Fes desert tours 2 days

The desert is a long road from Fez. This private two-day trip makes that road worthwhile with Middle Atlas scenery, Berber villages, and a camel ride at Erg Chebbi. I like the variety: one day moves from cedar forest and mountain towns to oasis country, then the Sahara. I also like having a private, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and hotel pickup included.

The main drawback is time. You will spend many hours on the road, and the return to Fez makes this a demanding schedule rather than a slow desert holiday. Still, the overnight camp, dinner, breakfast, and sunrise camel outing give you a real taste of the desert without arranging several separate services.

Key points before you book

• A long but varied route: You travel from Fez through Ifran, Azrou, Midelt, Erfoud, and the Ziz Valley before reaching Merzouga.
• Private transport matters: Only your group takes part, with an air-conditioned vehicle and a professional English-speaking driver.
• The camel ride is timed for sunrise: You leave early with the camel driver to see the Sahara in its coolest, quietest light.
• Dinner and breakfast are included: Lunches and drinks are not, so plan for those extra costs.
• The price can offer good value: At $234.75 per person, the package combines transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, an overnight camp, meals, and the camel ride.
• Good for active sightseeing: Most people can participate, but the schedule suits you best if you handle long drives well.

From Fez to Ifran, Morocco’s mountain gateway

The tour begins with an early pickup at your Fez hotel. That early start is necessary because Merzouga is far from Fez, and the first day covers a large stretch of Morocco.

Your route heads through the Middle Atlas Mountains and Berber villages. This is one of the strongest parts of the trip because the scenery changes steadily instead of giving you one long, repetitive drive. You leave the old-city setting of Fez behind and enter a cooler mountain region, with roads leading through small communities and open country.

The first named stop is Ifran, often called Moroccan Switzerland. The nickname points to its mountain setting and European-style appearance, but the value of the stop is simple: it gives you a first look at a very different side of Morocco. Ifran is not a desert outpost. It feels like a highland town, and its place on the route helps show how quickly Morocco’s scenery can change.

Your driver is an important part of the day. Sadik, one of the drivers associated with this tour, is praised for keeping conversation going during the long drive. That matters here. A private driver who is pleasant and attentive can make several hours in a car feel far easier than a silent transfer.

Cedar trees and the Azrou stop

From Ifran, you continue toward Azrou and its famous cedar forest. The tall cedar trees give you a welcome break from the road and add another type of scenery to the trip. You are not simply racing from Fez to the dunes. You are seeing mountain woodland before the route turns south toward drier country.

Azrou is also a useful place to stretch your legs and reset before the longer run toward Midelt. The supplied plan does not give a fixed stop length, so your exact time there may depend on the day’s driving conditions and the private arrangement. Ask your driver early how much time is available at each stop if you want photographs without feeling rushed.

I like this portion of the route because it gives the first day a clear sense of movement. Fez, Ifran, and Azrou do not look or feel alike. The cedar forest is especially useful for anyone who wants more from the trip than sand dunes alone.

Midelt lunch and the turn toward the south

The next destination is Midelt, a city associated with the Amazigh culture of the Middle Atlas. The plan includes time for a traditional Amazigh meal here. That adds a local food element to the day and breaks up the driving at a sensible point.

There is one budget detail to watch. Lunch is not included in the tour price, even though the route describes an Amazigh lunch stop. You should expect to pay for your own lunch, along with drinks. Bottled water is included, which helps, but it does not cover café drinks or the midday meal.

After Midelt, the route begins to feel more southern and more arid. You pass from mountain scenery toward the open country around Erfoud. This change is one reason the trip appeals to photographers and first-time visitors to Morocco. In two days, you see forests, mountain villages, rocky country, oasis views, and sand dunes.

The tradeoff is that you do not have much spare time. This is a sightseeing transfer with stops, not a leisurely stay in each town. I would treat Midelt and the other places as meaningful pauses along a major route, rather than as full town visits.

Erfoud and the Ziz Valley views

Erfoud is the next major point on the southern route. From there, you travel through the Ziz Valley, where the road offers broad views of oasis scenery. Green palms and cultivated areas can appear as a striking contrast to the drier land around them, although the exact view depends on the road and weather conditions.

The Ziz Valley is one of the best reasons to choose a road tour instead of flying directly toward the desert. You get to see how water shapes settlement in this part of Morocco. The valley is not just a pretty photo stop. It helps explain why towns and farms appear in places that otherwise look very dry.

The route then continues toward Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes. By this point, you will have spent much of the day in the vehicle. The air-conditioned transport is more than a minor comfort. It is central to the experience, particularly after an early start and a full day of changing roads.

Reaching Merzouga and the overnight desert camp

The overnight stay is the heart of the tour. After arriving in the Merzouga area, you have dinner and sleep in a tent camp. The supplied details also refer to an auberge, so the exact overnight setup may vary between the camp and the associated accommodation arrangement.

Do not expect a long evening with hours of free time. The schedule is built around reaching the desert, eating dinner, sleeping, and getting up early for sunrise. That is a sensible plan for a two-day trip, but it means the camp is a short introduction rather than a full desert retreat.

Dinner and breakfast are included. This is useful because the desert portion is organized around the tour rather than independent restaurant choices. Lunch is different, and you should keep money available for it during both driving days.

A private tour can also make the overnight experience easier to manage. Your group is not combined with other parties for the main tour, and pickup and drop-off are included. If you have a small group, the $234.75 per-person price becomes easier to assess because you are paying for a dedicated vehicle and driver as well as the desert services.

