My 2025 Overnight Desert Tour from Fez: A Small Group Review

So, you’re picturing it, right? You’ve seen the photos of endless orange dunes and, like, a sky absolutely packed with stars. To be honest, that was me before booking the overnight small group desert trip from Fez. The idea of sleeping in the Sahara desert was really calling to me. I mean, going with a small group felt right because it’s kind of less intimidating than going it alone, and you still get a more personal feel than with a huge coach bus. At the end of the day, I wanted to see if the real thing lived up to the amazing pictures I’d seen online. Basically, this is my honest rundown of the whole two-day affair, from the minute we left Fez to the moment we got back, a little tired but pretty much full of awe.

The Scenic Drive: From Fez’s Medina to the Atlas Mountains

Our morning, actually, began quite early, with a pickup near my riad just as the city was waking up. The air was, you know, still cool and it was almost strange to be leaving the winding alleys of the Fez medina behind. We got into a comfortable 4×4, which honestly was a relief because I knew we had a very long drive ahead. Pretty much right away, the landscape started to shift dramatically. As a matter of fact, you leave the city’s flatness and begin to climb up, up into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The change in the scenery is, like, so quick it almost takes you by surprise. It’s seriously a big part of the trip itself, not just a way to get to the desert.

Frankly, our first big stop was in a town called Ifrane. It’s pretty much known as the “Switzerland of Morocco,” and when you get there, you totally see why. I mean, the buildings have these sloped, reddish roofs and there are clean parks and a huge stone lion statue. It honestly feels like you’ve been teleported to a small town in the Alps. It’s a bit of a surreal and pleasant break, a good place to stretch your legs. Soon after that, we drove into the cedar forests, which were, you know, just huge and smelled incredible. This is basically where we had our first wildlife encounter. Right, our driver knew exactly where to stop, and a troop of Barbary macaque monkeys came over to see us, sort of hoping for a snack. They were really curious and not shy at all, so it was a very cool, up-close moment with nature that I honestly wasn’t expecting.

Camels, Dunes, and a Sky Full of Stars: Arriving in Merzouga

Okay, so after many hours on the road, watching the world change from green mountains to rocky plains and then, finally, to sandy scrubland, we saw them. I mean, in the distance, you could just make out this huge, wavy line of deep orange sand against the blue sky. Those were the Erg Chebbi dunes, and to be honest, it was a moment that gave me chills. It’s one thing to see pictures, but actually being there, seeing how massive they are, is something else entirely. We eventually reached a small guesthouse at the edge of the dunes near Merzouga. Anyway, this was our staging point, a place to leave our main bags and just get ready for the main event.

Next up was the part I was probably most excited for: the camel ride. Our camels were, you know, all lined up and waiting patiently. Getting on a camel is kind of an awkward, funny movement, but once you’re up there and find your rhythm, it’s actually very peaceful. We moved in a slow, silent line, deeper and deeper into the sand sea. The only sounds, really, were the soft padding of the camels’ feet and the quiet chatter of our group. Our Berber guide led the way, obviously knowing these dunes like the back of his hand. As we went, the sun began to lower itself, painting the sand with really amazing long shadows and turning the sky into a spectacle of pink, purple, and fiery orange. It’s pretty much impossible not to just sit there and feel completely blown away by the beauty of it all. At the end of the day, that sunset camel ride was worth the entire price of the trip.

What’s a Night in a Berber Desert Camp Really Like?

Just as the last light faded, we spotted our camp for the night, a circle of large white tents set in a depression between some dunes. Honestly, it looked just like something out of a movie. The tents themselves were surprisingly comfortable. Inside, you know, there were real beds with thick blankets, a rug on the floor, and even a little light. It was definitely more like “glamping” than roughing it, which was a nice discovery. We all sort of gathered in the main communal tent for dinner, feeling a real sense of togetherness after our trek.

Dinner was a big, steaming pot of chicken tagine, which, after a long day of travel, was pretty much the best thing I could have asked for. It was so flavorful and satisfying. After we ate, our hosts brought out their drums and started a bonfire in the center of the camp. We all sat around the crackling flames while they played traditional Berber music and sang songs under the night sky. And I mean, what a sky it was. Once you walk just a little away from the firelight, the view is absolutely stunning. You can see the Milky Way so clearly, a thick, cloudy band of stars stretching across the whole sky. The silence of the desert is also something profound. It’s a deep, peaceful quiet that you just don’t get in the modern world. You really do feel very, very small, but in a good way.

The Journey Back and My Honest Recommendations

The next morning started before the sun came up. Our hosts, you know, gently woke us so we wouldn’t miss the sunrise over the dunes. I climbed to the top of the nearest high dune, and it was so worth the early alarm. Watching the sun appear over the horizon, slowly lighting up the sand and bringing color back to the world, was a truly special moment. It was so quiet and peaceful. After the sunrise show, we had a simple breakfast back at the camp—bread, jam, coffee—before we hopped back on our camels for the short ride back to the guesthouse where our 4×4 was waiting. Obviously, we were all a little sleepy, but in great spirits.

The drive back to Fez is, to be honest, just as long as the drive there, but the scenery felt a bit different in the morning light. We made a really nice stop at an overlook for the Ziz Valley. I mean, it’s this huge canyon filled with a ribbon of millions of palm trees, a massive oasis that snakes through the dry landscape. It was an incredible sight. So, who is this kind of trip for? Basically, it’s perfect if you are short on time but absolutely have to see the Sahara. It’s also great for photographers and people who like the company of a small group. You just have to be prepared for a lot of driving. I mean, it’s about 7-8 hours each way. Just pack layers, because the desert gets quite cold at night, and of course, bring your sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen. You will definitely need them.

At the end of the day, this overnight trip is a fantastic way to get a taste of the Moroccan Sahara. You know, it’s a long two days filled with a lot of time in a car, but the payoff—the sunset camel ride, the star-filled sky, and the sunrise over the dunes—is something you will genuinely remember for a very, very long time.

Key Takeaways from the Tour:

• Basically, prepare for two long days of driving; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
• The small group format is really good, you know, for a more personal feeling.
• The stops in Ifrane and the cedar forest, honestly, break up the drive nicely.
• Actually, the camel ride at sunset is the absolute highlight.
• The desert camp is more comfortable than you might think, pretty much like glamping.
• You will need to pack warm clothes for the cold desert night, so don’t forget them.
• Seeing the sunrise over Erg Chebbi is an experience that, seriously, is not to be missed.

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