shared group Fez To Fez via Merzouga Desert Tour 2 Days/ 1 Night

The best part of this Fez to Fez desert tour is the change in scenery. In one long day, you go from Fez’s cool highlands to Ifrane, cedar woods, mountain roads, and finally the orange dunes of Merzouga. At sunset, you trade the car for a camel and spend the night in a desert camp under the stars.

I like the number of stops along the route, especially Ifrane and the cedar forests, and I like that the package includes both sunset and sunrise camel rides. Drivers such as Tarik, Otmane, Yassine, Imad, Hussein, and Mounir are praised for being friendly, safe, and helpful. The catch is simple: this is a very long drive, squeezed into only two days.

Key points at a glance

• A full Middle Atlas to Sahara crossing: Stop in Ifrane, the cedar forests, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, and Erfoud before reaching Merzouga.
• Two camel rides included: Ride for about 45 minutes toward camp at sunset, then return after sunrise.
• One night in a standard desert camp: Dinner, a Berber folklore show, and time around the fire pit are included.
• A small group setting: The activity has a maximum of two participants, despite being described as a shared group tour.
• Lunch is not included: You stop for lunch on both days, but pay for those meals yourself.
• Best for a short visit: You get a taste of the Sahara without adding several extra days to your Morocco plans.

The 7:30 am start from Fez

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel or riad at 7:30 am. The drive to Merzouga takes roughly seven hours, not counting stops, so an early start matters. You will spend much of the day in an air-conditioned vehicle, but the route keeps the ride from becoming a simple highway transfer.

The tour includes comfortable transportation with air conditioning and a professional English and French-speaking driver. Feedback also highlights drivers who added useful explanations about Moroccan culture, traditions, and local places. Tarik is repeatedly praised for making the long road pleasant, while Otmane, Yassine, Imad, Hussein, and Mounir are also singled out for safe driving and a helpful manner.

The exact driver is not guaranteed in the information provided, so treat the names as examples rather than a promise. Still, the pattern is encouraging: the driver is expected to do more than simply point the car south.

Ifrane, cedar forests, and Morocco’s cooler side

The first stop is Ifrane, an alpine-style town in the Middle Atlas Mountains. It is known for ski slopes and looks very different from the Morocco many people picture from photos of medinas and desert dunes. The stop gives you a quick look at the country’s high-altitude side before the road drops toward warmer, drier country.

Next come the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas. This is one of the route’s most worthwhile pauses because it breaks up the long drive with trees, mountain air, and a setting that feels far removed from the Sahara. The tour information does not promise a long walk or a specific wildlife stop, so expect a scenic break rather than a full forest excursion.

The route can change sharply in a matter of hours. That is the real appeal of this trip. You are not flying over Morocco to reach the desert. You are watching the country change outside the window, from highland towns to open valleys and dry rock.

Midelt gives you a practical lunch stop

Midelt is the planned break for lunch. Lunch is not included, so you should budget separately for this meal, as well as the second day’s lunch. That may sound minor, but it is important when comparing the $307.79 price with other desert packages.

Midelt functions mainly as a useful pause in the journey. After several hours on the road, you can eat and stretch before continuing toward the Ziz Valley. The itinerary does not specify a restaurant or a set menu, so you should not expect a fixed dining experience here.

I like that the route includes a proper break rather than treating the drive as one uninterrupted push. Still, the day remains demanding. If you dislike long car journeys, the stops will help, but they will not change the basic nature of the trip.

The Ziz Valley and Erfoud before the dunes

After Midelt, the road continues through the Ziz Valley. The route description calls this area lush and green, a striking contrast to the drier scenery that comes later. The valley is one of the places where simply looking out the window becomes part of the experience.

The final listed stop before Merzouga is Erfoud. This is your transition point toward the desert, and it helps mark the change from valley travel to the broad, sandy setting around Erg Chebbi. The schedule does not state how long you spend in Erfoud, so think of it as a short stop rather than a detailed town visit.

By the time you reach Merzouga, the day will feel full. You are then transferred to the hotel to store your luggage before the camel ride. That luggage arrangement is useful: you do not need to take your main bags into the camp.

A 45-minute camel ride to the camp

The camels wait near Merzouga for a ride of about 45 minutes. The timing is designed around sunset, so you reach the camp as the dunes change color and the air cools.

This is a traditional desert experience, but it is also a physical one. A camel’s rolling gait can be awkward at first, and the ride is not the place for heavy luggage. Wear comfortable clothing and hold onto anything loose. The provided details do not specify camel weight limits, riding restrictions, or an alternative transfer, so ask the operator ahead of time if you need special arrangements.

The ride is short enough to fit into a packed schedule, yet long enough to give you the classic approach to camp. If you want a long trek far into the desert, this tour will feel limited. If you want a first camel ride without giving up several days, it fits the bill.

Dinner, stars, and Berber music

At camp, dinner is included along with an evening of Berber folklore around the fire pit. The setting is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip. After a day spent crossing Morocco by road, you finish in a quiet desert camp with cool night air, open sky, and music.

The camp is described as standard, not luxury. That distinction matters. You receive a tented overnight stay, dinner, and access to a shower at the hotel or riad in Merzouga. The information does not describe private bathrooms, heating, bedding details, or tent size, so you should not assume resort-style comfort.

Some feedback specifically praises the tent as comfortable and describes the evening as enjoyable. At the same time, one useful warning comes through clearly: desert nights can be cold. Bring warm clothes, even if Fez or the daytime desert feels mild. A light jacket is not excessive here.

