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

The main event is the change from cedar forest to bare Atlas peaks, then from mountain valleys to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi. By late afternoon, you trade a long road day for a camel ride, sunset, dinner, music, and a star-filled night in the Sahara.

I like the small maximum of nine people, which can make the long drive friendlier and easier to manage. I also like the private tent with an attached bathroom, electricity, breakfast, dinner, and sandboarding included in the price. The catch is clear: getting from Fes to Merzouga takes much of the day, and the return drive is just as long.

Key points before you book

• Expect about 10 hours on the road each way, including stops, meals, and short sightseeing breaks.
• The desert camp is the payoff: sunset, camel riding, Berber music, dinner, sunrise, breakfast, and excellent stargazing.
• The advertised luxury varies: some people receive private tents with bathrooms, while others report shared sleeping arrangements and limited toilet privacy.
• Cold nights are possible: warm clothing matters, and one account reports an extra charge of 150 Moroccan dirhams per person for a heater.
• Drivers can shape the day: Hassan, Imad 14, Tarek, Hussein, and Mubarak are among the guides praised for kindness and safe driving.
• The price is strong for the inclusions: at $139.03 per person, transport, camp accommodation, two meals, camel trekking, and sandboarding are included, but lunch is not.

The real cost of reaching Erg Chebbi from Fes

At $139.03 per person, this is an inexpensive way to add the Sahara to a Morocco trip. You receive air-conditioned transport, door-to-door pickup and return, dinner, breakfast, camel trekking, sandboarding, and an overnight camp. The small group limit of nine also gives the price more weight than a large coach excursion.

But you should judge this trip by its time as well as its money. The route from Fes to Merzouga is very long. One account estimates around 10 hours each way, including stops. Another describes the drive as tiring but worthwhile because the scenery keeps changing.

That makes this a good deal for someone with only two days to spare and a strong wish to see the Sahara. It is a poor fit if you dislike long road journeys or want a relaxed desert stay. You are not getting two leisurely days in the dunes. You are getting one demanding transfer day, one desert night, and a demanding return.

Pickup begins at 8 a.m. from your hotel or riad. Door-to-door service removes the need to find a taxi or bus station, which is useful in Fes’s winding old city. Confirm the exact pickup point in advance, since some accounts describe pickup and drop-off as disorganized.

Ifrane and Azrou: Morocco changes character fast

The first major stop is Ifrane, a mountain town often called the Switzerland of Morocco. The nickname points to its cooler setting, mountain architecture, and very different feel from Fes. You will not spend the whole day here, but it gives you an early contrast before the road climbs farther into the Middle Atlas.

Near Azrou, the route enters Morocco’s famous cedar forest, described as the country’s largest. This is one of the more memorable stops because the forest brings shade, tall trees, and the possibility of seeing Barbary macaques. The monkeys are a popular part of the stop, and one useful tip is to carry small snacks for yourself and cash for incidental purchases, toilet stops, tips, or souvenirs.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a road trip with short stops, not a walking tour of the forest. Several stops may last only 10 to 15 minutes. That is enough for photographs and a quick look, but not enough for a long woodland walk.

The forest is also used on the return journey, when the group stops for lunch and another chance to see the monkeys. Lunch is not included, so keep money available and do not assume every meal is covered by the tour price.

Midelt, the Atlas passes, and the Ziz Gorge

After Azrou, the road continues toward Midelt through the Middle Atlas and High Atlas ranges. The scenery is the reason to sit by the window. You will see hills, mountain roads, open plateaus, and broad changes in color and texture as the route leaves the cedar trees behind.

Midelt is a practical midway point rather than the main attraction. After town, the road crosses the Tiz Ntalghamt pass and reaches the Ziz Gorge. This section gives you some of the finest views of the day, with steep rock, a winding route, and wide views across the High Atlas plateau.

The stops here are mainly for photographs. I would not book this trip expecting long guided visits at each point. The appeal is the moving picture outside the vehicle, and the route itself becomes the sightseeing.

This is where a good driver matters. Hassan, Imad 14, Hussein, Tarek, and Mubarak are names associated with warm, helpful service in the information provided for this experience. Your own driver may be different, but you can reasonably expect the driver to be central to the quality of the day. A patient driver who allows bathroom, bank, and photo breaks can make the long transfer far easier.

