Moroccan Desert in 2 Days - Itinerary & Things to Do

🤩 My reflection

It was one of the most interesting experiences, one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Riding camels across the endless sand dunes, adapting to the windy desert conditions of the Sahara, and watching a truly magical sunrise over the horizon. Yes, it was quite an effort and a very long drive to get there, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I’d recommend allocating at least 3 days so you can fully enjoy the experience instead of it feeling like just a road trip.

✍🏻 Itinerary

Day 1:

• Ifrane Lion Statue – famous stone lion monument in the “Switzerland of Morocco,” a quick photo stop in the alpine-style town

• Ifrane National Park (Cedar Forest / Barbary Macaques area) – cedar forest where you can see wild Barbary macaques (often called monkey forest)

• Middle Atlas Mountains / Azrou – scenic drive through cedar forests and mountain landscapes with Berber villages

• Ziz Valley – dramatic palm-filled canyon with long oasis views and one of the most scenic driving stretches in Morocco

• Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes) – arrival point at the edge of the Sahara with massive sand dunes

• Camel ride into Erg Chebbi dunes – desert trek on camels across the sand dunes toward your desert camp

• Sahara desert camp (Merzouga) – overnight stay in Berber-style tents with dinner, music, and desert atmosphere under the stars

Accommodation at Desert Camp

Day 2:

• Sahara Desert Camp (Merzouga / Erg Chebbi) – overnight camp in the dunes where you wake up surrounded by the Sahara

• Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes – early morning desert sunrise viewed directly from the camp area

• Breakfast at desert camp – traditional breakfast served in the camp before departure

• Camel ride back to Merzouga base – return ride across the dunes from the camp back to the meeting point

• Merzouga → Atlas road trip – long drive out of the Sahara heading toward the Atlas Mountains and Marrakech

• Arrival in Marrakech – end of desert journey and arrival in the city in the afternoon/evening

Dinner in Marrakech at Café Des Épices – rooftop restaurant in the Marrakech medina, popular for sunset views over the old city rooftops

Accommodation at Marrakech

Bonus location if you have the time: I would have loved to see it, but it’s hard to do on a 2-day trip (I think you need a 3-day desert tour for this).

• Aït Benhaddou – UNESCO ksar (fortified village) and famous film location

• Atlas Studios – large film studio used for Hollywood desert movies

• Kasbah Taourirt – historic fortified kasbah in Ouarzazate

• Ouarzazate City – desert gateway city known as the “Hollywood of Africa”

📢 Essential tips

Here’s everything you need to plan your 2-days in Sahara:

Best time to visit Sahara

The best time to visit the Sahara Desert is in spring (March–May) or autumn (September–November), when temperatures are more comfortable. Summers can be extremely hot during the day, while winter nights can get surprisingly cold in the desert, even if the days are mild.

What to wear in Sahara

In the desert, the key is layering. During the day, light and breathable clothing like loose trousers, t-shirts, and long sleeves work best to protect you from the sun. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential because the sun is very strong. Sunglasses also protect you from the sand as well. For the evening and early morning, especially in the dunes, it gets much colder, so you should bring a warm jacket or sweatshirt. I’d recommend wearing sneakers you don’t mind getting dirty, so you have closed shoes to protect your feet from the sand but don’t worry if they get ruined. A scarf or shawl is also useful for wind and sand protection.

How long to spend desert in Morocco

We needed a 2-day tour that would take us from Fez and drop us off in Marrakech, so there weren’t many options that checked all the boxes. If you have the time, I recommend allocating 3 days for the desert. 2 days feels like too much of a road trip since the distances are quite large, and with 3 days you can also see additional sights that we missed.

What Desert Camps Are Like 

The camp we stayed in was very luxurious; the tent was better than many hotel rooms. It does get quite cold in the evening and at sunrise, so bring a jacket. Friends who stayed in other camps said they were quite cold at night, while ours had heating/AC, so it really depends on the level of comfort of the camp you book.

🔗 All travel links

Tours:

2-Day Desert Tour - Ours is not available anymore, but we booked from here

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