Shared Group Desert Tour Fez to Fez via Merzouga 2Days /1night

The Sahara is a long way from Fez. This two-day trip makes the distance worthwhile with a camel ride at sunset, a night in a desert camp, and a route through Ifrane, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Erfoud. I like the varied route and the chance to sleep in the desert without arranging several separate bookings. I also like that breakfast, dinner, transport, and a camel guide are included.

The catch is the schedule. You leave Fez at 7:30 in the morning, spend roughly seven hours reaching Merzouga, then return to Fez after another long day on the road. This is a good-value sampler of southern Morocco, but it is not a slow Sahara holiday.

Key points at a glance

• Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi: The roughly 45-minute trek carries you from Merzouga to the desert camp.
• A full day across Morocco: Ifrane, cedar forests, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, Erfoud, and Rissani break up the long drive.
• One night in a luxury desert camp: Dinner, a Berber folklore performance, and time around a fire are included.
• Small shared group: The vehicle holds no more than 14 people, which keeps the trip more personal than a large coach outing.
• French and English support: The driver speaks both languages, and Neufel has been singled out for friendly conversation and cultural insight.
• $127.76 per person: With transport, two meals, breakfast, the camp, and camel trekking covered, the price is strong for a quick desert visit.

What the $127.76 price really buys you

At $127.76 per person, this tour is priced as an efficient shared transfer with a desert experience attached. You are paying for pickup and drop-off in Fez, air-conditioned transport, a professional English and French-speaking driver, dinner, breakfast, the camp, camel trekking, and a camel guide.

That package matters because the Sahara is not a simple side trip from Fez. You need transport across a large stretch of Morocco, a place to sleep near Merzouga, and a way to reach the camp. Arranging each part separately would take more time and might cost more.

Lunches are not included, and personal items are your responsibility. I would budget for two lunches, drinks, and any small purchases along the way. The tour does not list extra entrance fees, which suggests the main cost is transport and the overnight desert arrangement.

The tradeoff is time. You get only one night in the desert, and much of the experience takes place from a vehicle seat. I see this as a practical choice for someone with limited time in Morocco, not the right format for someone who wants long walks, several camp nights, or a relaxed pace.

Leaving Fez at 7:30 for the Middle Atlas

Pickup begins at 7:30 in the morning from your hotel or riad in Fez. That early start is necessary, since Merzouga is far away and the first day includes several stops.

The drive begins with Ifrane, a town in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains. The nearby cedar forests give you an early change from Fez’s urban streets and southern Morocco’s dry country. This stop helps show how quickly the scenery changes across Morocco.

From there, the road continues toward Midelt, where you stop for lunch. Since lunch is not included, you should plan to pay for your own meal. The break also gives you a chance to stretch after the first part of the drive.

The route then reaches the Ziz Valley, described as lush and green compared with the desert ahead. This is one of the most useful parts of the trip because you see the transition rather than simply appearing in the Sahara by magic. The final listed stop before Merzouga is Erfoud, a well-known gateway to the desert area.

I like this route because it turns a necessary transfer into a series of views and short stops. Still, you should keep your expectations realistic. Stop lengths are not specified, and the first day is built around reaching Merzouga in time for the camel ride.

Reaching Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi camel ride

After arriving in Merzouga, you transfer to the hotel to store your luggage. That is a useful arrangement because you do not need to carry everything onto the camels or into the camp.

The camel trek lasts about 45 minutes. It is timed to let you enjoy sunset from camelback while making your way to the nomad-style tents. I like the timing: the ride is long enough to feel like a real desert activity, but short enough for people who are unsure about spending hours on a camel.

A camel ride is not a polished amusement park attraction. You climb aboard, adjust to the animal’s movement, and watch the sand and light change around you. If you have back or mobility concerns, the supplied information does not give specific guidance, so you should check with the provider before booking.

At the camp, dinner is included. The evening also features a Berber folklore show around a fire pit, with the open night sky overhead. That combination gives the overnight stop a cultural element instead of making it only a place to sleep.

The camp is described as a luxury desert camp, though the itinerary also refers to nomad tents. I would read that as a tented camp with more comfort than basic outdoor camping, while avoiding assumptions about specific room features. If a private bathroom, heating, or a particular tent style matters to you, ask Fez City Tour before paying.

Dinner, music, and one night under the stars

The overnight program is simple and appealing: dinner, cool desert air, a fire pit, and Berber folklore. The setting does much of the work. You are not spending the evening in a city restaurant, and you have a chance to enjoy the quiet of the desert after a long drive.

The phrase under the starry sky should be taken as the spirit of the evening rather than a guarantee of perfect viewing conditions. Weather, cloud cover, and the camp’s exact setup can affect what you see. Still, an evening away from Fez’s city lights is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip.

The driver is not just there to operate the vehicle. The experience includes a professional English and French-speaking driver, and Neufel was specifically praised for friendly conversation and for showing another side of regional culture. That detail matters on a long road trip. A good driver can make the hours pass more easily and add context to the places outside the window.