The evening also gives you a chance to experience Moroccan music and camp life rather than simply taking a photo in the dunes and leaving. The music is part of the package, not an optional extra listed separately.

Sunrise on Erg Chebbi, then a quick start home

Day two starts early for sunrise over Erg Chebbi. This is the moment to protect your energy for. The dunes are most pleasant in the cool morning, and the low light gives the sand a softer appearance than it has under the midday sun.

After sunrise, you ride the camels back to the hotel or riad for breakfast and a shower. Breakfast is included, and the shower is a welcome practical detail after a night in the camp. The schedule is tight, so do not expect a lazy desert morning followed by a late departure.

Some feedback also refers to quad biking and sandboarding as suggestions made during the trip. Those activities are not listed among the inclusions, so treat them as possible paid extras, not part of the $307.79 package. If you want either one, confirm the cost and timing before agreeing.

Rissani, Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif, and the return route

The return route passes through Rissani and includes a visit to Zawiya Moulay Ali Ash-Sharif. This stop adds a cultural and historical layer to a trip that could otherwise be mostly about scenery and camels.

The schedule also includes the dramatic Ziz Valley again and a stop at the Hassan El-Awal Dam, written in the supplied details as Damn Hassan El-Awal. The dam gives you another change of setting before the long drive north. Exact visit lengths are not stated, so keep your expectations flexible.

There is another lunch break on the way back. Again, lunch is your own expense. Since the return is also listed as about seven hours, you will spend most of the day in the vehicle after leaving the desert.

The final listed stop is Immouzar, where the itinerary says you will visit a family living in a cave. This is an unusual detail and may be memorable, but it also calls for respect. Follow the driver’s lead, ask before taking photographs, and remember that a family home is not a staged attraction.

What the $307.79 price really buys you

At $307.79 per person, the value depends on what you want from a desert trip. The price covers the vehicle, an English and French-speaking driver, breakfast, dinner, a shower in Merzouga, two camel rides, and one night in a standard camp.

That is a fair amount packed into two days. You avoid arranging transport across a difficult route, finding a camp, organizing camel transfers, and working out the return journey yourself. A small maximum group of two also gives the trip a more private feel than a large minibus excursion.

The price does not include lunch, personal items, or a local guide. You should also allow for any optional activities, such as quad biking or sandboarding, if offered. Since there is no local guide included, the driver may provide much of the explanation during the road stops, but you should not expect a dedicated specialist at every site.

For me, the main value is convenience and range. You see several parts of Morocco and get a desert night without adding a longer itinerary. The compromise is depth. Each stop is brief, and the road time is substantial.

Who should choose this two-day loop?

I would choose this tour if you have an extra day in Fez and want to see the Sahara without spending four or five days on the road. It suits first-time visitors who want a straightforward package with transport, meals, camel rides, and camp arrangements handled together.

It also fits people who enjoy changing scenery. The route offers mountains, cedar woods, valleys, a dam, and dunes in quick succession. The small group limit is useful for couples or two friends who want a quieter vehicle ride and more direct contact with the driver.

I would hesitate if you want a slow desert stay, a luxury camp, long walks, or detailed visits at each stop. The schedule allows one night only, and both days are dominated by driving. Families or people with mobility concerns should confirm details before booking, since the activity includes camel rides and the supplied information gives no specific accessibility arrangements.

The cancellation terms are reasonably flexible. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

My practical advice before you go

Pack for two climates. Daytime temperatures can feel warm, while the desert night may be cool, as one especially useful tip points out. Bring warm layers, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a small overnight bag for camp.

Keep your main luggage organized before pickup. You can store it at the Merzouga hotel or riad, but the details do not say how much luggage space the vehicle has, so a smaller bag will make the transfer easier.

Plan for the road. Download anything you need before leaving Fez, carry water, and expect the seven-hour estimates to stretch if stops take longer. The tour includes breaks, but it is still a road-heavy schedule.

Ask who your driver will be and what languages they speak. The advertised service is English and French, while feedback also highlights Tarik’s Italian. That does not mean every driver speaks Italian, so confirm if language support matters to you.

Finally, ask about optional quad bikes or sandboarding before paying. These appear in trip feedback but are not included in the stated package. Knowing the cost in advance avoids a surprise at the dunes.

Should you book the Fez to Merzouga tour?

Book it if your priority is seeing the desert at all, and you have only two days. The route gives you a strong cross-section of Morocco, two camel rides, a camp dinner, music, and sunrise, all with transport from Fez and back.

Skip it if you can spare more time and prefer a gentler pace. A longer itinerary would give you more room in the desert and less time in the car. For a short visit, though, this is an efficient and memorable way to reach Merzouga, especially if the small group size and helpful driver service matter to you.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two days and includes one overnight stay in the Merzouga Desert.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins at 7:30 am from your hotel or riad in Fez.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The tour includes comfortable air-conditioned transportation.

What language does the driver speak?

The professional driver is described as English and French-speaking.

Are camel rides included?

Yes. The package includes a camel ride at sunset and another at sunrise. The sunset ride takes about 45 minutes to reach the camp.

Is food included?

Breakfast and dinner are included. Lunch is not included, so you pay for lunch during the stops.

What kind of desert accommodation is provided?

The overnight stay is in a standard desert camp. A shower is provided at the Merzouga hotel or riad before returning to Fez.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of two participants.