, they're in the cedar forests around Ifrane, which is on the route from Fez to Merzouga.

Do I sleep in a tent or a hotel?

A luxury tent in Merzouga, near the Erg Chebbi dunes. It has proper beds, not sleeping bags on the ground.

Is this tour suitable for someone who's never ridden a camel?

Yes. The nomad guide handles the camel trekking and is used to working with first-time riders. Moderate fitness is recommended.

What happens if I don't want to do the camel trek?

You can explore the Kasbah of Ressani or other areas around Merzouga with your driver instead. The camel trek is offered, not mandatory.

How many people are on this tour?

It's a private tour, so it's just you and your group. No other travelers are included.