The tour’s overall score is listed as 5 out of 5 from 48 ratings, with a 100 percent recommendation rate. One French-language rating gave four out of five and praised the friendly guide and the changing scenery, which is a useful reminder that the strongest part of this trip is the whole crossing, not only the camel ride.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the road back

You wake early on the second day for sunrise at Erg Chebbi. The schedule is demanding, but sunrise is the right time to see the dunes. Morning light gives the sand a softer appearance, and the cooler air should make the return camel trek more comfortable than a midday ride.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back to the hotel or riad for breakfast and a shower. Breakfast is included, and the shower is especially welcome after a night in the desert. The itinerary does not state how long you spend at the hotel, so I would expect this morning to move along quickly.

Then the return drive to Fez begins. The route passes through Rissani, with a visit to Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif. This religious and historic site adds cultural interest to a day that could otherwise feel like a long reverse transfer.

The route also includes the dramatic Ziz Valley and Hassan El-Awal Dam. Lunch is again at your own expense. You should treat this as another long road day, with sightseeing breaks rather than an unhurried tour of each place.

The final listed visit is to a family living in a cave at Immouzar. This is a distinctive stop, but it also deserves a respectful approach. You are entering a place connected to someone’s home and daily life, so follow the guide’s instructions and avoid treating it as a spectacle.

The tour finishes with drop-off at your Fez hotel or riad. The itinerary gives about six hours for the second day, though the actual return can depend on the road, stops, and traffic.

The shared vehicle and group size

The maximum group size is 14 people. That is large enough to keep the price down, but small enough to avoid the feel of a full-size tour bus. Pickup and drop-off are included, and the vehicle has air conditioning, an important feature for a long Moroccan road journey.

A shared tour always involves compromise. You may not control exactly when the vehicle stops, and the pace has to suit the whole group. On the other hand, sharing transport is what makes a Fez to Merzouga trip available at this price.

The tour is listed as suitable for most people, with nearby public transportation and pickup offered. Those points make it fairly easy to fit into a Fez stay. The experience is mobile-ticket friendly, and confirmation is provided at booking.

I would keep your luggage compact. The tour includes a luggage-storage transfer before the camel ride, but the information does not explain the exact storage arrangement or baggage limit. A small overnight bag for the camp, plus comfortable clothing and personal essentials, should make the movement easier.

Who should book this Fez desert tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you:

• Have only two days available for a Sahara experience
• Want transport and the main desert activities bundled together
• Enjoy long scenic drives with several cultural and natural stops
• Prefer a shared tour to the cost of a private vehicle
• Want one desert night, a camel ride, dinner, and sunrise without planning every detail
• Can manage two demanding driving days

I would be more cautious if you want a slow-paced desert break. The schedule leaves little room for lingering in Ifrane, Midelt, Rissani, or the Ziz Valley. You also pay for your own lunches, and a shared group of up to 14 people means less control over timing.

The tour suits first-time visitors who want to see how Morocco changes from northern city to mountain, valley, and desert. It also works well for people who value the road itself. The stop at Ifrane, the cedar forests, the green Ziz Valley, and Erfoud give you a broader picture of the country than a direct flight or private transfer would.

Practical booking advice before you go

The tour offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes made during that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Because the trip is booked, on average, eight days ahead, I would reserve before arriving in Fez if your dates are fixed. The listed operating period runs from June 3, 2020, through June 17, 2026, with hours shown for every day of the week.

The provider is Fez City Tour. Pickup is offered from your Fez hotel or riad, and drop-off returns you to Fez accommodation at the end. Before booking, I would confirm the exact pickup time, what counts as a hotel or riad pickup, and the camp facilities if comfort details matter to you.

Bring money for both lunches and personal items. I would also pack a small overnight bag, since transferring everything to the camp may be awkward even though luggage storage is arranged in Merzouga.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if I had two days, wanted a first taste of the Sahara, and cared about keeping the cost near $128. The included camel rides, camp night, dinner, breakfast, transport, and driver support make the price attractive.

I would skip it if I could spare more time and wanted the desert to feel unhurried. For the right person, though, this is a well-packed introduction to southern Morocco, with a friendly driver, a manageable group size, and enough stops to make the long crossing feel like part of the experience.

FAQ

How long is the Fez to Merzouga desert tour?

The experience lasts approximately two days and one night. The first day includes about seven hours of touring and travel, while the second day includes about six hours before drop-off in Fez.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transportation, an English and French-speaking driver, breakfast, dinner, a camel ride, a camel guide, and one night in a luxury desert camp.

Are lunches included?

No. Lunches are not included, so you should bring money to pay for lunch during the stops on both days.

How long is the camel ride?

The first camel trek lasts about 45 minutes and takes you toward the desert camp around sunset. On the second morning, you ride the camels back to the hotel or riad after sunrise.

How many people can join the shared tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 14 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

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