Luxury Overnight Sahara Desert trip fez Back to Fez or Marrakech

First, the trek to get to do this excursion was a long process in itself. Not knowing too much of the layout of Morocco, I could have cut some time. I landed in Marakkech and arranged a private transfer (ranges from $150 USD to $300) to Fez which takes about 6 hours. I arrived in Fez to sleep for a short period of time and woke up with a shuttle waiting for me to drive to Merzouga which was on time. The day trip to Merzouga is 9 hours with a handful of stops. In my opinion, most of the sights weren't so exciting but necessary for the driver to rest. As soon as we arrived to Merzouga, we immediately were greeted and taken on the camels for a sunset ride. We did have overcast weather and it wasn't blazing hot. The sheer expanse of the sahara desert was quite impressive. It really made my long journey worth it. The ride was maybe an hour and we did get to have a quick ride again in the morning. The stay was nice and clean with bathrooms. I was solo but was asked to share with a couple other guests in our tent. The dinner was pretty good and the entertainment after with music was as well. They offered a nice basic breakfast in the morning before I made the 9 hour journey back to Fez which included some of the same rest stops and sights. Keep in mind, you may be able to arrange a Marakkech to Merzouga and back transfer. I did not know this and is supposed to be faster. It worked out as I did get to spend a small bit of time in Fez before I had to make the drive back to Marakkech again. All in all, this was one of the biggest highlights of my trip. I got some amazing photos and video (bring a selfie stick).

The overnight stay in the desert was nice and the people in that camp with the camels were friendly. The rest of the trip is a big setback. Lunch was fine on the way out. 1. The water would be included. Not once during the journey has this been given. 2. At 8:00 I was supposed to be picked up at the hotel. The day before I asked them if it was all going ahead because I didn’t hear from them and then they told me to be on the other side of the medina at 7:00. That's not agreed! Then they didn't respond to anything all day when I wasn't okay with that. Only very late an unclear reaction. 3. The stops are very commercial. You stop at a place where you can buy nuts to feed the monkeys. The exact same thing on the way back. On the way there and back you also stop at the same remote place for 40 minutes to buy souvenirs for high prices. Really a waste of time. And you see beautiful places passing along the way, where there is no stopping and he also does not say a word about what you pass. 4. The driver opens the window and does not turn on the air conditioning and sets the fan to the minimum power. For many hours you sit sweating in the car because of that. Hot as hell! 5. The driver drives hard and aggressively and sticks to every bumper when he can't pass and rants and honks at others on the way and overtakes dangerously in cluttered corners and then fingers crossed that no oncoming traffic will come around the corner. 6. It is supposedly a trip for 8 people maximum. So you're 14 on the bus and 50 in camp. 7. I had passed on that I was a vegetarian, they had not passed that on and so there was little to eat at dinner.

Una de las mejores experiencias y solo fue una noche que pasamos en el desierto, con muchas cosas que hacer y siguiendo el itinerario a tiempo. Sin duda volveríamos a repetir! Agradecer a Mohammed Kwiskita por la amabilidad y profesionalidad, se aseguró que todos estuviésemos bien todo el tiempo :)