From Marrakech: 2 Days Desert trip back to Fes or Marrakech

The best part of this trip is the sudden change from Marrakech’s busy streets to the broad orange dunes of Erg Chebbi. In less than two days, you cross the High Atlas, pass kasbah country, ride a camel into the Sahara, sleep under a desert sky, and wake for sunrise.

I like the sunset camel ride and the warm camp evening, with dinner, mint tea, drums, and Berber songs. I also like the practical flexibility: you can finish in Fes or return to Marrakech, making this useful if you are linking Morocco’s two major imperial cities.

The catch is simple: this is a very long road trip. The first drive can take around 10 hours, and the return journey is also demanding. If you dislike long hours in a vehicle or suffer from motion sickness, choose the extra-day version instead.

Key points before you book

• A 10-hour first day: You cross the High Atlas and continue through Ouarzazate and the Rose Valley before reaching Merzouga.
• Sunset by camel: The ride to camp takes about 50 minutes and is timed to reach the dunes before darkness.
• A real desert evening: Dinner, a campfire, drums, singing, and stargazing are part of the night.
• Two possible endings: Return to Marrakech on Day 2 or continue through the Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas to Fes.
• Comfort varies by tent: Camp options can range from standard accommodation to luxury tents with proper beds, private bathrooms, and air conditioning.
• Good value for tight schedules: At $113 per person, transport, a camel ride, one dinner, one breakfast, and the camp night are included, but lunches, drinks, and optional activities cost extra.

The honest trade-off: desert magic reached by a long road

This tour is built for one purpose: getting you to the Merzouga dunes quickly. It is not a slow tour of southern Morocco. You will see plenty of changing scenery through the minibus window, but the schedule leaves little room for long visits.

That makes the trip a useful shortcut for someone with only a week in Morocco. You can begin in Marrakech, spend a night in the Sahara, and finish in Fes. The price also covers the expensive practical pieces: air-conditioned transport, a desert camp, dinner, breakfast, camels, and a driver.

The cost is especially reasonable if the group fills the vehicle and you are happy with a shared experience. You should still budget for lunch, water, snacks, monument fees, and optional quad biking. Ait Benhaddou is available at an added cost, but the tight timetable means you should confirm exactly where and how long the stop will be before paying for it.

The overall rating is 4.7 from 369 bookings, and the strongest pattern is clear: guides and drivers make a major difference. Hassan, Mahfoud, Moha, Zaki, Said, Mustapha, Ibrahim, and others are praised for safe driving, punctual pickups, useful explanations, and small acts of care. That matters here because you spend so much time with the driver.

Day 1 begins with the High Atlas

Pickup is in the early morning from Marrakech. The usual meeting point is in front of Café France on Jamaa El Fna Square. If you sleep inside the Medina, the company can arrange a nearby car-accessible meeting place. Hotels outside the Medina can receive a pickup if a vehicle can reach them.

From Marrakech, the road climbs toward the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, reaching about 2,260 meters above sea level. The scenery changes quickly. The flat plains give way to mountain slopes, small villages, waterfalls, and rock formations in shifting colors.

This is a fine route for looking out the window, but it is not a relaxed sightseeing morning. You may stop for bathroom breaks, lunch, photographs, or a short visit, but the stated plan avoids many long stops so the group can reach Merzouga before sunset.

Bring water and snacks from Marrakech. You can ask the driver to stop at a shop, but you should not count on a leisurely food break. The van has air conditioning, and some vehicles have Wi-Fi, USB charging, and enough room for a comfortable ride. In summer, from June through August, the air may not circulate evenly. A small personal fan is a sensible addition.

Ouarzazate, Rose Valley, and Dades Valley

The route continues toward Ouarzazate, a city linked with desert film sets and the kasbah country of southern Morocco. You then pass through the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley, two of the most attractive parts of the drive.

The Rose Valley is known for rose-growing villages and products made from rose petals. One stop may include a women’s cooperative selling argan oil products or other local goods. These stops can be pleasant and give you a look at small-scale local commerce, but remember that shopping visits are still shopping visits. You are not required to buy anything.

