My Honest Review of the 2-Day Fes to Desert Guided Tour for 2025

So, you’ve probably seen the pictures, you know, the ones with endless orange sand and people looking peaceful on camels. To be honest, the idea of a fast two-day expedition from Fes into the Sahara is really attractive, particularly if you’re a bit short on time. A lot of people wonder if it’s really doable, or if it’s just a crazy amount of time in a car. Well, I went on this exact kind of short trip, and frankly, I’m here to give you a very real look at what it’s actually like. At the end of the day, this review will give you the proper information so you can decide if this quick escape into the big, sandy emptiness is right for you, and so on. We are, you know, going to look at the good parts, the not-so-good parts, and what you should really prepare for in 2025.

Day 1: The Long Road South and Surprising Stops

Alright, let’s be straight about one thing: the first day involves a huge amount of time sitting in a vehicle. Honestly, you leave Fes really early, just as the city is starting to wake up. At first, the things you see out your window are sort of what you expect, with farms and small towns more or less all over the place. Still, as you begin to go up into the Middle Atlas Mountains, everything starts to feel different, in a way. You’ll definitely pass through some amazing bits of nature, and the air becomes noticeably cooler and fresher. The trip is, of course, broken up by a couple of well-known breaks along the way. Your guide, for example, will typically stop in places they think will be interesting for picture-taking opportunities. Basically, you should have your camera ready, but you also need to be prepared for what is seriously a very long time on the road.

Ifrane and the Cedar Forest: More Than Just a Pit Stop?

So, one of the first main stops is a town called Ifrane, which people often call “Little Switzerland.” Frankly, it’s a very unusual place to see in Morocco; the buildings have these sloped roofs and it kind of has a European ski town feel. It’s clean and neat, which is, I mean, a big change from the medina in Fes. Next, you’ll likely stop at the cedar forests near Azrou to see the Barbary macaques. As a matter of fact, this is a pretty popular thing for people to do. You get to see the wild primates up close, and they’re almost always looking for snacks from people passing through. It’s a bit of fun, really, but it’s also over very quickly and can be quite busy. These breaks are, at the end of the day, mainly to give you a chance to stretch your legs during the very extended period of sitting down.

Reaching Merzouga: Sunset Camels and the Sahara Camp Experience

Just when you feel like you can’t possibly sit for another minute, the view outside your window finally starts to change, in a big way. You will literally begin to see the first hints of the Sahara’s golden sand, which is a pretty incredible moment. You’ll arrive at a small outpost on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, which is where you, like, say goodbye to your car for a bit. This is obviously where the camel portion of the expedition starts. Getting on a camel is, you know, a strange feeling, sort of wobbly and high up, but you pretty much get used to it. The trek into the dunes as the sun is setting is honestly magical; the sand changes from a bright yellow to deep orange and then to a soft pink. It’s all very quiet, with the only sound being the soft footsteps of the camels on the sand and stuff. Arriving at the camp feels, in a way, like you’ve reached another world.

What’s the Desert Camp Really Like?

So, let’s talk about the desert camp, because I mean, people have a lot of different ideas about them. The truth is that “camp” can mean many things. Okay, so most of these 2-day trip camps are somewhat on the basic side. You’ll probably have a private tent with a bed and some blankets, which is honestly quite cozy. Yet, things like bathrooms and showers are typically in a separate block and are shared with other guests. In other words, you shouldn’t expect the comforts of a hotel. Dinner is often a traditional tagine, served in a larger main tent where all the visitors eat together. Afterward, you’ll almost always gather around a campfire where the Berber hosts will play drums and sing. Seriously, that part feels very authentic and is a genuine highlight for a lot of folks who make the long trip out here.

Day 2: Sunrise Over the Dunes and the Return Trip

Okay, the morning of the second day begins really, really early, well before the sun comes up. Someone from the camp will usually wake you up so you don’t miss the spectacle. You might want to climb up one of the high dunes near the camp, which to be honest, is a bit of work in the soft sand, but it’s totally worth it. Seeing the first light appear and the sun slowly climb over the sea of sand is just an absolutely unforgettable sight. The air is often very cold at that hour, and the silence is pretty much complete. After the sunrise show, you’ll have a simple breakfast back at the camp—like, coffee, bread, and jam—before getting back on your camel for the ride back to the edge of the dunes. As I was saying, you have to remember that after this beautiful morning, the rest of the day is basically the long drive all the way back to Fes, which is just a little tiring.

Is This 2-Day Tour Actually for You?

So, the big question is, who should actually do this tour? In my opinion, this quick outing is practically made for people who are on a very tight schedule but absolutely must see the Sahara. If you only have a couple of free days, then this is really the only way to get a taste of the desert experience starting from Fes. On the other hand, if you get car sick or genuinely hate long road trips, you might want to seriously think about skipping this. You actually spend a lot more time driving than you do in the desert itself. Likewise, if you want a really deep, immersive cultural experience, a two-day trip is probably a little too rushed for you. It’s more or less a “greatest hits” version of the Sahara: you get the camel ride, the sunset, the sunrise, and a night in a tent. For many, that is absolutely perfect and completely worth the time in the car.

“To be honest, what you’re really paying for is that single, incredible evening. You have to sit in a car for a very long time, but that one sunset and sunrise in the huge, quiet emptiness of the Sahara make you sort of forget all about the long drive.”

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