Bring snacks and water. The road is long, lunch is extra, and some stops are brief. A comfortable air-conditioned vehicle helps, but it does not turn 10 hours in a car into a short ride.

Arriving at Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes

The route eventually reaches Merzouga, the gateway to Erg Chebbi. This is the point when the long drive begins to make sense. The dunes offer a sharp visual change from the forest and mountain country earlier in the day.

The schedule gets more active when you arrive. You ride a camel into the dunes, stop for sunset, and may use the included sandboards. The camel ride is a traditional way to enter the camp, though you should not expect hours in the saddle. One account puts the actual camel time at roughly 30 to 45 minutes, while another says the ride felt quite short.

The wording around camel rides can also be unclear. The supplied details describe riding to the camp and riding back the next morning. One account expected two rides but experienced one main ride in each direction. Treat the camel trek as a memorable transfer and photo opportunity, not a full-day riding expedition.

Sandboarding is included, but equipment may be limited. One person found only a single sandboard available. If several people want to try it, you may need to take turns. It is a fun extra, but not a reason by itself to choose this trip.

Sunset is the first major desert moment. The dunes catch the last light, and the open setting gives you space to watch the colors change. Try to keep a little attention on the experience rather than rushing through photographs. The sunset stop may be brief before you continue to camp.

A luxury tent with real caveats

The camp is advertised as a luxury desert camp with a private tent and attached bathroom. That is a valuable inclusion at this price. You can expect electricity, a sleeping area, and bathroom access rather than a basic open-air campsite.

Still, the word luxury needs a careful reading. Some accounts describe spacious tents with private bathrooms and better-than-expected facilities. Others report shared sleeping arrangements with four people in one room, no sandboard, or little privacy in the bathroom. One description says a heavy fabric separated the bathroom from the sleeping area, so ordinary bathroom sounds could be heard.

The safest approach is to confirm the sleeping setup before booking, especially if a private tent is important to you. Ask specifically if the attached bathroom and sleeping space are reserved for your party, rather than assuming the word private covers every part of the arrangement.

Temperature is another practical issue. The desert can become very cold at night and near dawn. One account says heaters cost an additional 150 dirhams per person, even though extra blankets were available. Bring a fleece, warm socks, and a jacket. This is more useful than packing another smart outfit for Fes.

The camp’s atmosphere is one of the trip’s strongest features. Dinner is included, and the food receives strong praise in the supplied information. Afterward, Berber music around the fire gives the evening a social, local feel. You will share the setting with other people at camp, so this is not a silent private retreat.

Dinner, music, and the best night sky

Dinner in the dunes is a simple pleasure, but it matters after a full day on the road. The included meal removes one more expense and lets you stay at camp instead of searching for a restaurant in Merzouga.

The music and fire are often the emotional high point of the evening. The atmosphere depends on the camp team, but the staff connected with the experience are frequently described as warm and helpful. Marjuan is named as an excellent camel handler, while Hassan and Imad 14 receive praise for making people feel looked after during the road journey.

The sky is the quiet reward. Away from city lights, the stars can be remarkably clear. If stargazing is important to you, take time after dinner to sit outside and look up. The supplied accounts describe this as one of the most powerful parts of the trip, and I can see why. The desert is not only about sand and camels. It is also about silence, darkness, and the scale of the sky.

Do not assume the night will be warm. The same clear conditions that help with stargazing can make the cold more noticeable. Put your warm clothing where you can reach it, not buried under luggage in the vehicle.

Sunrise, breakfast, and the long road back

Day two begins with sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes. The timing is early, but this is exactly the sort of moment that justifies the trip. The dunes take on a softer light, and the quiet morning feels very different from the busy road journey of day one.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back to the hotel area, then have a shower and breakfast. Both the shower and breakfast are useful after a cold night and an early start. Breakfast is included, while lunch later in the day is not.

The return route passes through Rissani, Erfoud, Errachidia, and Midelt before reaching the cedar forest near Azrou. These places provide changing scenery and breaks, but do not expect long visits in each town. This is primarily the return transfer.