Sunrise by camel at Erg Chebbi

The second day starts early. Your camel driver takes you out toward the dunes to watch the sunrise and experience the desert in the cooler morning air. This is the most memorable part of the trip for many people, and the timing is well chosen.

A camel ride gives you a different view of Erg Chebbi than you get from a vehicle. The ride is slow and exposed, so you can take in the curve of the dunes and the quiet of the morning. You should be prepared for an active experience, not a cushioned sightseeing stop. The tour information says most people can participate, but it does not specify ride length or the exact camel arrangements.

After sunrise, you return toward the auberge by crossing the sand dunes. Breakfast follows, giving you a chance to eat before the long return journey.

I like that the camel outing is not treated as an optional extra. It is included in the package, along with the return transfer from the dunes. You do not need to negotiate separately for a camel ride after arriving in Merzouga.

The return to Fez and the real time cost

After breakfast, you leave Merzouga for Fez, with several stops along the way to see more of Morocco’s natural scenery. The supplied schedule lists about six hours for the second day, but the overall route from Merzouga back to Fez is still a serious driving day. You should confirm the expected return time when booking, especially if you have a train, flight, or evening plan in Fez.

This is the main practical concern. The tour is advertised as approximately two days, but the distance means both days are packed. You may spend more time looking through the car window than walking around towns or resting at the camp.

That does not make the tour poor value. It simply defines the kind of experience you are buying. I would choose it if your main goal is to see the desert while based in Fez and you have only a short window. If you want several relaxed days in the Sahara, this schedule will feel too tight.

The private vehicle gives you some flexibility, but it does not remove the distance. Stops may be easier to manage with your own group, yet the route still has to cover the same roads.

How the $234.75 price holds up

At $234.75 per person, the tour includes a lot:

• Pickup and drop-off
• Private transportation
• An air-conditioned vehicle
• A professional English-speaking driver
• Bottled water
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• The camel ride
• The overnight desert camp arrangement

The value depends on your group size and your priorities. A private vehicle is a meaningful advantage over a large shared bus. You get a more personal setup, and only your group participates in the activity.

You still need to pay for lunches and drinks. That cost is not likely to change the basic value, but it should be included in your budget. Group discounts are offered, so larger parties may find the per-person price more attractive.

The strongest value comes from combining transport and desert services. Arranging a private Fez to Merzouga transfer, accommodation, meals, and a camel ride separately could take more time and create more points where plans can go wrong. Here, those pieces are brought together in a short package.

Who will enjoy this Fez desert tour?

I would recommend this tour to you if:

• You are staying in Fez and want to reach the Sahara without planning the route yourself.
• You want a private vehicle rather than a large group departure.
• You enjoy seeing several types of scenery in a short time.
• You want a camel ride and overnight camp but cannot spare more than two days.
• You are comfortable with early starts and long drives.
• You like having an English-speaking driver who can keep you company on the road.

I would be more cautious if you dislike long car journeys or need plenty of free time. The tour does not leave much room for slow mornings, extended meals, or unplanned detours.

It also suits people who want a first taste of the Sahara rather than a full desert stay. You get the key elements, including dunes, camels, dinner, breakfast, and sunrise, but in a tight package.

What the praise tells you about the experience

The strongest positive theme is the driver. Sadik is described as friendly and entertaining throughout the drive, which is important on a route this long. Fouad is also praised in connection with a weekend desert trip for seven American students, including the camel ride and overnight stay.

That points to a useful strength: the human side of the tour. The route is fixed, but the driver can shape how comfortable the day feels. A good driver can explain the places you pass, help with timing, and keep a long transfer from becoming dull.

The other clear strength is the desert portion itself. The camel outing and overnight stay provide the experience most people are seeking when they add Merzouga to a Fez visit. The tour does not stop at a scenic overlook and send you back. You sleep near the dunes and return to them for sunrise.

The 5 out of 5 rating from 31 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation figure are encouraging, but I would still read those results in light of the schedule. People who enjoyed it accepted the long drive as part of the bargain. Your own satisfaction will depend heavily on whether that tradeoff suits you.

Booking advice and final call

This is a strong choice if you want the biggest possible change of scenery in a short period. You start in Fez, pass through mountain towns and cedar forest, cross the Ziz Valley, sleep near Merzouga, ride camels at sunrise, and return by road.

I would book it for a small private group that values convenience and a personal driver. Before paying, confirm the pickup time, expected return time, overnight camp arrangement, and how long the camel ride lasts. Those details matter more here than they would on a short city tour.

The tour offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long is the Fez desert tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. The second-day portion is listed as about six hours, though the full Fez to Merzouga route and return involve substantial driving.

What is included in the price?

The price includes dinner, breakfast, an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, bottled water, a professional English-speaking driver, pickup and drop-off, and a camel ride.

Are lunches included?

No. Lunches and drinks are not included, so you should budget separately for them.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in this private tour or activity.

Is hotel pickup available in Fez?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered, including pickup from your Fez hotel.

What places do you visit on the way to Merzouga?

The route passes through the Middle Atlas Mountains, Ifran, Azrou, the cedar forest, Midelt, Erfoud, and the Ziz Valley before reaching Merzouga.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. The camel ride is included and takes place in the Merzouga Desert, with an early outing planned for sunrise.

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 less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.