Luxury 2-Days Desert Trip from Fes to.:( fes or marakech)

The best part of this trip happens late in the day, when you leave the road, climb onto a camel, and cross the Erg Chebbi dunes toward camp as the light fades. Dinner, Berber music, sunrise, and a startlingly clear night sky give you a real taste of desert life in only two days. The Sahara is the reason to come.

I like the changing scenery on the drive, from Ifrane’s mountain forests to the Atlas passes and the Ziz Gorge. I also like the small vehicle group, capped at nine, and the practical comfort of an air-conditioned van. Drivers such as Hassan, Imad, and Tarek have been singled out for kindness and safe driving. The price of $139.03 is strong value if you accept the long road time.

The catch is simple: Fez is far from Merzouga. You can spend about 10 hours on the road each way, including stops, and some advertised details may not be delivered consistently. Confirm the pickup, return city, private tent, sandboard, and camel-riding schedule before you go.

Key points to know before booking

• The drive takes most of both days: Expect a very long road journey, with a return to Fez listed around 6:30 p.m. and Marrakech around 7:30 p.m.
• The desert evening is the main event: Camel riding, sunset, dinner, music, campfire atmosphere, and stargazing are packed into a short stay.
• The group is capped at nine: This should feel more personal than a large coach tour, though the desert camp itself may be busier.
• The tent setup can be comfortable: The advertised accommodation includes a private tent with an attached bathroom, electricity, dinner, and breakfast.
• Pack for cold desert nights: Temperatures can drop sharply, and extra blankets or a heater may cost more.
• Bring cash and snacks: Lunch is not included, and you may want money for toilets, tips, souvenirs, or optional extras.

The real cost of reaching Erg Chebbi from Fez

At $139.03 per person, this is an inexpensive way to connect Fez with the Sahara. The price includes door-to-door transfers, an air-conditioned vehicle, dinner, breakfast, camel trekking, sandboarding, and one night at a luxury desert camp. You avoid arranging several separate train, taxi, and hotel bookings.

That value depends on your attitude toward time in a vehicle. You are not simply taking a short excursion outside Fez. You are crossing much of Morocco, passing through mountain country and inland valleys before reaching Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes.

I would think of this as a transport-heavy desert experience rather than a relaxed two-day holiday. The scenery gives the drive purpose, but you should still expect long stretches on the road. One estimate from the experience puts the full journey at around 10 hours each way, including stops.

The small group size helps. A maximum of nine people usually means easier communication with the driver and less time collecting people from different hotels. Still, the camp may serve several groups at once, so the nine-person limit applies to the tour vehicle, not necessarily the entire desert camp.

Leaving Fez for Ifrane and Azrou

Pickup begins at about 8 a.m. from your hotel or riad in Fez. The first major stop is Ifrane, a mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco because of its European-looking architecture and cooler setting.

The appeal here is the sudden change from Fez’s old-city streets to a cleaner, higher mountain environment. You will not have hours to explore Ifrane, but the stop helps break up the morning and gives you an early taste of the changing scenery.

The route continues toward Azrou and the Middle Atlas. Here, the cedar forest is the star. It is described as Morocco’s largest cedar forest, and Barbary macaques may be seen near the road. You may get a chance to watch or feed them, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

This stop is useful for more than photographs. It shows how quickly Morocco changes outside the imperial cities. Within a few hours, you move from urban medina lanes to high forest and mountain roads.

Bring a small bag of snacks and water for this section. The drive is long, and lunch is not part of the tour price. You may also want cash for toilets, tips, or small purchases along the route.

Midelt, the Atlas passes, and the Ziz Gorge

After Azrou, the road continues to Midelt, with views across the Middle Atlas and High Atlas. Midelt is the practical midpoint of the journey, but the road itself is often more interesting than the town.

After Midelt, you pass through the Tiz Ntalghamt pass and toward the Ziz Gorge. The scenery becomes drier, wider, and more dramatic as the route moves from forested mountains toward the desert. This gradual change is one of the strongest reasons to take the road trip instead of flying directly to the Sahara.

The stops, however, can be brief. You may have only 10 to 15 minutes at some points for photographs or a quick look around. That is enough to stretch your legs and take in the view, but not enough for a detailed visit.

Your driver matters here. The road day is demanding, and a calm, careful driver makes a real difference. Hassan has been praised for handling changing weather and making bathroom or bank stops when needed. Imad, including one driver identified as Imad 14, has also been praised for patient, safe driving. Tarek has been noted for sharing information about Morocco and helping with practical needs.

Names and assignments can change, so do not book this expecting one particular driver. The useful point is that the quality of the driver can shape your entire first day.

Arriving at Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes

The group reaches the Merzouga area late in the afternoon, often around 5:30 p.m. according to the timing described for the desert arrival. This leaves only a short window before sunset, so the schedule is tight.

You will usually have time for sandboarding and photographs before the camel ride. Sandboarding can be fun, but equipment may be limited. One account describes only a single sandboard being available, so do not treat this as a full sandboarding session.

The camel ride is the signature activity. You mount a dromedary and cross the dunes toward camp, ideally with the low sun turning the sand gold. The actual riding time may be shorter than you expect, often around 30 to 45 minutes. Some descriptions suggest more than one ride, but you should plan on one main ride, with the return in the morning.

That shorter ride is not necessarily a problem. Camel saddles can be uncomfortable, and many people find 30 minutes plenty. You will still get the visual experience of crossing the dunes and arriving at camp under your own power.

The main drawback is timing. With a long drive behind you, the desert portion can feel compressed. You need to be ready to move from van to camel to dinner without much downtime.

