Standard trip in 1 night / 2 days from fez to merzouga – marrakech or back with same transportation fez

Two deserts in two days. You get the road trip feel and the real Merzouga night.

I like how the schedule is built around early departures and picture-stop timing, so the long drive feels like Morocco, not just travel. Another big plus is the 1 night camp experience with dinner and breakfast included, plus camel time or a 4×4 option once you reach the desert edge.

You’ll also see a nice slice of changing scenery, from cool Ifrane to the cedar forest area around Azrou, then down toward the Ziz River oases. A possible drawback to know up front: you sit in the vehicle for a big part of the day, and the itinerary is intentionally “fast and scenic” rather than slow and lingering.

If you want a desert night without turning it into a week-long project, this is a straightforward, value-minded way to do it.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Small-group limit (up to 17 travelers) makes the day feel less crowded
• Air-conditioned vehicle and set pickup windows reduce hassle in Fez
• Free stops at Ifrane, Azrou cedar forest, Midelt, and the Ziz River area keep costs down
• One night in a camp with dinner plus breakfast included
• Camel ride or 4×4 to camp gives you a choice based on comfort and preference

Fez To Merzouga In 2 Days: What This Trip Really Gives You

This is a classic “desert shortcut” format: you leave Fez in the morning, cross central Morocco with planned scenic stops, spend one night near Merzouga in a camp, then return to Fez or continue on to Marrakech. It is not trying to be a deep-dive into every town. Instead, it aims to get you to the Sahara experience fast, with enough stops along the way to keep the drive interesting.

The biggest practical win is that your core meals are handled. Dinner is included at the camp, and breakfast is included the next morning. You also travel with an air-conditioned vehicle and a structured pickup plan, which matters when you are starting from Fez and you do not want to spend your whole trip finding transportation.

The other thing I like for your decision-making is flexibility at the end. You can finish back in Fez or head onward toward Marrakech, but you have to confirm your choice before the trip starts (at least 12 hours ahead).

Getting Off To A Fast Start: Pickup Windows, Meeting Points, And Road Comfort

This trip starts at 8:00 am, and pickups run between 7:30 am and 8:00 am. The operator lists four pickup points in Fez, so you can choose the closest one to where you are staying: Place Rcif, Bab Boujloud, Place Batha, and the new city near Hotel Barcelo.

Why this matters: in Morocco, timing can be fluid. A fixed pickup window helps you plan your morning without guessing. It also helps if you are tired of coordinating taxis when you just want to go.

On the road, the vehicle is air-conditioned, and the day includes about 7 hours of driving before you reach the area where the camp experience begins. That is a long stretch, so the value here depends on whether you are okay with “road day first, magic night second.” If you hate sitting for hours, this route might feel like more travel than adventure.

One more small detail that helps: the tour notes that most travelers can participate. So unless you have a strong reason to avoid long driving or outdoor night conditions, it should fit a typical itinerary.

Day 1 Stop Plan: Ifrane, Azrou Cedar Forest, Midelt, And The Ziz River

Day 1 is built like a string of short, memorable breaks. You are not asked to hike or do long activities at each stop. Instead, you get brief windows to stretch, take photos, and get a feel for how Morocco changes as you move east and toward the desert edge.

Ifrane: the cool “Switzerland of Morocco” mood

Your first major stop after leaving Fez is Ifrane, often described as a pristine, neat mountain town. The stop is about 20 minutes and has free admission. This brief timing is smart. You get the contrast early, before the road day stretches out.

If you like quick orientation stops, this works. If you want deep time for a town, you might wish the schedule gave you more than 20 minutes. But that is not the goal of this trip.

Azrou cedar forest: monkeys, market stalls, and big trees

Next up is the Azrou Cedar Forest, also about 20 minutes. This is where the tourist action centers, and it is known for the cedar atmosphere. The area is remembered for the legendary Gran Cedar Gouraud, described as the largest millenary cedar in the region, and the forest has a history of being a landmark location.

What you will likely notice here is the human side of the forest experience: souvenir and gift shops, plus market stalls where peanuts are sold. The reason tourists buy peanuts is that you can see many monkeys in this area, and they are part of the classic “spot and watch” moment.

