From Fes: 2-Day Merzouga Desert Trip(Luxury Tent & Dinner)

The Sahara is closer than it looks. This two-day trip links Fes with Merzouga by crossing the Middle Atlas, cedar forests, Ziz Valley, and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. I like the chance to see several parts of Morocco in one fast-moving journey, and I especially like the combination of a camel ride, sunset, campfire music, and a private tent with its own bathroom. The main drawback is the pace: you spend many hours on the road, and two days leave little room for slow desert silence.

I also like the practical setup. Hotel or riad pickup, air-conditioned transport, breakfast, dinner, and a return ride to Fes keep the planning simple. Driver Tarek has earned special praise for his calm driving, helpful attitude, and ability to explain the places along the way. Still, you should know that camp meals are fairly basic, and hot water in the tent shower is not guaranteed.

Key points to know before booking

• The trip crosses several very different regions: You go from Fes through Ifrane and the Middle Atlas to Midelt, the Ziz Valley, Erfoud, and finally the Merzouga dunes.
• The desert evening is the main event: You ride camels toward sunset, try sandboarding, eat dinner, and hear Berber music beside a fire.
• The luxury tent is genuinely useful: Each private tent has a private bathroom and WC, with comfortable beds and, according to one recent experience, USB points.
• The road time is substantial: The first and second days involve long drives, though the route includes scenery, meal stops, viewpoints, and toilet breaks.
• You can choose how to reach the camp: The listed plan uses camels, while the morning return can also be arranged by 4×4 vehicle.
• The price offers strong value: At $112 per person, transport, camel trekking, camp accommodation, dinner, breakfast, and pickup are included.

Leaving Fes for the Middle Atlas

Your journey begins with pickup at your hotel or riad in Fes. The exact meeting time and point are confirmed by WhatsApp or email, so keep your phone available and make sure the operator has the correct accommodation details.

The vehicle has air conditioning, an important comfort on a route that covers a lot of ground. The exact group size is not provided, so you should not assume a private vehicle or a small group. What is clear is that the driver matters greatly here. A good driver turns a long transfer into part of the experience, with safe road handling, useful explanations, and well-timed stops.

The first stop is Ifrane, a mountain town known as a Moroccan ski resort. Its appearance differs sharply from the usual image of Morocco. You may notice cooler mountain air and a more orderly resort feel before the road continues through the Middle Atlas.

Ifrane is a short stop rather than a full town visit. Think of it as a chance to stretch your legs, take photographs, and see a different side of the country. If you expect hours of sightseeing here, you may find the stop brief.

Cedar forest and Barbary monkeys

The road then reaches a cedar forest, where you can meet and feed Barbary monkeys. This is one of the more unusual breaks on the route, especially if you are traveling with children or teenagers.

You should treat the animals with care and follow the driver’s guidance. The stop gives you a welcome change from sitting in the vehicle, but it is not a wildlife safari. The appeal is the close encounter and the forest setting, not a long study of animal behavior.

This is also where the route begins to feel less like a transfer between cities and more like a journey through changing Moroccan regions. Mountain roads, woodland, and open country replace the streets of Fes. Keep your camera ready, but also leave time to simply watch the scenery pass.

Midelt lunch and the long road south

Midelt is the practical lunch stop. Lunch is not included, so you will pay for your own meal, and mineral water is also your responsibility. Carrying some water from Fes is sensible, especially since the day continues for many hours.

The stop in Midelt breaks up the drive and gives you a chance to eat before the road heads farther toward the desert. Food choices are not specified, but the stop is selected as part of the route, and the driving schedule includes toilet breaks and meal pauses.

This is the part of the trip where you need realistic expectations. You are covering the distance between Fes and Merzouga in one day, so you will spend plenty of time seated. I would choose this tour for the direct route and varied scenery, not for a relaxed road holiday with long visits in every town.

Following the Ziz Valley toward Erfoud

After Midelt, the route passes through the Ziz Valley. The valley provides one of the most memorable changes in scenery before Merzouga, with a dramatic route through Morocco’s southeastern interior.

The stop is mainly about views and photographs. You may also have time to stretch your legs and take in the contrast between the valley and the dry country around it. The route then reaches Erfoud, a town associated with the approach to the desert and often treated as the final notable stop before Merzouga.

Erfoud helps mark the transition from mountain country to desert country. It is not presented as a full guided city visit, so keep your expectations focused on a short stop rather than a detailed cultural tour.

Arriving at Merzouga and meeting the camels

When you reach Merzouga, the camels are ready for the journey across the dunes. The camel ride is the emotional center of the first day, and it gives you a slower way to enter the desert after hours in the vehicle.

You ride toward the camp and watch the sun go down over the dunes. The timing makes the experience especially good for photographs, although sunset conditions naturally depend on the day and weather.

Sandboarding is also offered. You can try sliding down the dunes, which adds a playful element to the evening. One family found both sandboarding and a 4×4 ride through the dunes especially enjoyable, while another person felt there were almost too many activities and wanted more quiet time. That is a useful warning: this is an active desert outing, not a retreat built around silence.

If you prefer not to ride a camel for the return in the morning, the provided information says a 4×4 transfer may be available. Confirm the arrangement with the operator rather than assuming it is automatic.

What the luxury tent is really like

The camp provides a private luxury tent with a private bathroom and WC. That changes the experience considerably. You still sleep in a desert camp, but you do not need to rely on a shared toilet or give up basic privacy.

Recent details describe new tents, tiled floors, comfortable beds, and USB points for each person. Those features are particularly useful after a full day on the road. You can charge a phone, wash up, and sleep in a proper bed rather than treating the camp as a rough overnight stop.

