3-Day Luxury Fez to Merzouga Desert Tour 2025: An Honest Review
You know, you’ve probably seen those pictures a thousand times—the ones with the flowing orange dunes of the Sahara, where it seems like time just stops. I mean, it’s one of those bucket-list sights. The big question for me was, really, how do you experience that magic without giving up all comfort? Frankly, the idea of a shared tent and a long-drop toilet after a hot day just wasn’t appealing. That is that this 3-day luxury tour from Fez to the Merzouga desert looked so promising. It sort of offered the adventure I was craving but with a private bathroom and a real bed. Anyway, for anyone thinking about doing a similar trip in 2025, I wanted to share my honest thoughts, because at the end of the day, the small details make all the difference.
Day 1: From Fez’s Ancient Soul to the Atlas Mountains’ Majesty
So, the trip started early, with our guide picking us up from our riad in Fez. Honestly, that itself felt like a good start; there was no confusion about a meeting point. Our ride was a really comfortable 4×4, which you definitely appreciate over the long hours. We left the hectic energy of Fez’s medina behind, and almost right away, the scenery just completely shifted. First, we drove through Ifrane, a town that they call the “Switzerland of Morocco,” and seriously, it kind of is. You see these Alpine-style houses, and it’s a bit of a surreal moment. Soon after, we were actually in these vast cedar forests. Our driver, who was more or less a walking encyclopedia of Moroccan culture, knew just the spot to stop. And there they were—the Barbary macaque monkeys, just chilling by the roadside. They are seemingly very used to visitors but still so wild and incredible to see up close. We didn’t just rush by; we had time to just watch them for a bit.
As I was saying, lunch was in Midelt, a town that’s pretty much halfway. The place our guide chose had this fantastic view over the valley, and the tagine was absolutely delicious, cooked slowly and full of flavor. Then, the afternoon drive was something else entirely. We crossed over the Tizi n’Talrhemt pass, and the landscape, well, it opened up dramatically. That’s when we started following the Ziz Valley. Honestly, for miles and miles, you just see this ribbon of millions of green palm trees cutting through a dry, red canyon. It’s a pretty powerful sight, and we stopped a couple of times at panoramic viewpoints just to take it all in. By late afternoon, you could sort of feel the air changing and getting warmer. The anticipation for the desert was seriously building up with every mile.
The Heart of the Sahara: Sunset Camels and a Night Under a Blanket of Stars
Arguably, nothing prepares you for the moment the Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon. I mean, you’ve seen sand before, but this is completely different. These are not just hills; they are mountains of soft, apricot-colored sand, shifting and changing with the wind. It’s almost hypnotic. So, at the edge of the dunes, we said a temporary goodbye to our 4×4 and met our camels. Okay, getting on a camel is a little awkward, but it’s an experience you just have to have, right? Our caravan then slowly plodded into the sea of sand, and frankly, the silence was what struck me the most. You just hear the soft padding of the camel’s feet and the gentle swish of your clothes. It’s incredibly peaceful, and as the sun began to set, it lit up the dunes in these unbelievable shades of orange, pink, and purple. You are just totally surrounded by beauty.
After about an hour, we saw it: our desert camp. And this is where the “luxury” part really showed. To be honest, I was expecting a nice tent, but this was a bit more. We had a huge private tent with a king-sized bed, beautiful Moroccan rugs, and most importantly, an actual en-suite bathroom with a flush toilet and a hot shower. At the end of the day, that small creature comfort makes a huge difference in your ability to relax. We were greeted with sweet mint tea and some nuts while we watched the last bits of sun disappear. Dinner was served in a cozy dining tent, and it was a multi-course affair—delicious salads, a perfectly cooked chicken tagine, and fresh fruit. Afterwards, we all gathered around a crackling campfire. Our Berber hosts played drums and sang traditional songs under a sky so full of stars, it honestly felt like you could reach out and touch them. You know, you see more stars there in one night than you might in a year back home.
Day 2: Desert Awakening, Nomads, and Rissani’s Local Charm
So, one of the camp staff gently woke us before dawn. You may want to skip it, but trust me, you don’t. Watching the sunrise over the Sahara dunes is just a little bit magical. The world is completely silent, and then the sun peeks over the horizon, slowly painting the sand in gold. It’s a very calm and profound moment. After that peaceful start, we had a pretty great breakfast back at the camp—fresh coffee, breads, yogurt, and eggs. Then, it was time to hop back in the 4×4 to really explore the area around Erg Chebbi, which is something you just don’t get to do on a shorter trip. This day felt like it was about connecting with the culture of the desert, not just seeing the scenery.
Our guide, for instance, took us to visit a local nomadic family in their tent. They graciously shared mint tea with us, and through our guide’s translations, we actually got to chat with them about their lives. It was fascinating and very humbling to see their resilience and their way of life, which has stayed more or less the same for centuries. Then, we went to the town of Rissani. Now, Rissani isn’t polished for tourists; it’s a very real, working town, and that’s what made it so interesting. We walked through its souk, which has specific areas for dates, spices, and even a donkey market. The highlight, however, was trying the local specialty, Medfouna, which is often called “Berber pizza.” It’s basically a stuffed flatbread cooked in the sand or a special oven, and it was just absolutely delicious. After a full day of exploring, we checked into a lovely riad at the edge of the dunes for our second night, which had a swimming pool. It was a nice change of pace from the camp and a perfect way to relax.
Day 3: The Long, Beautiful Road Back to Fez
Anyway, after a final breakfast with views of the sand sea, it was time to start the long drive back to Fez. You have to be prepared for a full day of driving, there’s no getting around that. Yet, the journey back didn’t feel like a chore at all. You know, seeing the same incredible landscapes in the reverse direction, with the morning light hitting them differently, was almost like a new experience. We saw the Ziz Valley’s palm groves from another perspective and crossed the Atlas Mountains once more. It’s pretty amazing to think that just the day before, we were in a completely different world of sand and stars.
The drive, actually, is a good time to just reflect on everything you’ve seen. You really process the contrast between the organized chaos of Fez, the cool quiet of the mountains, and the immense, profound emptiness of the desert. It’s almost like three different countries in three days. Our guide was great, too, sharing more stories and stopping for coffee whenever we needed a break. We were dropped off right at our hotel in Fez in the early evening, definitely tired from the long day, but in that good way. You feel like you’ve been on a real adventure, and the memories of that desert sunrise and starlit sky are, I think, going to stick with me for a very, very long time.
Was the Luxury Upgrade Actually Worth It? A Final Thought.
So, here’s the bottom line: is splurging a bit for the “luxury” version of this trip a good idea? Honestly, my answer is a definite yes. “Luxury” in this context isn’t about being pampered in a way that separates you from the experience; in fact, it’s just the opposite. I’ve heard stories from people on standard tours about cramped vans, basic food, and, most of all, the shared bathroom situation at the camps. At the end of the day, when you’ve been in the sun and sand, having your own private, clean shower and a comfortable bed makes all the difference. You can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to soak in the incredible sunrise, not tired and grumpy.
Furthermore, the upgrade often means you get a more experienced private guide and a comfortable vehicle, which is a big deal on those long drives. You have the flexibility to stop when you want for a photo or just to take in a view. It also included those little extra experiences, like the 4×4 tour around the dunes to visit the nomads, which might not be part of a standard package. You’re not just seeing the desert; you’re actually experiencing it in a way that is both adventurous and incredibly comfortable. It allowed the focus to be entirely on the breathtaking scenery and the unique culture, which, you know, is the whole point of going there in the first place.
Read our full review: [3 day luxury Fez to Merzouga Full Review and Details]
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