Sleeping in a Berber tent with a private bathroom

The advertised accommodation is a private tent with an attached bathroom. Electricity is included in the camp setup, and the tents have been described as spacious and better equipped than basic desert shelters.

That sounds comfortable, and it can be. A private bathroom is a major advantage after a full day on the road and in the sand. But you should confirm the arrangement before departure. Some accounts describe shared sleeping arrangements despite the promise of a private tent, with several people in one room and limited bathroom privacy.

The bathroom may be separated from the sleeping area by heavy fabric rather than a solid wall. You can hear activity inside, which may matter if you value full privacy. This is still more convenient than an outdoor toilet, but it is not the same as a standard hotel bathroom.

Cold is the bigger issue. Desert temperatures can fall quickly after sunset and before dawn. Extra blankets may not be enough for everyone, and a heater may cost about 150 Moroccan dirhams per person. Pack warm layers, socks, and a jacket even if Fez feels mild when you leave.

Do not assume that the word luxury means hotel-level insulation. The tent can offer electricity, a private bathroom, and a proper bed, while still feeling cold and simple at night.

Dinner, music, and the Sahara night sky

Dinner is included and has been praised as one of the better parts of the stay. The meal is served at camp, usually after the sunset ride, and gives you time to settle in after the road journey.

The evening atmosphere often includes Berber music, drumming, and a fire outside the tents. This is the part of the trip that feels least like a transfer and most like a desert stay. The music and shared meal help turn a basic overnight stop into a social evening.

The night sky may be your most memorable reward. Away from city lights, the dunes can offer an exceptionally clear view of the stars. If stargazing matters to you, step away from the brightest camp lights and give your eyes time to adjust.

You should also set realistic expectations. The camp is not isolated from all tourism, and other groups may be nearby. The experience is still atmospheric, but it is not a private expedition into an untouched desert.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the long road back

The second day begins early with sunrise over the dunes. This is worth the cold and the early alarm. The light changes quickly, so be ready before the sun appears rather than waiting until the sky is already bright.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back to the hotel area, where you can shower and eat breakfast. The morning camel ride is generally shorter and more practical than the sunset ride. It gets you back to the vehicle for the return journey.

The route passes through Rissani, Erfoud, Errachidia, and Midelt before continuing toward Azrou. You may stop for lunch and return to the cedar forest area, with another chance to see Barbary macaques. Lunch remains your responsibility, so plan to pay for it separately.

Return timing is listed as around 6:30 p.m. in Fez and 7:30 p.m. in Marrakech. That detail needs careful checking because the trip is described as departing from Fez, while some return arrangements may continue to Marrakech. Confirm your final drop-off before booking, especially if you have a train, flight, or hotel reservation that evening.

The return day is not a sightseeing day in the usual sense. It is mostly a scenic transfer with stops. If you are tired after the early sunrise, the final hours can feel long.

What can go wrong, and how to protect your trip

The strongest concern is organization. Pickup and drop-off have not always run smoothly, and communication can be difficult if the supplied phone number connects you to a driver who speaks only Arabic. Have the pickup location, driver contact, and final drop-off confirmed in writing before the morning of departure.

There have also been serious complaints about confusing camel arrangements and poor communication in the desert. I would not ignore that. Keep your phone charged, carry the provider’s contact details, and stay with your group during transfers between the dunes and camp.

The advertised features need checking too. Sandboarding may be limited by equipment, camel time may be shorter than expected, and private tent arrangements may not match the promise if the camp is crowded. Ask direct questions before paying:

• Is the tent private for your booking?
• Does the bathroom belong only to that tent?
• Is a heater included or extra?
• How long is the sunset camel ride?
• Is sandboarding equipment available for everyone?
• Where exactly will you be dropped off on the return?

These questions do not remove every risk, but they make the offer clearer. The free cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this two-day desert trip

I would recommend this for someone with limited time who wants the Sahara experience without arranging a private route. You get the major elements: Atlas scenery, the cedar forest, camel riding, dunes, dinner, sunrise, breakfast, and a night under a star-filled sky.

It suits people who see the journey as part of the trip. If you enjoy watching Morocco change from forest to mountain to dry valley to sand, the long drive has real value.

It is less suitable if you dislike long van journeys, need a quiet schedule, or expect a polished luxury hotel experience. It is also a poor fit if you must arrive back at a precise hour, since road conditions, stops, and group logistics can affect the timing.

Solo visitors and couples may appreciate the small vehicle group, but the camp itself may not feel private. Families should consider the cold, early start, and long road time before booking.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if the thought of seeing the Sahara outweighs the inconvenience of spending much of two days in a vehicle. At $139.03, the included transport, meals, camel trekking, and overnight camp make it good value, especially for a first visit to Morocco.

I would book it only after confirming the pickup, return city, tent arrangement, heater cost, camel time, and sandboard availability. If you can handle the long drive and keep your expectations practical, the sunset dunes, Berber music, sunrise, and night sky can make this a lasting part of your Morocco trip.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from your hotel or riad in Fez, with a stated start time of 8:00 a.m.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately two days. The return is listed around 6:30 p.m. to Fez and 7:30 p.m. to Marrakech.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should bring snacks and carry cash for meals and other small expenses.

What accommodation is included?

The package includes a private tent with an attached bathroom at a luxury desert camp. Electricity is also described as available, but you should confirm the private arrangement before departure.

What activities are included?

Included activities are camel trekking, sandboarding, dinner, breakfast, and the overnight stay in the desert camp.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.