The group stops for lunch and photographs of the monkeys in Azrou’s cedar forest, then continues to Fes. The stated arrival is around 6:30 p.m. Return to Marrakech is listed around 7:30 p.m. The Marrakech option deserves special attention: the supplied details are not fully clear about the route and final drop-off, so confirm it before paying if Marrakech is your actual destination.

A second full road day can feel heavy. If you are prone to motion sickness, plan ahead. If you need to reach a flight or train on arrival day, leave a generous buffer. The listed arrival time is an estimate, and mountain roads, meal stops, and pickup arrangements can affect it.

What the small group really changes

A maximum of nine people is one of the better features here. A small group usually makes stops easier, gives you a better chance to ask the driver for a bathroom break, and avoids the feel of a large coach outing.

It does not mean the whole experience is private. The camel area and desert camp may include other groups, and the camp can feel crowded at busy times. The small vehicle group and the camp experience are two different things.

The driver is also your main link to Morocco during the road sections. Some drivers speak warmly about the country and help with practical needs. Communication has not always been reliable, though. Keep the provider’s contact details handy, and confirm pickup the day before rather than waiting until the morning.

Service animals are allowed, public transportation is nearby, and most people can take part. The activity is still physically demanding in a modest way: you must manage two long vehicle days, climb onto a camel, and cope with sand, cold, and an early sunrise.

What to pack and what to budget

Lunch is the main listed food expense. You should also carry cash for toilets, tips, snacks, and souvenirs. Some accounts recommend keeping enough money for stops along the route.

Pack:

• Warm layers for the night and early morning
• Comfortable clothes for camel riding
• Closed shoes that can handle sand
• Water and snacks for the road
• A phone charger or power bank
• Sunglasses and sun protection
• Small cash for lunch and incidental expenses

Sand gets everywhere, so keep your phone and camera protected. Put essential items in a small day bag rather than carrying your full luggage into the camp.

The $139.03 price is good if the advertised private tent is delivered and you value the included transport. It becomes less attractive if you pay extra for heat, find the sleeping arrangement is shared, or spend most of your two days wishing the road would end. The desert itself is the value here, not the number of formal sightseeing stops.

Who should book this Fes desert trip?

I would choose this trip if you have limited time, want one Sahara night, and accept that the road is part of the experience. It works best for people who care more about dunes, sunset, stargazing, and sunrise than about spending hours in each Atlas town.

It suits couples and small groups who want door-to-door transport and a camp with a bathroom. It also suits first-time visitors who prefer having the route, meals, camels, and return transfer arranged together.

I would not choose it for a relaxed holiday, a serious camel-riding trip, or a quiet luxury escape. I would also hesitate if you have only two days in Morocco and must be fresh for another major activity immediately afterward.

Before booking, confirm three points: the exact return destination, the private tent arrangement, and the cost of heating. Those details can change the value of the experience more than the headline price.

Should you book it?

Book it if the Sahara is high on your Morocco wish list and you can handle two very long drives. The dunes, sunset, sunrise, music, dinner, and night sky offer the kind of memories that are hard to reproduce from a city base.

Skip it if your idea of luxury means a warm, silent room and a slow schedule. This is an efficient desert adventure, not a restful resort stay. Go prepared with warm clothes, snacks, cash, patience, and realistic expectations about the road, and the $139.03 price can be a very good buy.

FAQ

Where does the desert trip begin?

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

How long is the experience?

The trip lasts approximately two days. The return to Fes is listed at about 6:30 p.m., while the Marrakech return is listed at about 7:30 p.m.

What destinations are available at the end?

The supplied details refer to returns to Fes and Marrakech. Confirm your exact destination and drop-off before booking.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is nine people.

What meals are included?

Dinner at the desert camp and breakfast the next morning are included. Lunch is not included.

Is camel riding included?

Yes. Camel trekking to the desert camp and back is included.

Is sandboarding included?

Yes, sandboarding is listed as an inclusion. Equipment may be limited, so people may need to take turns.

Is the desert tent private?

The experience is described as including a private tent with an attached bathroom. Because sleeping arrangements have been reported differently, confirm the exact setup before booking if privacy is important to you.