The shower is the weak point. A recent stay found that the shower did not produce hot water, and another person reported a cold shower in January. I would regard hot water as uncertain and pack accordingly. The tent can still be comfortable, but do not book this expecting hotel-level plumbing in the dunes.

Night temperatures can drop sharply in the desert, especially in winter. One January stay found the bed warm even though the shower was cold. Bring a warm layer for the fire and the camel ride, then keep it close for the early morning.

Dinner, firelight, and Berber music

After reaching camp, you have dinner followed by a campfire and live music. The evening includes Berber music and dancing around the fire pit, giving you a cultural moment that does not require a formal museum or lecture.

Dinner is included, as is breakfast the next morning. The food has been described as basic but satisfying, with one recent meal including chicken and fruit for dessert. You should not expect a long restaurant menu or a fine-dining production. The value lies in eating at camp after crossing the dunes, not in elaborate cuisine.

The music and fire create the social part of the evening. You may enjoy joining in, listening, or simply watching the desert darken around you. If your ideal desert night is complete quiet, remember that music, group activity, and other desert vehicles can make the camp lively.

Quad bikes and other activities may also operate around the dunes, even though they are not part of the listed inclusions. This can add noise and movement. For some people, that makes the desert fun. For others, it takes away from the stillness they hoped to find.

Sunrise and the return from Merzouga

The second day begins early for sunrise over Erg Chebbi. This is worth the alarm. The dunes change color as the light rises, and the quiet morning offers a different mood from the music and fire of the previous night.

After sunrise, you have breakfast and a shower before getting ready to leave. The return begins by camel or by 4×4 vehicle, depending on the arrangement. If you strongly prefer one option, clarify it before departure.

The drive back includes Rissani, the Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif, the Ziz Valley, and Dam Hassan Adakhal. These stops add cultural and scenic interest to what could otherwise be a long return transfer.

The Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif is a religious and historic site in Rissani. The supplied details do not promise a long guided visit, so you should see it as a scheduled stop rather than a full study of the site. The return through the Ziz Valley gives you another view of the route, while Dam Hassan Adakhal adds a further point of interest before lunch.

Lunch on the second day is not included. You will also need to buy your own drinks and personal items. After the stops and meal break, the vehicle continues to Fes for drop-off at your hotel or riad.

What $112 includes, and where costs remain

At $112 per person, the trip covers a great deal for a two-day route. You receive:

• Pickup and drop-off at your Fes accommodation
• Air-conditioned transport
• A professional driver
• Camel trekking
• One night in a private luxury tent
• Private bathroom and WC
• Dinner and breakfast at the Merzouga camp
• Campfire and live music

You pay separately for lunch on both days, mineral water, personal items, and any local guide service. These exclusions are easy to manage, but they mean the headline price is not the complete cost of the trip.

The strongest value comes from combining the long-distance transport and desert overnight in one package. Booking separate transport to Merzouga, camp accommodation, camel trekking, and a return journey would usually require more planning. At the same time, the low price explains why you should not expect every stop to have a dedicated guide or every meal to be elaborate.

If you want a private vehicle, a slower schedule, or extensive guided visits in each town, this may not be the right format. If you want to reach Merzouga without organizing several separate bookings, the price is attractive.

The driver can shape the whole experience

The driver is central to this trip because the road time is long. Tarek has been praised for being friendly, helpful, informative, and careful, including during snowy conditions in the mountains. Pedro has also been praised for making the long drive more pleasant.

That does not guarantee which driver you will receive, but it shows why the human side of the service matters. A safe driver, regular toilet stops, useful information, and help at each stop can make the difference between a tiring transfer and a rewarding road day.

You can contact the operator by WhatsApp or email to confirm pickup. Use that conversation to ask about the departure time, the camel or 4×4 return option, and any details about the camp shower.

Who should book this Fes desert trip?

I would recommend this experience most strongly to you if:

• You have only two days available for the Sahara
• You want transport from Fes and back without arranging the pieces yourself
• You enjoy changing scenery and do not mind long drives
• You want a proper bed and private bathroom at camp
• You are traveling as a couple, family, or small group seeking an easy desert introduction
• You want camel trekking, sandboarding, music, and a campfire in one package

I would hesitate if you want a slow, quiet desert stay. The schedule is tight, the road time is heavy, and the camp can include music and activity from other groups. You should also prepare for simple meals and a possibly cold shower.

The rating of 4.8 from 32 bookings fits the strongest parts of the experience: the drivers, camel ride, tent, desert setting, and smooth organization. The repeated cautions are also clear: long transfers, basic food, and unreliable hot water.

Should you book it?

Book this two-day trip if your priority is seeing the Sahara from Fes with minimal planning. The camel ride at sunset, sunrise over Erg Chebbi, private tent, and return transport make $112 a strong package price.

Skip it if you can spare more time and want the desert to feel unhurried. For everyone else, this is a practical first taste of Morocco’s southeast, with enough comfort to make the long road manageable and enough activity to keep the two days full.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms make it easier to hold a place while you settle your Fes plans.

FAQ

How long is the Fes to Merzouga desert trip?

The experience lasts two days and includes travel from Fes to Merzouga and back to Fes.

What places are visited on the way to Merzouga?

The route includes Ifrane, a cedar forest with Barbary monkeys, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Erfoud.

Is camel trekking included?

Yes. Camel trekking is included, including the ride toward the desert camp around sunset.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. You stay in a private luxury tent with a private bathroom and WC.

Are meals included?

Breakfast and dinner at the Merzouga camp are included. Lunch on the first and second days is not included.

What is not included in the price?

Personal items, lunch, mineral water, and local guide services are not included.

How is pickup arranged?

Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Fes are included. The operator contacts you by WhatsApp or email to confirm the pickup point and time.