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

The desert is a long way from Fes. This two-day trip earns its keep with cedar forests, Atlas Mountain passes, the Ziz Gorge, camel riding, and a night beneath a star-filled sky. I like the door-to-door transfers and the chance to camp in a tent with a private bathroom. I also like the small group limit of nine people. The catch is simple: you can spend about ten hours in the vehicle each way, so this is a scenic endurance test as much as a desert outing.

I’m especially fond of the changing scenery. You begin among mountain villages and cedar trees, cross dry valleys and rocky passes, then reach the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. Guides such as Hassan, Imad 14, Tarek, Hussein, and Mubarak have earned warm praise for safe driving and friendly help. Still, pickup arrangements can be disorganized, and a few important details, including tent privacy, sandboards, heaters, and camel-ride length, may not match the description.

Key points to know before booking

• About ten hours on the road each way: The route is beautiful, but the Sahara is far from Fes and the return journey reaches Fes around 6:30 p.m.
• A strong mix of scenery: You pass Ifrane, Azrou’s cedar forest, the Middle and High Atlas, Midelt, Tiz Ntalghamt Pass, the Ziz Gorge, Rissani, Erfoud, and Errachidia.
• A proper desert night: The program includes a camel ride, dinner, breakfast, music, sandboarding, sunset, sunrise, and stargazing at Erg Chebbi.
• Luxury is relative: The advertised camp has a private tent with an attached bathroom, but some bookings have involved shared sleeping rooms or limited bathroom privacy.
• Excellent value at $139.03: Dinner, breakfast, transport, camel trekking, sandboarding, and the camp are included, but lunch, tips, toilets, souvenirs, and possible heating charges are extra.
• Best for hardy sightseers: You should enjoy long drives and early mornings, and you should pack snacks, warm clothes, cash, and patience.

The real price of reaching Erg Chebbi from Fes

At $139.03 per person, this is an inexpensive way to connect Fes with the Sahara. Your price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel or riad pickup, the desert camp, dinner, breakfast, camel trekking, and sandboarding. For two full days of transport and a night in the dunes, the package offers a lot.

The tradeoff is time. The drive to Merzouga can take roughly ten hours, including stops, and the return trip is similar. This is not a relaxed weekend with long visits at every sight. It is a fast crossing of much of eastern Morocco, with short breaks that let you stretch your legs and take photos.

I would book this trip if the Sahara is a priority and your schedule is tight. I would not choose it if you have several days available for the desert. A three-day route from Fes would give you more breathing room, but this two-day version is aimed at people who want the desert experience without arranging every transfer themselves.

The small-group limit of nine is useful. In theory, it means less crowding in the vehicle and easier communication with the driver. In practice, group size and camp arrangements can vary, so confirm the exact setup before paying if private accommodation matters to you.

8:00 a.m. departure through Ifrane and Azrou

Pickup begins at 8:00 a.m. from your hotel or riad in Fes. The first major stop is Ifrane, a mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco. Its cooler setting, orderly streets, and European-looking architecture make it an unusual opening to a desert trip.

The route then continues toward Azrou, a Berber town in the cedar forest. This is one of the most appealing stops because Morocco’s scenery changes quickly here. You leave the urban streets of Fes and enter a wooded mountain area where Barbary macaques may be seen.

You may have a chance to feed the monkeys, but use common sense. Keep food secure, follow the guide’s instructions, and do not assume every animal encounter will happen on schedule. Stops can be brief, sometimes only ten to fifteen minutes, so this is more of a quick look than a full forest visit.

The forest is also a practical place to break up the drive. You can walk a little, use the facilities, and take photos before returning to the vehicle. Bring snacks for the road. One particularly useful tip from the experience is to carry fruit or other suitable food if you plan to feed the monkeys, though you should do so carefully and respectfully.

Midelt, Tiz Ntalghamt Pass, and the Ziz Gorge

After Azrou, the road moves through the Middle Atlas toward Midelt. This part of the journey is less about one grand attraction and more about watching the scenery shift from forest to open mountain country.

Midelt is a natural stopping point on the route. After town, the road crosses Tiz Ntalghamt Pass and approaches the Ziz Gorge. You get broad views of the High Atlas plateau, with rocky slopes and dry valleys replacing the cedar trees behind you.