The Dades area brings more folded hills, dry riverbeds, and old mud-brick architecture. You will see the famous route often called the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, though this two-day schedule gives you only a taste of it. The drive is the main event here, not a series of long guided visits.

Ait Benhaddou is not automatically included. It can be added for an extra fee, and one past itinerary included the site as an optional stop. If this fortified village is high on your list, ask about it before booking. On a normal day, a detour may make an already tight schedule even tighter.

Reaching Merzouga and riding into Erg Chebbi

By late afternoon, the road reaches Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara dunes. This is the moment the long van ride begins to pay off. The views open into sand, and the experience shifts from road travel to desert travel.

A local guide and camels meet you near the dunes. The camel ride takes about 50 minutes, usually giving you time to watch the sand turn gold as the sun drops. You ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes to the camp, where the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served.

Camel riding is not physically difficult for most people, but it can be uncomfortable. The saddle is high, and the animal’s rising and sitting movements can surprise you. Wear trousers or loose comfortable clothing, and use shoes that can handle sand. You will want a small overnight bag rather than your full suitcase.

Sand boarding is included when requested from the camp staff before the camel ride. Ask early, since the board needs to be arranged before you leave. Quad biking is not included and costs extra. It is a popular way to cover more ground, and some people arrange it for sunrise, but the price should be confirmed locally before you agree.

One night in a desert camp

The camp is more comfortable than the word camping may suggest. Accommodation depends on the option you choose. Standard tents can be sufficient, while the luxury option described by several participants includes a proper bed, pillows, a couch, an en-suite bathroom, and, in some cases, air conditioning.

That last feature matters in July and August. Desert nights can be pleasant, but summer heat can linger. If you are sensitive to high temperatures, check whether air conditioning is included in your tent category rather than assuming every tent has it.

Dinner is included, along with breakfast the next morning. The evening meal has been described as a buffet-style spread with several choices, while breakfast may be lighter, with bread, pastries, and doughnuts. Food quality can vary, so bring snacks if you have a particular diet or get hungry between meals.

After dinner, the campfire becomes the social center. Drums, singing, and traditional music create the most human part of the night. You may be invited to try the drums. Stargazing is another strong reason to sleep here, since the open desert gives you a far better night sky than Marrakech.

The camp is not a wilderness expedition. You are staying in an arranged camp with staff, beds, and meals. That is a plus if you want the desert atmosphere without giving up basic comfort.

Sunrise before the road starts again

Set an alarm before dawn. You can walk over the dunes and watch the sunrise from near the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga. The exact view depends on the camp’s position and the morning schedule, but sunrise is one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

Afterward, you return to the hotel area for breakfast, a shower, and a short rest. This pause is welcome. The previous day is long, and you will have been outdoors in sand and sun. Pack toiletries and a change of clothes in your smaller bag so you do not need to open the luggage stored in the vehicle.

From here, the itinerary splits.

Returning to Marrakech through the kasbah country

If you return to Marrakech, the van retraces the broad route through the famous Thousand Kasbahs road and the High Atlas. The expected arrival is around 8 PM, depending on traffic, weather, and stops.

This option is useful if Marrakech is your base or if you have a flight or hotel there the following day. It is also the toughest version physically, since you spend much of both days on the road. A mountain closure caused by snow and falling rocks once extended the first day to 16 hours, showing why winter conditions need respect.

Ait Benhaddou may be available as an optional stop on this side of the route. Do not treat it as guaranteed. The company’s priority on this short trip is reaching the desert and getting you back on time.

Continuing to Fes through Ziz Valley and Midelt

The Fes route takes you through Rissani, the Ziz Valley, Berber villages, and Midelt before crossing the Middle Atlas. This gives you a different set of views from the Marrakech return, with dry valleys giving way to mountain scenery.

Rissani may be included as a stop, though you should ask how much time is planned there. On a short schedule, a quick stop can be interesting, but some visitors may prefer to reach Fes sooner. The Ziz Valley is worth watching from the road, with its long green ribbon of palms cutting through dry terrain.

The final stretch through the Middle Atlas is long. You are expected to reach Fes in the evening, often around 7 to 8 PM. Your exact arrival depends on road conditions and traffic, so do not book a tightly timed evening appointment or train unless you have a generous buffer.

