Standard camp
Private tent with beds, blankets and shared bathrooms. The simplest and most authentic option.
- Private tent
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
2 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga
2 days from Marrakech to Fez via the desert
A transfer turned into an adventure: leave Marrakech, sleep in Erg Chebbi and be in Fez the next day.
From €100 per person Book now
Highlights
- High Atlas
- Ouarzazate
- Sunset camel ride
- Camp in Erg Chebbi
- Sunrise in the dunes
- Ziz Valley
- Azrou cedars
- Arrival in Fez
Trip overview
This tour is for anyone who needs to get from Marrakech to Fez and would rather cross the Sahara than take the motorway. They are two intense days with many hours on the road, but the reward is huge: you cross two mountain ranges, watch the country change from north to south and spend the night in a camp among the highest dunes in Morocco.
We leave very early to make the most of the daylight. The first day crosses the High Atlas and the southern valleys to Merzouga; the second climbs the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas, with a stop among the Azrou cedars, before dropping you at the door of your riad in Fez.
Ideal for: travellers on a tight schedule who do not want to miss the desert and do not mind spending quite a few hours on the road.
- Duration
- 2 days / 1 night
- Home
- Marrakech
- End
- Fez
- Type
- Private
- Departures
- Every day
- Language
- English / Spanish
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day1
Marrakech → Tizi n’Tichka → Ouarzazate → Merzouga
Departure at 8 am, or earlier if you prefer. We cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka with a coffee break facing the peaks and continue via Ouarzazate and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs. This is the longest stage of all our tours, so stops are short and carefully chosen. In the late afternoon the dunes of Erg Chebbi appear: your camel is waiting to get you to the camp in time for dinner.
- Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m)
- Break in a Berber village in the Atlas
- Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley from the road
- Camel trek to the camp
-
Day2
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Azrou → Fez
We wake early to watch the sun rise from a dune and ride back to the village of Merzouga, where you shower and have breakfast in a riad. The road north follows the Ziz canyon, with its river of palms, and climbs to Midelt, the apple town. In the afternoon we cross the Azrou cedar forest, home of the Barbary macaques, and Ifrane before arriving in Fez.
- Sunrise and camel ride back
- Tea with a nomad family (time permitting)
- Ziz Valley viewpoint
- Macaques of the cedar forest
- Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”
Timings and the order of visits may be adjusted according to the season, road conditions and your preferences.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English- or Spanish-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation
- Accommodation every night
- Dinners and breakfasts
- One camel per person in the desert
- Night in a camp with private tent
- Turban and sandboarding in the dunes
- Photo stops whenever you like
What’s not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
We choose small places with character, where a home-cooked dinner is part of the experience. In the desert you can choose between two types of camp.
Luxury camp
Spacious tents with a large bed, private bathroom and shower, electricity and dinner served at the table.
- Private bathroom
- Dinner and breakfast
- Campfire and drums
A tip from our team
If you can add just one night, do: on the 3-day version you sleep in the Dades Valley and visit Ait Benhaddou and the Todra Gorges at leisure.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour or a group tour?
It is completely private: the vehicle, the driver and the itinerary are just for you and your companions. You will not share the trip with strangers, so we can stop wherever you like and adapt the timings.
Can I change the itinerary of “2 days from Marrakech to Fez via the desert”?
Yes. What you see is our standard proposal. We can add a night, change the start or end point, include a guided visit or adjust the stages to your flights. Tell us what you need and we will send you a tailor-made version.
What is the difference between the standard and the luxury camp?
In both you have a private tent, dinner, breakfast and an evening of drums by the campfire. The luxury camp adds a private bathroom with shower inside the tent and more refined décor; in the standard camp bathrooms are shared and you shower in the morning at the hotel in the village.
How long is the camel trek?
About an hour and a half each way, at a gentle pace and accompanied by a camel handler. We set off a couple of hours before sunset to arrive in good light. If anyone cannot or would rather not ride, let us know and we will find an alternative.
How do I book and how do I pay?
Send us the form or write to us and we will confirm availability and the final price within 24 hours. We accept online payment (Visa, MasterCard and PayPal), as well as cash or card in person.
When is the best time of year for this tour?
You can travel all year round. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) have the mildest temperatures. In winter the days are sunny but desert nights are cold, and in summer it is best to start early and make the most of the vehicle’s air conditioning.
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