The upside for you is that this stop feels lively without being exhausting. The only caution is the usual one around monkeys anywhere: keep your distance and do not encourage them beyond what the area allows.

Midelt: apples and a lunch option

The stop in Midelt is shorter, about 15 minutes, and it is described as the city of apples. The region’s climate is noted as temperate, and a nearby river, the Moulouya, supports agriculture. This is mainly a quick scenic and photo break, but it is also a place where the itinerary says you can have lunch if you wish.

Lunch and drinks are not included, so if you want a proper meal here, you will pay extra on your own. Still, having a designated chance to eat can make the day easier, especially with one long travel block later.

Fleuve de Ziz: oases, Tafilelt, and Sijilmassa context

Then you get a stop at the Ziz River area (Fleuve de Ziz), about 15 minutes. The description is specific: the Ziz River winds through Errachidia, Erfoud, and Rissani, creating a massive oasis system. The region is called the Tafilelt.

This stop is brief, but it is also a chance to understand why this area matters. Moroccans connect Tafilelt with the Alaouites, the ruling dynasty, and the description also ties the area to Sijilmassa, an 8th-century port city tied to trans-Saharan caravan trade and gold. Sijilmassa was attacked multiple times and eventually destroyed in the 14th century.

Even in 15 minutes, that context gives the landscape a story. You are not just looking at water and palms. You are seeing why caravans and dynasties cared about this stretch.

Gate Of The Sahara And The Camp Arrival Ritual

After the Ziz River stop, the itinerary mentions the Gate of the Sahara, described as an oasis town on the desert edge. The exact name is not provided, but the purpose is clear: this is the transition moment before the camp experience.

After roughly 7 hours of driving, you arrive at the hotel area where you can rest and drink tea before heading to the camp. Then the next part is your first real “desert-choice” moment. You can take a camel trip or use a 4×4 to arrive at the camp.

This is one of those details that can make or break your comfort level. Camel time is iconic, but some people prefer the simpler ride by vehicle. The itinerary supports both, so you can match your choice to your body and your budget tolerance (since the tour includes the camp night either way).

Dinner is included at the camp, and the camp experience is described as a luxury camp. The evening also includes music and entertainment, and dinner is served under the stars. That combination is why most people book this kind of 2-day format in the first place.

Camel Ride Or 4×4 To Camp: What Your Evening Likely Feels Like

Once you reach the desert edge, your night shifts from “car day” to “Sahara day.” The itinerary says you can do the camel trip, or you can take 4×4 to camp, then enjoy dinner and the camp atmosphere.

This is the part where the reviews tend to line up with the itinerary: people highlight the night sky, especially the feeling of seeing far more stars than they expect. They also talk about sunset and the general wow factor of the dunes and the silence you get after arriving.

If you are deciding between camel and 4×4, consider two things:

• Your comfort with sitting and moving for short periods during transit to the camp
• How much you want the iconic desert texture, since camel rides add that slow desert rhythm

Either way, you are getting the core included elements. Dinner and breakfast are covered, and you are sleeping one night in the camp. For a 1-night desert stop, that is a strong value because it removes the biggest logistical headache.

Day Two: Breakfast, Merzouga Return, Then Choose Fez Or Marrakech

Day 2 starts with breakfast in your camp. Then the plan is to return to Merzouga and head back toward Fez or onward to Marrakech. You need to confirm your destination decision before 12 hours of the trip start.

If you choose to end in Fez, the itinerary says you will do the same stops you had at the beginning and then drop you off at the Fez pickup places mentioned earlier. Lunch is not included on this day either.

If you choose Marrakech, the tour ends in a different location, and you are essentially using this desert night as a connector between cities. That can be efficient if Marrakech is your next must-do, but it does mean you are giving up a return loop that brings you back to your exact Fez area.

Time-wise, it is still a second road day. The trade is simple: you save time by not running a separate desert day trip, and you give up the chance to spend extra days slowly exploring each stop.