For many people, finishing in Fes is the tour’s biggest practical advantage. You avoid returning to Marrakech and can connect two major Moroccan destinations with one desert night between them.

Transport, group size, and comfort

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and a small-group option is available. The exact vehicle can vary, but a Mercedes Sprinter or 15-seat minibus has been used. Some vehicles provide Wi-Fi and USB charging, though you should not rely on either as your only power source.

A careful driver is essential on mountain roads and during the long desert transfers. The strongest experiences here come from drivers who make sensible rest stops, explain the places you pass, and keep communication clear. Hassan and Mahfoud are especially noted for combining friendly conversation with calm driving, while Moha is praised for keeping the long hours lively.

Large luggage can stay safely in the vehicle. Take a small overnight bag with medication, toiletries, a warm layer, phone charger, sunscreen, and anything you need for the camp. Comfortable shoes and clothes are listed as essentials, and they are genuinely useful on the dunes.

People with motion sickness should think twice. The route includes mountain roads, long hours, and frequent changes in elevation. Sit near the front if possible, look outside, eat lightly, and carry whatever remedy you normally use. The company cannot guarantee ideal road conditions, and the tour runs rain or shine.

What the $113 price really buys you

At $113 per person, this is a strong price for reaching Merzouga from Marrakech and continuing to Fes or returning to Marrakech. You are paying for a large amount of transport, one night in camp, a camel ride, dinner, breakfast, and driver service.

The low price comes with a clear compromise: time rather than money. You do not get many long sightseeing stops, and the desert portion is one sunset, one night, and one sunrise. The route is designed for access, not a slow examination of every valley and kasbah.

Set aside extra money for lunch, water, drinks, monument fees, quad biking, and any optional Ait Benhaddou stop. Bring Moroccan dirhams, since cards may not be accepted in desert areas. The two-day transport-only option is different and does not include the overnight stay or activities, so check which package you are selecting.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later booking make planning easier. You should still provide a WhatsApp number, since pickup details and last-minute communication depend on it.

Two days or three days?

Choose two days if your priority is simply to see the Sahara and your schedule is tight. It works well for a first visit that combines Marrakech and Fes, and the main desert moments are all here: camel riding, sunset, camp dinner, music, stars, and sunrise.

Choose the extra day if you care about the road as much as the dunes. The slower option adds another night and more stops, with an overnight at Kasbah Didis Hotel or a similar property, plus dinner and breakfast. It gives you more breathing room for Ait Benhaddou, mountain stops, and the southern valleys.

I would choose three days for families with young children, anyone who dislikes long drives, and photographers who want time at the viewpoints. I would choose two days for energetic adults with limited time who understand that the van journeys are half the experience.

Should you book this Marrakech desert trip?

Book it if you want a high-value Sahara sampler and accept two serious days of driving. The camp night is comfortable, the sunset and sunrise are genuine highlights, and the choice of Fes or Marrakech drop-off is unusually useful.

Skip it if motion sickness, heat, or long road transfers will spoil the trip. In that case, pay for the extra day. Also confirm your tent category, optional stops, return city, and extra activity prices before departure.

For the right person, this is a practical way to fit Morocco’s big desert moment into a crowded itinerary. Just go in knowing that the magic begins after a very long ride.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is 38 hours. The first drive from Marrakech to Merzouga takes about 10 hours with lunch and rest stops, and the return journey is also long.

Can I finish in Fes instead of Marrakech?

Yes. One Day 2 route travels from Merzouga through Rissani, the Ziz Valley, Midelt, and the Middle Atlas before arriving in Fes in the evening. A separate return route goes back to Marrakech.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a professional driver, air-conditioned transport, one night in a desert camp, one breakfast, one dinner, a camel ride, and sand boarding when requested from the camp staff.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch, drinks, and water are not included. Bring snacks and water, or ask the driver to stop at a shop during the journey.

Is quad biking included?

No. Quad biking is available at an additional cost. Confirm the price before booking the activity.

Where is pickup in Marrakech?

The main meeting point is in front of Café France in Jamaa El Fna Square. A closer car-accessible meeting point may be arranged for Medina accommodations, and hotels outside the Medina can receive pickup when vehicles can reach them.