2-Day Desert
Tour from Fes
Excellent
5.0 | 190 reviews
- 2 days
- Fez
Short on time? Our 2-day desert tour from Fes reaches the Erg Chebbi dunes in one day. Camel trek, luxury desert camp, and Sahara sunrise. Private tour.
↝ Overview of the Fes desert tour 2 days
2-Day Desert Tour from Fes — Erg Chebbi Dunes, Camel Trek and Luxury Desert Camp
Think the Sahara is too far from Fes for a short trip? It’s closer than most people expect. Our 2-day desert tour from Fes covers the Middle Atlas Mountains, the cedar forests of Azrou, the Ziz Valley, and the towering Erg Chebbi dunes—all in a single, well-paced day of driving. You arrive in Merzouga in time for a sunset camel trek, spend the night at a luxury desert camp under a sky full of stars, and return to Fes the following afternoon.
This is the most efficient way to experience the real Sahara without taking more than two days away from your Fes base. Furthermore, this is a fully private desert tour from Fes—your own vehicle, your own driver-guide, and a schedule built around your group alone. As a local Morocco tour operator based on the ground, we handle every detail so you arrive at the dunes ready to enjoy the experience rather than exhausted from organizing it. If you have more time, our 3-day desert tour from Fes adds Todra Gorge and extra time in the desert before returning.
↝ Why Choose This 2-Day Desert Tour From Fes?
Fes sits closer to the Sahara than most travelers realize. At approximately 500 kilometers, the drive from Fes to Merzouga takes around seven and a half hours—long, but structured so that every stretch of road passes through genuinely worthwhile scenery. Our 2-day desert tour from Fes doesn’t ask you to simply endure the drive. Instead, the route stops at Ifrane’s alpine streets, the Barbary macaque habitat in Azrou’s cedar forest, and a panoramic viewpoint over the Ziz Valley—turning the journey itself into a meaningful part of the experience.
Furthermore, this is a completely private Fes desert tour, which means you stop when you want, rest when you need to, and move at a pace that suits your group. There are no other travelers in your vehicle and no fixed schedule you haven’t agreed to in advance. As a result, even with just two days, this tour delivers a genuine Sahara experience—camel trek, campfire, stargazing, and sunrise—rather than a rushed day-trip version of it. If you want to extend the adventure, our Morocco itineraries page compares every Fes desert route side by side.
↝ Tour Highlights
- Crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains through the scenic Azrou cedar forest
- Spotting wild Barbary macaques living freely in the Azrou cedar trees
- Stopping at a panoramic viewpoint above the stunning Ziz Valley oasis
- Visiting Rissani, the historic caravan town and foundation of Morocco’s dynasty
- Riding camels into the Erg Chebbi dunes for an orange sunset
- Spending one night in a private luxury desert camp under stars
- Watching a spectacular Sahara sunrise from the top of a dune
- Returning to Fes through the dramatic Ziz Valley and Middle Atlas
↝ Inclusions & Exclusions
- Included :
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel or riad in Fes
- Modern A/C 4×4 SUV, van, or minibus, matched to group size
- English or Spanish-speaking driver or driver and guide
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp — private tent with ensuite bathroom
- 1 traditional Moroccan dinner at the desert camp
- 1 breakfast at the desert camp
- Camel trekking experience
- Sandboarding
- Excluded :
- Lunches
- Beverages
- Tips (optional)
↝ 2-Day Morocco Itinerary: Day-by-Day Tour Plan
Day 1: Fes ⇢ Ifrane ⇢ Azrou Cedar Forest ⇢ Ziz Valley ⇢ Merzouga
Your 2-day desert tour from Fes begins with a pickup from your hotel or riad at around 8:00 am. The route heads south through the Middle Atlas Mountains, with the first stop in Ifrane—a small alpine town of sloped-roof buildings and tidy streets often called the Switzerland of Morocco. A coffee here before continuing is well worth the pause.
From Ifrane, the road continues through the cedar forests near Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques live freely among some of the oldest cedar trees in North Africa. A roadside stop to watch them is one of those unexpected moments that travelers remember long after the dunes. Lunch follows in Midelt—the apple capital of Morocco, set between two mountain ranges—before the route descends into the Ziz Valley, a 300-kilometer palm oasis carved by the Ziz River through the High Atlas. A panoramic viewpoint reveals the scale of the valley below before the final stretch south into Merzouga.
You arrive at the Erg Chebbi dunes in the afternoon, where your cameleer is waiting. The trek into the dunes moves at an unhurried pace as the light turns gold, pausing atop a high dune for sunset—one of the most photographed moments in Morocco, and rightly so. Afterwards, the trek continues to your luxury desert camp, where your private tent is ready. Following dinner, the campfire is lit, Berber music fills the air, and above you stretches a sky that most people have never seen quite so clearly.
Day 2: Merzouga ⇢ Rissani ⇢ Fes
Wake up before dawn—the Erg Chebbi sunrise is the other great moment this tour delivers, and it costs nothing beyond an early alarm. After breakfast at the camp, you return to Merzouga by camel or 4×4. The route north passes through Rissani, a historic desert trading town and the birthplace of Morocco’s current ruling dynasty. If your visit falls on a market day (Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday), the traditional souk is a genuinely lively stop worth exploring.
From Rissani, the return follows the Ziz Valley north through Erfoud and back over the Middle Atlas before arriving in Fes in the late afternoon. Your driver drops you at your hotel or riad, marking the end of your 2-day desert tour from Fes.
↝ Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the Sahara desert from Fes?
Approximately 500 kilometers, or around 7 to 8 hours by road. On this tour, the drive is broken into well-paced stages with stops at Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest, and the Ziz Valley—so the journey itself becomes part of what you experience rather than simply time spent getting there.
Is a 2-day desert tour from Fes worth it?
Yes—if your schedule only allows two days, this tour delivers the core Sahara experience: a camel trek into the dunes at sunset, a night at a luxury desert camp, and a sunrise over the Erg Chebbi. What it doesn’t include is extra time for nomadic family visits or full desert exploration days, which is why we also offer a 3-day Fes desert tour for those who can manage one more day.
Can I skip the camel ride?
Of course. A 4×4 vehicle transfers you directly to the desert camp at no extra cost if camel riding isn’t for you. The camp experience—dinner, campfire, Berber music, and the Sahara sky—remains exactly the same either way.
What type of vehicle is used?
A modern, air-conditioned private 4×4 SUV, van, or minibus, matched to the size of your group. Your vehicle carries only your group for the entire tour.
How far in advance should I book this tour?
We recommend at least 3 to 5 days ahead, or 2 to 3 weeks during high season in March, April, October, and November. You can book this desert tour directly or ask us any questions first.
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