Early morning departure from Fes, heading south through the city outskirts and into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop is Ifrane, a spotlessly clean alpine town with European-style stone chalets, manicured parks, and cool mountain air that provides one of the most surprising contrasts in Morocco. The famous stone lion statue in the town square, carved to commemorate the Atlas Lions that once roamed these mountains, is worth a quick stop before continuing south.
Continue to the cedar forests around Azrou, where Atlas cedar trees tower above the road and Barbary macaque monkeys roam freely among the branches and along the roadside. These primates are found almost nowhere else on earth and a close encounter with them in their natural forest habitat is one of the more unexpected and charming highlights of this southern route. Continue through Midelt, a quiet mountain town famous for its high-quality apples and traditional Berber carpets, for a lunch stop.
After lunch, the road descends dramatically into the Ziz Valley, one of the most beautiful and photogenic landscapes in southern Morocco. The valley follows the Ziz River through a long corridor of thousands of date palms, ancient mud-brick kasbahs, and small Berber villages. Stop at the panoramic viewpoint high above the valley for sweeping photographs before continuing through the Foum Zabel tunnel and across the Tizi-n-Talghemt mountain pass toward Merzouga.
By late afternoon, the vast pre-Saharan plains open out and the towering orange dunes of Erg Chebbi appear on the horizon. Your camels will be waiting at the edge of the desert for a sunset trek across the golden sands.
As the sun descends, the dunes glow in shades of amber and rose and the silence of the Sahara settles completely around you. Arrive at your luxury desert camp to a warm welcome of mint tea and Berber bread. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner under a sky full of stars, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of live Berber music around the campfire.
Meals included: Dinner and Breakfast
Rise before dawn to witness the Sahara sunrise, one of the most peaceful and memorable moments the desert offers. As the first light of day creeps over the dunes, the desert awakens in shades of gold and pink and the silence of the Sahara at dawn is extraordinary. After breakfast at the camp, say farewell to the desert and begin the return journey north to Fes.
The drive north from Merzouga retraces the route of the previous day but in different light and from a different perspective. The morning hours cast long shadows across the Ziz Valley palm groves and the Middle Atlas landscapes look quite different heading north than they did heading south. Stop again near Azrou for the chance to see the Barbary macaques once more, and pass back through Ifrane for a coffee stop before the final stretch north to Fes.
Arrive back in Fes in the early evening. Your Navigate Morocco driver will drop you off at your accommodation or Fes Airport depending on your onward travel plans, bringing your 2-day Sahara Desert adventure to a close.
Meals included: Breakfast
Is this a private tour?
Yes. This is a fully private tour operated exclusively for you and your travel companions by Navigate Morocco. You will have a dedicated vehicle and driver-guide for both days and will not share with any other group.
How far is Merzouga from Fes?
Merzouga is approximately 430 kilometers from Fes, around 5 to 6 hours of driving each way including stops. An early departure from Fes of around 7am is essential to arrive in Merzouga in time for the sunset camel trek.
Is Day 1 a very long drive?
Day 1 is one of the longer driving days, covering approximately 430 kilometers from Fes to Merzouga. However the route is broken up with stops in Ifrane, the cedar forest, Midelt for lunch, and the Ziz Valley viewpoint, making it a scenic and engaging day rather than a tiring one. The landscapes along this route are among the most varied and beautiful in Morocco.
What type of accommodation is included?
The overnight is in a carefully selected luxury desert camp in Merzouga, chosen for comfort, cleanliness, and authentic Moroccan desert character. The camp includes comfortable tent accommodation, shared or private bathroom facilities, dinner, breakfast, and live Berber music around the campfire in the evening.
Is the camel trek suitable for all travelers?
Yes. The sunset camel trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes is slow-paced and guided by experienced local handlers, making it suitable for travelers of all ages and fitness levels. A 4×4 transfer to the desert camp can be arranged as an alternative if preferred.
Can I do optional activities in Merzouga?
Yes. Optional activities including ATV quad biking, sandboarding, and 4×4 desert excursions are available locally at an additional cost paid on the day. However as this is a 2-day tour with a long drive on both days, time for optional activities is limited to the early morning of Day 2 before departure. Navigate Morocco recommends the 3-day tour from Fes if you want more time in the desert.
Can this tour be extended to 3 days?
Absolutely. Navigate Morocco offers a 3-day Sahara Desert tour from Fes that adds a full second day in the desert, giving you proper time to explore nomadic families, Khamlia Gnawa music, fossil sites, and optional activities before the return journey to Fes. Just let us know and we will build the right itinerary for you.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The best months are March to May and September to November when temperatures are comfortable across both the mountains and the desert. Summer can be very hot in the Sahara, while winter is cooler but still manageable with appropriate clothing, particularly in the Middle Atlas.
