2 Day Desert Escape from Fez to Merzouga & the Sahara

Overview

Escape into the timeless magic of the Moroccan Sahara on this action-packed 2-day journey departing straight from Fez. Your route winds through the scenic Middle Atlas highlands before the landscape dramatically shifts into an ocean of golden dunes. Morocco Nomad Travels has curated every stop along this route to give you an authentic taste of desert life — from cedar-scented mountain air to the hush of a starlit Berber camp.

Tour Highlights

• Ride a camel across the sweeping Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset
• Sleep under a canopy of Saharan stars in a traditional desert camp
• Witness the iconic mountain town of Ifrane — Morocco’s alpine jewel
• Spot playful Barbary macaques in the cedar forests of Azrou
• Enjoy authentic Berber hospitality and live drumming around the campfire

What’s Included

• Private air-conditioned 4WD or minivan (fuel included)
• Hotel/riad pickup and drop-off in Fez
• Licensed multilingual driver-guide
• Camel ride at Erg Chebbi
• One night in a desert camp or kasbah (dinner & breakfast)
• Complimentary bottled water throughout
• Unlimited photo stops at scenic viewpoints

Not Included

• Soft drinks and alcohol
• Lunches
• Gratuities for guides and camp staff
• Personal travel insurance
• Optional paid activities

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 — Fez › Ifrane › Azrou › Midelt › Erg Chebbi, Merzouga

Your guide collects you early from your Fez accommodation and you set off southward into the Middle Atlas. The first stop is Ifrane, a charming colonial-era town perched at 1,650 metres, surrounded by snowy peaks in winter and flower-filled meadows in summer — often called the “Switzerland of Morocco.” Stroll its tidy streets before continuing to Azrou, where a cedar forest shelters a troop of curious Barbary macaques. Feed them pine nuts, snap some unforgettable photos, and soak in the fresh mountain air.

After a hearty lunch of Berber tagine in Midelt — the self-proclaimed “capital of apples” — the scenery begins to change. The green hills give way to lunar rock formations and the winding Ziz Valley, where a ribbon of palms traces a river through the ochre desert. As the sun drops toward the horizon, your vehicle pulls into Merzouga, the gateway to Erg Chebbi. Change into comfortable clothes and mount your camel for a memorable dusk ride into the heart of the dunes. Your camp awaits: Berber tents, a crackling fire, traditional music, and a sky dazzling with stars.

Day 2 — Merzouga › Ziz Gorges › Rissani › Fez

Rise before dawn to catch the sunrise painting Erg Chebbi in shifting shades of amber and rose — one of Morocco’s most spectacular natural shows. After breakfast and a hot shower back at the desert lodge, your guide leads you through the vibrant weekly market of Rissani, the cradle of Morocco’s Alaouite dynasty, where traders haggle over spices, pottery, and live animals. From here you follow the Ziz Gorges north, pausing at cliff-edge viewpoints before stopping for lunch in a Berber village. The final leg of the journey climbs back through the Atlas Mountains, and by early evening you are returned safely to your hotel in Fez.