This is where the long drive becomes worthwhile. Morocco reveals itself in layers during this crossing. You are not simply being transported from Fes to the dunes. You are watching climate, vegetation, and architecture change across the country.

The drawback is that the itinerary gives you limited time at many stops. If you enjoy slow photography, village walks, or sitting down for a proper meal, you may find the schedule rushed. The tour is built around reaching the desert by late afternoon, so the road takes priority.

Lunch is not included. Plan to buy it during the journey, and carry cash for food, toilets, tips, and souvenirs. One useful feature of the drivers is their willingness to stop for a bank visit or bathroom break when needed, but it is still better to ask early rather than wait until the last moment.

Arriving at Erg Chebbi for sunset

The goal is to reach the Erg Chebbi dunes around late afternoon, often near 5:30 p.m. Arrival time depends on road conditions and the length of the stops. Once you see the broad sand dunes, the vehicle journey finally feels justified.

You usually have time for a camel ride and sandboarding before heading to camp. The camel ride can be shorter than you expect, often around thirty to forty-five minutes according to the detailed experience description. Some people find that plenty of time. Others may be disappointed if they expected a long trek across the dunes.

The camels are generally used for the approach to camp, not for hours of riding. If a long camel expedition is your main goal, ask about the exact riding time before booking. You may also have only one sandboard available for the group, which means you might need to wait or share.

Sunset is the emotional high point of the first day. The dunes catch the fading light, and the silence is a welcome change after hours in the vehicle. Bring a light jacket or warm layer even if Fes was mild. Desert temperatures can drop sharply after dark.

A Berber camp with useful comforts and some uncertainty

The advertised accommodation is a private tent with an attached bathroom at a luxury desert camp. That sounds like a good middle ground: you get the atmosphere of sleeping in the dunes without giving up electricity or basic privacy.

Several details make the camp more comfortable than a simple outdoor setup. Dinner and breakfast are included, electricity is available, and the tents have private bathroom facilities in at least some arrangements. A heavy fabric divider may separate the bathroom from the sleeping area, so sound and privacy can still be limited.

You should also confirm whether the tent is truly private for your booking. Some people have found the sleeping arrangements different from what they expected, including shared rooms with several other people. That is the biggest point to clarify if you are booking as a couple or want a quiet night.

The camp atmosphere is one of the strongest parts of the trip. Dinner is followed by Berber music and time around the fire. You may find the evening lively and social, with people enjoying the setting rather than rushing off to bed.

Heat can cost extra. One detailed account reports a charge of 150 Moroccan dirhams per person for a heater, and even extra blankets were not always enough. Pack warm sleepwear, thick socks, and a jacket. The desert may look hot in photographs, but the night can be genuinely cold.

Stargazing, sunrise, and the second camel ride

The night sky is a major reason to spend the night in Erg Chebbi. Away from city lights, the stars can be extraordinary. If you enjoy stargazing, step outside after dinner and give your eyes time to adjust. The quiet dunes create a far better setting than any city rooftop.

Morning begins early for sunrise. You will ride the camels back from the camp area, then return to the hotel for a shower and breakfast. The sunrise is worth the lost sleep, especially when the first light reaches across the sand.

This schedule is also physically demanding. You have a long drive on day one, a late evening in camp, an early sunrise, and another long road journey on day two. I recommend carrying water, lip balm, sunscreen, a hat, and a small day bag rather than burying everything in your main luggage.

Breakfast is included, but lunch on the return journey is not. Keep snacks within reach. A phone charger or power bank is also sensible, although electricity is available at the camp according to the tour details.

The return route through Rissani and Erfoud

After breakfast and the return camel ride, the vehicle leaves Merzouga. The route passes through Rissani, Erfoud, Errachidia, and Midelt before reaching the cedar forest near Azrou again.

Rissani and Erfoud give you another look at the dry eastern part of Morocco. Errachidia marks the return toward the Atlas route, while Midelt breaks up the long drive. This is a repeat of some roads from the first day, but the changing light can make familiar views look different.

