We'll fetch you from your hotel or Riad at approximately 7:30 am to embark on a captivating journey into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Our first destination is the charming town of Ifrane, constructed by the French in the 1930s and often referred to as Morocco's Switzerland. Following that, we'll traverse the expansive cedar forests surrounding the Berber village of Azrou, known locally as "The Rock," where the renowned Barbary apes—actually macaque monkeys—may join you for lunch in their natural habitat. As we continue through the Atlas Mountains, described as pillars supporting the sky, you'll navigate winding paths amid forested peaks, encounter meandering mountain streams and springs, and marvel at the breathtaking, rugged rock walls along the way.
Following an exhilarating morning expedition in the Middle Atlas Mountains, we'll pause for lunch in the city of Midelt, fondly known as the City of Apples. Positioned at the convergence of the Middle Atlas Mountains and the onset of the High Atlas, Midelt boasts a unique charm nestled amidst the mountains.
As we ventured deeper into the Atlas Mountains, encountering the Berber communities along our route, we eventually arrived at the expansive Ziz Valley, the largest oasis in Africa. Here, a breathtaking panorama unfolded before us, as palm trees and mountains coalesced in a singular landscape, divided by the formidable Ziz River—one of the most substantial rivers in the region.
Continuing our journey towards Merzouga, we'll make a pit stop along the road to marvel at panoramic views, offering a glimpse of a vast oasis adorned with palm trees. Arriving in Merzouga in the afternoon, the evening unfolds with a delightful dinner accompanied by Saharan music. Our overnight stay promises an authentic experience in a traditional Kasbah.
Whether you choose to sleep in or heed our suggestion to rise early and witness the sunrise over the sand dunes, your day in Merzouga begins with breakfast. The day unfolds with opportunities to explore the surrounding desert at your own pace. Potential activities include visiting historical towns and palm groves around the Tafilalt Oasis (such as Rissani and Merzouga), experiencing Gnawa music in the Khamlia village, or simply relaxing around the desert tents. In the late afternoon, as the heat of the day subsides, we'll embark on a camel trek to a Berber campsite nestled in the heart of the sand dunes—far removed from worldly concerns. Here, your Berber hosts will prepare traditional desert meals, including a delectable dish called Madfona, and you might have the chance to savor camel's milk while gaining insights into their culture. Spend the evening gathered around the campfire, explore the desert surroundings, or recline on a sand dune and marvel at the stars overhead.
Following a enchanting night in the desert camp, the time has come to get ready for the journey back to Fez. Before embarking on the return trip, seize the opportunity to wake up early and relish the breathtaking sunrise over the sand dunes—regarded as one of the best in the world. Subsequently, you can return to the camp, enjoy a refreshing bath, gather your belongings, and then commence the return journey to Fez with your driver.
I recommend this desert trip with Omar & Hammid. The food was excellent, and the camp was comfortable, with hot water and power outlets. We would also like to see more engagement from the guides. For example, we didn’t go sandboarding as planned. Watching the starry sky and sunrise was something we did on our own; it wasn’t organized for us.
Omar and Hammond were great! Thank you so much for the unforgettable memories
Amazing experience, had an absolute blast. The food, staff, and entire experience was 10/10 and I would recommend this tour to anyone travelling to Morocco, it’s a must !
Everything was fine! Thank Said
Wonderful experience from start to finish. Our driver, Mustapha was fantastic. He did an excellent job, and kept us informed throughout the journey about the various stops for coffee, lunch etc. Which always seemed to arrive just at the right time! He also educated us about the regions that we were driving through, which was great. On our return to Fes, Musapha phoned our riad to ensure that someone came to meet us. An unforgettable experience.
Unforgettable experience and a must for every family. We traveled with two young children and they had the time of their lives. Camel ride was no issue for the young ones. Mohammed and his team were super kind, communicative, and went out of their way to ensure our experience was well-organized and stress/worry free. The 4x4 tour on Day 2 was the perfect way to experience the Erg Chebbi.
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Desert Smile Tours! Everything was perfectly organized, and the tour was unforgettable from beginning to end. The beautiful landscapes, the desert atmosphere, the camel ride, and the incredible hospitality made this trip truly special. A very special thank you to Mr. Mohammed for his kindness, professionalism, patience, and outstanding hospitality. He made sure we felt comfortable, safe, and welcome throughout the entire journey. His friendly attitude and attention to every detail made a huge difference and made our experience even more enjoyable. We highly recommend Desert Smile Tours to anyone visiting Morocco. If you are looking for an unforgettable desert adventure with a professional and caring team, this is the right choice! Thank you, Mohammed, and thank you, Desert Smile Tours, for the wonderful memories!
Said is an excellent driver. Also, great music in the car
Fes to Fes with desert in between was fantastic and I highly reccomend. This experience was greatly enhanced by our driver and guide Mustapha, he was an absolute gentleman. He was knowledgeable and had the journey to Merzouga planned perfectly from pick up to drop off. The information and knowledge given was informative not only about the areas we drove through but also about the people and communities. We were all given a local sweet snack which was generously given by Mustapha purchased from a local shop not long into the journey. We had well thought out and timed stops along the way, coffee, comfort stops, photos. Lunch was had at a local Berber village, Zaida, the food in this restaurant was delicious and amazing value for money. The barbecued sheep skewers I can highly reccomend! Tea, water, your meal choice, traditional Moroccan salad, bread, fresh fruit was 10Dirham or £7.83. The huge cedar forest was visited where you can see and feed the Barbary monkeys. We were dropped off at the desert to be picked up by Berbers whose camp we would be staying at. Luggage was taken from one vehicle to another ready to be collected after the camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, a sight you will never forget. Our ride into the desert then into the camp was accompanied by thunder, lightening and torrential rain! This, for me, made the adventure more of an adventure. We were shown our beautiful tent, dried off and then given a delicious meal, followed by the music! What a sight and sound with everyone being encouraged to dance and play the instruments. Then into the desert led by Berbers to see the stars. Due to the thunder storm the previous night we were offered a morning camel ride to see sun rise, this was fantastic and a hugely generous offer to us all. The second night was spent in the Hotel Fatima which was beyond all our expectations. Stunning. Breakfast on day 3, pick up by Mustapha and the return journey began, again with mindful timed stops. The tour ended at our designated point where Mustapha ensured he had contact details and someone was meeting myself and 2 friends to get us back safely to our Riad. This company have designed a fabulous trip and experience. Mustapha really was the best, he is generous has a heart of gold and clearly cares hugely for his country, the people and the animals. Do this trip!
From beginning to end this was a wonderful experience into Berber country and one to treasure, travelling with my two friends. Our driver, Mustafa, took great care with us. The stops for toilet, lunch or just being in the landscape or at interesting places, was expertly timed. Mustafa had local knowledge to share, advice with great humour AND excellent choices in music, adding to whole flavour of the experience. The camel ride into the desert was something I’ll never forget as the heavens opened and drenched us all so completely. Arriving at camp we made friends. The food was delicious but afterwards the live music really made my whole trip complete. The musicians had us all dancing, like a small party in a very unique environment. I was sad to leave. The generosity of spirit from people really shone through. We had the next night in Merzouga at the Fatima Hotel. This is a gorgeous place to stay, all really great. And then picked up by Mustafa again to see the land from the other direction made me so happy. It a 10hr drive through very interesting landscapes and towns. I thoroughly recommend this tour!
Our driver Mohammed was absolutely incredible. He truly made the trip one to remember. He had an incredible breadth of knowledge and was the kindest soul. I would ask for him if you come!! 12/10 would recommend!
very nice driver named Mohamed, he knew a lot about moroccan history and we had very good stops where it wasn‘t crowded
The tour was excellent! Our driver, Mohamed, was very gentle, professional, and well-prepared. He made us feel comfortable throughout the entire experience and was very knowledgeable. We had a perfect time and truly enjoyed every moment. Highly recommended!
We had an excellent experience on our tour from Fes to Marrakech through Merzouga. Our guide, Mohamed, was amazing—very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. He made the whole journey enjoyable and comfortable, and we got to see so many beautiful places along the way. Highly recommend Mohamed and this tour!
We had a great trip with Aymed, he was a quick driver and always got us where we needed to be. He even took us to a surprise monkey forest which was fun!! The van has air conditioning but is still very hot and sweaty! Be prepared!
Mohammed is the best guide you can imagine: highly professional, very good in explaining history and culture of Morocco, able to manage all kind of situation, proud of his origin and funny.
We had a wonderful time with Mohamed as our guide and driver. The tour was great - the desert was beautiful with a nice camel ride and wonderful dinner. Hotel Fatima was soooo great!! Mohamed told us a lot about the landscape on the ride and also gave us a glimpse into Moroccan culture and lifestyle. Would recommend this tour 100%!
The drive from Fes to Merzouga with Said was really nice!! He is a really good driver and also showed us a lot of nice spots in the way!! 12/10!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Big recommendation!!
Everything was perfekt. The guides Said and Mohammed took care of everything. Very polite and more than helpfull. Dessert Camp and Hotel were simply fantastic. I can only recommend this trip to anyone. Thank you soo much for this experience.
