Fez Desert Tour Review: A 3-Day Sahara Experience
So, you are thinking about that three-day desert trip from Fez, right? Honestly, I get it. The idea of leaving the city behind and seeing those huge Saharan dunes is really powerful. You’ve probably seen pictures online, you know, with the camels walking in a line as the sun goes down and wondered if it’s as good as it looks. I can tell you that, more or less, it is. But, as with any big trip, what you see in the photos is sort of just one part of the story. This is my breakdown of what that 2025 three-day Fez desert tour with a place to stay is actually like. You see, it is so much more than a simple camel ride. It is a long drive with a lot to see, an overnight stay that feels like another world, and honestly, a lot of time spent in a minivan. Let’s get into what really happens, so you can decide if it’s the right kind of trip for your Moroccan travels.
Day 1: From Fez’s Ancient Alleys to the Atlas Mountains
Alright, so that first day really starts at what feels like the crack of dawn. A driver usually comes to get you from your riad, or a spot nearby, pretty early. Honestly, this part is kind of a blur of loading bags into a minivan or a 4×4. The first couple of hours are, to be honest, a bit of a slow climb out of the Fez region. You leave the city’s old feeling behind and the landscape, well, it just starts to open up. A town you’ll most likely stop at is Ifrane, and you know, people call it the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’. As a matter of fact, it looks very different from what you picture Morocco to look like, with its sloped-roof houses and a cleanness that feels almost out of place. It’s a nice little break to stretch your legs. After that, you’ll actually keep going higher into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The next major stop is often a cedar forest where you can see Barbary macaque monkeys. Like, they are just there, hanging out by the road. They are obviously very used to people, and it’s a fun, quick stop, you know?
The rest of the day is, frankly, a lot of driving. This is something you really have to be prepared for. We’re talking about several hours in the car, so it’s a good idea to bring some music or a book. Still, the view from the window is almost always interesting. The land changes color from the green tones of the mountains to the more reddish, earthy shades as you head south. You pass through small towns where daily life is just happening right there on the side of the road. You get lunch somewhere along the way, usually at a simple place picked by your driver. The food is typically tagine or grilled meat, which is quite good. Anyway, by the time late afternoon rolls around, you’re getting close to the edge of the Sahara. The scenery becomes flatter and stonier, and you just start to feel the desert approaching. You don’t see the big dunes yet, but there’s a definite change in the air. The final stop for this part is usually a hotel at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes, where you pretty much just drop your main bags before the next, more exciting part of the day.
Riding Camels into the Sahara at Sunset
Okay, this is what everyone is really waiting for, right? After you drop your stuff at the hotel near the sand, you get ready for the camel trek. You really only take a small overnight bag with you to the desert camp. The guides will help you get a turban tied around your head, which, to be honest, is not just for pictures; it really helps with the sun and any wind. Getting on the camel is, I mean, kind of an awkward but funny moment. They lurch forward and then up, and suddenly you are way higher up than you thought you would be. At first, the rocking motion feels a little strange, but you sort of get used to it pretty quickly. Your caravan then starts to move, walking slowly out into the sea of sand. The Erg Chebbi dunes are not just small hills; they are seriously huge mountains of sand, shifting and changing with the light.
As a matter of fact, the silence out there is one of the first things you notice. It is so profound. The only sounds are the soft padding of the camel’s feet on the sand and maybe some quiet talk from your fellow travelers.
As the sun starts to go down, the magic really happens. The color of the sand turns from a pale yellow to a deep, rich gold, and then to shades of orange and pink. The shadows cast by the dunes get very long and dramatic. Honestly, it is nearly impossible not to take a hundred pictures. The guides usually stop at a high point so you can get off your camel and just watch the sun disappear below the horizon. It’s a peaceful and genuinely moving experience, you know? After the sun is gone, a kind of blue twilight settles over the desert, and in the distance, you can see the lights of your desert camp. The whole camel ride takes about an hour to an hour and a half, and it’s basically the perfect amount of time before you start feeling a bit sore from sitting.
A Night Under the Stars: The Desert Camp Experience
So, you finally arrive at the desert camp, and it’s actually a really cool sight. It’s usually a circle of large, sturdy tents set around a central open area with carpets and cushions. The kind of accommodation can vary a lot, from pretty basic shared tents to more private “luxury” tents that have their own bathrooms and showers. You should definitely check what your specific tour package includes, so you know what you are getting. I mean, even the fancier options are still, at the end of the day, tents in the middle of the desert, so it’s a good idea to manage what you expect. Once you settle in, it’s usually time for dinner. Dinner is often served in a larger tent and is a multi-course meal, typically starting with soup, then a big tagine to share, and some fruit for dessert. It’s a very filling and warming meal, which is just what you need after your travels.
After you eat, the Berber hosts often light a big bonfire in the center of the camp. This is, in a way, my favorite part of the evening. They bring out drums and start playing traditional Berber music. They might even invite you to try playing the drums or to dance. It’s a very relaxed and communal feeling, sitting around a fire under the open sky. And seriously, the sky is something else. With almost no light pollution, the number of stars you can see is just staggering. You can clearly see the Milky Way, and shooting stars seem to happen every few minutes. Some people just wander away from the camp a little, lay on the sand, and just stare up at it all. Sleeping in the tent is pretty comfortable; they give you a lot of heavy blankets because it can get surprisingly chilly at night, even in the summer. Waking up in the near-total silence of the desert is, well, a really unique experience.
Day 2 & 3: Sunrise, Canyons, and the Return Trip
So, the wake-up call on day two is, again, very early. Your guides will get you up before sunrise, and honestly, you won’t want to miss it. You pretty much stumble out of your tent, climb a nearby dune, and wait for the show to start. Watching the sun come up over the dunes is arguably as spectacular as watching it set. The light slowly hits the tops of the dunes, and the whole desert seems to come to life in soft morning colors. It’s very quiet and a really great time for reflection. After the sun is up, you head back to camp for a simple breakfast, usually with coffee, tea, and some Moroccan bread. Then it’s time to say goodbye to the camp and get back on your camel for the ride back to the hotel at the edge of the dunes. That first real shower after the desert, well, it feels absolutely amazing.
Once you are all packed up and back in your minivan, the trip continues. A big stop on the second day is usually the Todra Gorge. This is a massive canyon with sheer rock walls that are incredibly high. You get some time to walk along the river that runs through the bottom of the canyon. It’s a completely different kind of natural beauty from the desert, which is a nice contrast. After exploring the gorge, you typically have lunch and then get back on the road for another long stretch of driving. For the second night, you generally stay in a hotel in or near the Dades Valley, which is another area with interesting rock formations. The third day is basically the long drive back to Fez. You cover a lot of the same ground but see it from a new perspective. It’s a day for looking back at your photos and just processing the whole experience. You usually get dropped off back in Fez in the early evening, feeling really tired but also full of new memories.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Okay, so let’s be real about a few things. First, this tour involves a massive amount of time in a vehicle. You should be prepared for that. I mean, it is the only way to cover the huge distance from Fez to the Sahara and back in three days. Second, you know, the comfort level of the desert camp can really make a difference. If you want a more comfortable bed or a private bathroom, it is probably worth paying a little extra for an upgraded tour package. You should definitely clarify what’s included before you book. Also, remember to pack for both hot and cold weather. The desert sun is very strong during the day, so you’ll want sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. But at night, especially from fall to spring, it can get quite cold, so bringing a warm jacket or fleece is a really good idea.
Another thing is money. While the tour, accommodation, and some meals are usually paid for, you’ll still need some cash. You’ll want it for lunches, drinks, snacks, and any souvenirs you might want to buy along the way. Also, tipping your driver and the desert guides is customary if you’ve had a good experience, so it’s smart to have some smaller bills for that. Frankly, this trip is for people who are up for a bit of an adventure and can handle long travel days. If you’re looking for a slow-paced, relaxing vacation, this might not be it. But if you want to see a huge and varied part of Morocco and experience the genuine wonder of the Sahara Desert, then it is absolutely an unforgettable trip that you’ll likely talk about for a long, long time.
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