The return includes a stop around Azrou for lunch and photographs of the macaques before the final drive to Fes. The scheduled arrival is about 6:30 p.m. A Marrakech arrival is listed around 7:30 p.m. in the information provided, but the starting point and destination wording is not perfectly clear. If you need to finish in Marrakech, confirm that arrangement directly before booking.

The return transfer is valuable because organizing this route independently can be tiring. You do not need to negotiate several taxis, buses, or desert transfers. The price of that convenience is another full day in the vehicle.

Drivers can make or break the crossing

The driver is more than a chauffeur on this trip. You spend most of the experience on the road, so a calm, helpful driver matters greatly.

Hassan is praised for safe driving, patience, and a warm manner. Imad 14 is also singled out for precise driving and practical help. Tarek is described as friendly and generous with information about Morocco, while Hussein is praised for kindness. Mubarak receives credit as an excellent guide even when the overall schedule felt poorly organized.

Your experience may depend on who is assigned. The strongest outings seem to combine a careful driver with someone who explains the places along the route and responds to reasonable requests for bathroom or bank stops.

Communication at pickup has been less consistent. Some people have had trouble reaching the supplier, and one contact number connected to a driver who spoke only Arabic. Save the provider’s details, confirm pickup the day before, and ask your accommodation to help if the meeting point is unclear.

What the $139 package includes and leaves out

Included:

• Air-conditioned transport
• Pickup and drop-off service
• Camel trekking
• Sandboarding
• Dinner in the desert camp
• Breakfast
• A private tent with an attached bathroom, as advertised

Not included:

• Lunch
• Tips
• Souvenirs
• Toilets and small road expenses
• Possible camp heating charges

The word luxury needs a little caution here. The camp can feel comfortable and attractive, with electricity, bathrooms, good food, music, and spacious tents. It is not the same as a hotel with fully soundproof rooms, guaranteed heating, or hotel-style service.

Food is one of the safer strengths. Dinner and breakfast are often described as delicious or well prepared. Still, you should carry snacks because the driving days are long and lunch is your responsibility.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 330 ratings, which fits the pattern of the experience. The desert itself, the scenery, the guides, the food, and the night sky tend to create memorable moments. Organization, communication, short stops, cold tents, and unclear accommodation arrangements cause the main frustrations.

Who should book this two-day desert trip?

I would recommend it to you if:

• You have only two days for a Sahara visit.
• You accept long road journeys in exchange for major scenery.
• You want transport, camp, meals, camels, and sandboarding arranged together.
• You enjoy sunrise, stargazing, and a social camp evening.
• You prefer a small group rather than a large coach.
• You can handle a cold night and an early morning.

I would think twice if:

• You dislike spending most of a day in a vehicle.
• You want long visits at Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, or the gorge.
• You need guaranteed private accommodation with strong bathroom privacy.
• You expect a long camel trek or one sandboard per person.
• You need highly reliable communication before pickup.
• You have enough time for a slower three-day desert route.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if reaching the Sahara quickly matters more to you than taking the scenic route slowly. At $139.03, the included transport, camp, meals, camels, and sandboarding make it strong value, especially for a first visit to Morocco’s desert.

Go in with clear expectations. You are signing up for a remarkable desert night attached to two very long driving days. Confirm your return city, tent arrangement, camel-ride length, sandboard availability, and heating cost before departure. If those details suit you, Erg Chebbi’s sunset, sunrise, music, and stars can make the hard miles worthwhile.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days. Pickup begins at 8:00 a.m. on day one, and the return to Fes is listed around 6:30 p.m. on day two.

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from your hotel or riad in Fes at 8:00 a.m.

Does the tour return to Fes or Marrakech?

The itinerary gives a return time of about 6:30 p.m. to Fes and 7:30 p.m. to Marrakech. Because the destination wording is unclear, confirm your return city before booking.

Are meals included?

Dinner and breakfast are included. Lunch is not included, so you should budget for it during the road journey.

Is the tent private?

The accommodation is advertised as a private tent with an attached bathroom. However, arrangements can vary, so confirm that your booking includes a private sleeping space if this is important to you.

Is sandboarding included?

Yes. Sandboarding is listed as included, although the available equipment may be limited for the group.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded.