Merzouga Desert 2-Day Tour to Marrakech from Fes
4.7 (596 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience
Overview
This shared two-day tour runs one way from Fes to Marrakech, with a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga in between. You cross the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley on day one, ride a camel at sunset, try sandboarding and spend the night in a desert camp, then ride again at sunrise before the long road over the High Atlas to Marrakech. A driver-guide travels with the group, and you choose between a standard tent and a deluxe tent.
Highlights
- Night in an Erg Chebbi desert camp: standard tent with shared bathroom or deluxe private tent, depending on the option
- Camel rides at both sunset and sunrise in the Merzouga dunes
- Sandboarding with Berber drumming and music
- Breakfasts and dinners included, plus a luggage service at the camp
- Scenic drive through Ifrane, the cedar forests and the Ziz Valley
- One-way route with hotel pickup in Fes and drop-off in Marrakech
Full Description
Day one: Fes, the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley
You leave Fes early and head south into the Middle Atlas. The road passes Ifrane, a mountain town with Alpine-style roofs, then the cedar forests around Azrou, where wild Barbary macaques are often seen, and the apple-growing plateau around Midelt. Past Midelt the Ziz Valley opens up with red cliffs, a river gorge and a long ribbon of palm trees as the landscape turns from mountain to desert.
People who search for a Fes to Merzouga tour often ask how long the drive is: it is roughly 550 km and most of the first day, with stops for photos and lunch, which is not included. Your driver-guide explains the places you pass, and the changing scenery, from pine and cedar to palms and stone, is a large part of the experience.
Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes
Erg Chebbi is the great sand sea beside Merzouga, close to the Algerian border, with ridges that rise well over a hundred metres and glow from gold to orange as the light changes. Your sunset camel ride into the dunes is part of the arrival at the camp, and from there you can try sandboarding on the nearest slopes before dinner.
The evening includes dinner and Berber drumming and music. Is a Merzouga desert tour worth it for only one night? Most travellers say the two rides, at sunset and sunrise, make it worthwhile, because the dunes look completely different in each light. The nights are cold from late autumn to early spring, so pack a warm layer and a scarf.
Standard tent or luxury camp: choosing your night
The option you choose decides where you sleep. The standard option places you in a standard Erg Chebbi camp tent with shared bathroom and toilet facilities. The deluxe option places you in a luxury Erg Chebbi camp in a private tent with a real bed, shower and toilet.
Both options include breakfast, dinner, sunset and sunrise camel rides, sandboarding and a luggage service at the camp. If you are comparing the best Merzouga desert camp options, think about how much comfort you want after a long drive, and whether you travel as a couple, a family or a small group. The booking panel shows the price of each option for adults and children.
Day two: Merzouga to Marrakech over the High Atlas
After the sunrise camel ride and breakfast, the road begins its long way west and north to Marrakech, roughly 560 km. The route follows the oasis towns south of the High Atlas, passes through the Dades and Ouarzazate areas, and crosses the Tizi n'Tichka pass, about 2,260 metres high, before descending to the plain of Marrakech.
This is a long driving day, normally around ten hours with stops, so you should arrive in the evening. The visit to the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou is not included, and quads and buggies can be rented from local providers in the area if you want them. Marrakech drop-off is at your hotel or riad, so check your onward plans before you book.
Itinerary
- Day 1 – Hotel or riad pickup in FesThe vehicle collects guests from around 07:00 in the area we confirm after booking.
- Day 1 – Ifrane, Azrou and MideltA scenic drive across the Middle Atlas with photo stops and a lunch break (not included).
- Day 1 – Ziz Valley and MerzougaThrough the gorge and palm groves to the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Day 1 – Sunset camel ride and campRide a camel at sunset to the camp, try sandboarding, then dinner with Berber drumming and music.
- Day 2 – Sunrise camel ride and breakfastRide again at sunrise and have breakfast at the camp before leaving.
- Day 2 – Dades, Ouarzazate and the Tizi n'Tichka passA long drive along the oasis route and over the High Atlas, with lunch not included.
- Day 2 – Drop-off in MarrakechArrive in the evening and be dropped at your hotel or riad.
What's included
- Hotel or riad pickup in Fes
- Air-conditioned transport with a professional driver-guide
- Night in a standard Erg Chebbi desert camp tent with shared bathroom and toilet
- Breakfasts and dinners
- Sunset and sunrise camel rides
- Sandboarding with Berber drumming and music
- Luggage service
- Drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
Not included
- Visit to Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
- Quad and buggy rental
- Lunch
- Tips
Not suitable for
- Travellers who dislike very long drives, as both days have many hours on the road
- Visitors who need a round trip back to Fes, since the tour ends in Marrakech
- Anyone who cannot ride a camel or walk on sand, unless they speak to us before booking
- Travellers who want to visit Ait Ben Haddou, as the kasbah visit is not included
Meeting point
Pickup is from your hotel or riad in Fes, from around 07:00. We confirm the exact pickup area after booking, so please be ready at the entrance before the time, as the vehicle is shared with other guests.
Important information
- Lunch, tips, quad and buggy rental, and the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah visit are not included
- Bring warm clothes for the desert night, plus sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a scarf and comfortable shoes
- Pack a small overnight bag for the camp: the luggage service helps, but space in the vehicle is shared
- Adults and children are booked by age band: adults 14 and over, children 2 to 13, and the booking panel shows the details
- Day two is a long drive of around ten hours, so plan onward travel in Marrakech for the next day
- Tell us when you book about any health problem that affects riding a camel or walking on sand
- Bring bottled water and snacks for the road and the camp
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the 2-day Fes to Marrakech desert tour cost?
The price depends on the option, the date and the number of travellers. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child, so choose your option and date to see the total before you book.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. The tour includes pickup from your hotel or riad in Fes and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech. We confirm the pickup area after booking.
How long is the tour?
Two days and one night: the first day is the drive from Fes to Merzouga, and the second day starts with the sunrise camel ride and ends with the long drive to Marrakech.
What is the difference between the options?
Both follow the same route. The standard option uses a standard tent in an Erg Chebbi camp with shared bathroom and toilet facilities; the deluxe option uses a luxury camp with a private tent, a real bed, shower and toilet.
Are meals included?
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunch is not included, so plan to buy it on the road.
Is the tour suitable for children?
It suits children who can handle two long driving days and a night in the desert. Children aged 2 to 13 are booked in the child category, and warm clothes are needed for the evening.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes, light clothes by day, warm layers for the desert night, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a scarf and a small overnight bag.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
The booking panel shows the dates that are open. Because pickup is early in the morning, book as early as you can; same-day or next-day dates may not be available.
Are camel rides included?
Yes. Sunset and sunrise camel rides are included in both options, along with sandboarding and Berber drumming and music at the camp.
Does the tour visit Ait Ben Haddou?
The visit to the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah is not part of the tour. If seeing it matters to you, please check the programme carefully before booking.