Price And Value: Is $139.37 Fair for This Sahara Route?

At $139.37 per person for a 2-day trip, the value mostly comes from what is bundled. You get:

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport
• One night in a camp
• Dinner and breakfast
• A structured stop plan with free admission noted at multiple stops
• Pickup in Fez and a planned end destination

The biggest cost risks for budget travelers are usually food and lodging. This tour handles the one-night lodging in camp and includes dinner and breakfast, which reduces what you need to pay out of pocket. Lunches are not included for both days, so you should plan for that expense. Still, if you would otherwise book a separate desert night and pay for transport, the bundled structure tends to feel fair.

Also, the group size cap of 17 travelers helps. A smaller group often means easier communication with your guide and smoother handling of stops. It also supports the “managed times” approach described by the operator.

Your value test should be about your tolerance for driving. If you treat this as a scenic road to a desert night, $139.37 looks like a bargain. If you want lots of slow exploring and minimal road time, you might feel it is pricier than it should be because the itinerary is intentionally compact.

Guides, Hospitality, And The Practical Side Of Being Taken Care Of

A common theme in the experience is strong support from the people running it. Guides like Hassan and Mustafa are mentioned as being friendly and helpful, and the guidance style seems patient and organized.

That matters because a desert trip is not just scenic. It is timing, coordination, and smooth handoffs: pickup, car stops, tea before the camp, then camel or 4×4, dinner, and next-morning return.

People also point to camp food and hospitality. Dinner is described as very good, and there is entertainment in the camp setting. If you are worried that a “cheap desert night” means basic meals, this itinerary is framed to avoid that.

One consideration: you will still be on a schedule. Stops are set for short durations, and you are moving between towns. If you are the type who hates being pulled along, you may prefer a longer, more flexible itinerary. But if you want the desert night without uncertainty, this is the kind of structure that helps.

Who This Trip Suits Best (And Who Might Want Something Different)

This Fez to Merzouga 2-day trip is a great fit if:

• You want a real Sahara night without spending a whole week
• You like a road trip with planned scenery breaks
• You prefer having dinner and breakfast handled
• You want a small-group feel, capped at 17 travelers
• You are okay making one decision early, either returning to Fez or continuing to Marrakech

It may not be ideal if:

• You hate long drives and would rather fly or train
• You want lots of time in Ifrane, Azrou, or Midelt, because each stop is brief
• You need guaranteed free time for shopping or long photo sessions, because the itinerary focuses on movement

In other words, this is for travelers who want the desert payoff in a compact format.

Should You Book This Fez To Merzouga 1 Night Desert Trip?

Yes, I would book it if your priority is the Sahara experience plus good planning. The combination of early pickup, structured scenic stops, a camp night with dinner and breakfast included, and the option for camel or 4×4 makes it a practical choice for most people.

Before you click confirm, ask yourself one simple question: are you comfortable spending most of the first day in a car? If the answer is yes, this trip is a solid value way to reach Merzouga and spend a night under desert skies.

If you want, tell me your travel month and whether you prefer camel ride or 4×4, and I can help you time your packing and expectations.

FAQ

What time does the trip start from Fez?

It starts at 8:00 am. Pickups happen between 7:30 am and 8:00 am from the listed meeting points.

Where do pickups happen in Fez?

Pickups are offered from Place Rcif, Bab Boujloud, Place Batha, and the new city near Hotel Barcelo.

How long is the trip?

It is a standard 1 night, 2 days trip, with about 7 hours of driving on Day 1 before reaching the camp area.

What meals are included?

Dinner and breakfast are included. Lunches are not included (2 lunches not included).

Do I get a night in the desert camp?

Yes. The trip includes one night in a camp.

Is the camel ride included?

The itinerary says you can take a camel trip to arrive at the camp, or use a 4×4 option. The exact booking of camel ride versus 4×4 is presented as a choice once you reach the desert edge area.

Can I end the trip in Marrakech instead of Fez?

Yes, you can choose to end in Marrakech. You need to confirm your decision at least 12 hours before the trip start.

What is the group size limit?

The maximum group size is 17 travelers.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.