Our four-day desert tour in Morocco was incredible, and a huge part of that was thanks to our driver, Said. From the moment he picked us up, he was professional, friendly, and made us feel completely comfortable throughout the journey. Said is an excellent driver who navigated the long mountain roads and desert routes with skill and care, so we always felt safe. He was also incredibly knowledgeable, sharing interesting information about Morocco, its culture, and the places we visited. He happily answered all of our questions and made plenty of great photo stops along the way. What really stood out was his kindness and genuine hospitality. He always made sure we were comfortable, never rushed us, and went above and beyond to make the experience memorable. By the end of the trip, it felt like we had been traveling with a friend rather than just a driver. If you’re lucky enough to have Said as your driver, you’re in for an amazing experience. He truly helped make our Morocco adventure unforgettable. I would recommend him to anyone without hesitation!
I just finished my 3-Days Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga. It was such a fun experience from beginning to end. The itinerary was packed with beautiful landscapes, interesting stops, and so many breathtaking viewpoints. One of my favorite parts was spending a night in the Sahara Desert — such a unique and memorable experience. Riding camels through the dunes and staying at the camp under the stars made the trip feel really special. Along the way, we visited Ifrane, often called the “Switzerland of Morocco,” and stopped in the cedar forest near Azrou where we saw Barbary macaques, which was such a fun experience. We also drove through incredible scenery including the Atlas Mountains, valleys, and palm-filled landscapes like Ziz and Tudra Valleys. A special thank you to our driver and guide, Mohammed. He was professional, kind, pleasant, and always helpful. He shared so much with us about Moroccan culture, traditions, religion, and everyday life, which made the experience feel much deeper than just sightseeing. He also did an amazing job navigating the roads, taking pictures and making sure everyone felt comfortable and had a good time throughout the journey. Overall, this tour was one of the highlights of my time in Morocco, and I would definitely recommend this tour and Mohammed as a guide/driver to anyone wanting to experience the country’s landscapes, culture, and the magic of the Sahara.
Mohammed was the best guide ever!! We learned a lot about Morocco from him and he was very nice as well. Showed us all the nice places and spots. He really opened our minds to new things and let us experience the beauty and majesty of Morocco. Maraming salamat Mohammed!
Mohammed was the best guide ever. Extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Had a really great experience with Said! Nice driver, he gave us the perfect morrocan experience!
Our driver Mohammed was wonderful! Very very knowledgeable, patient, answered all questions readily and willingly.
Our driver/guide - Said - was good company and a safe, confident driver on some fairly demanding roads. He explained the plan at the start and looked after us well throughout. He was a super nice guy! The trip is essentially a scenic transfer between the two cities with stops along the way. The landscapes are the main draw — the Atlas crossing and the stay in the desert are genuinely impressive. The dunes are beautiful, though they’re closer to the road than you might expect. Desert camp accommodation was better than we anticipated, and the food there was good. Elsewhere food was decent early on but felt less good value as the trip went on — everything simple and unfussy. Ouarzazate accommodation is basic rather than comfortable, so manage expectations there. Lots of toilet stops, which the long stretches make necessary. Worth doing if you want to see the landscapes without dealing with logistics yourself
Everything was as described and worked without problems. There were no extra charges appart from the lunches. (100DH) Everything worked fine even though we went on an inportant Islamic Holiday. Our drivers were really nice, especially Said. They explained everything we wanted to know to us about the sights along the way and about maroccan culture.
Our 3-day road trip from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga was an absolute dream, largely thanks to our incredible driver, Mohammed. He is a warm, charismatic, and deeply knowledgeable guide who shared fascinating insights into Moroccan culture, history, and customs, patiently answering our international group's endless questions with excellent English and personal perspectives. The entire journey was beautifully unhurried, featuring a stunning visit to the Kasbahs, superb desert tents with delicious food, cute camels, and an unforgettable evening dancing to traditional drum beats under the stars. Mohammed truly went above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable and cared for, making this cultural adventure worth every penny and a memory to last a lifetime.
Hamid and Ayman They were so kind and fantastic drivers and guides, always paying attention to out needs while being very fun. We enjoyed staying with the berbers and the beauty of the desert was breathtaking. We surely recommend them as drivers and guides. The camels are healthy and well treared which we really appreciated and made the difference for us. Thank you again to give us this wonderful experience ☺️
Overall the excursion was amazing, even with the basic tier. The accommodations were more than expected with tent, nice beds and showers. Camel ride, sand boarding was very fun and we paid extra for the ATV ride. Basic tier was still very luxurious with the price we paid for. The food we had was very traditional and delicious. Every stop we did was a surprise of how beautiful the mountains, canyons, old cities. Our driver Eimad was very friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. He felt more like a part of our friend group than a tour guide. He definitely made our trip unforgettable and made us more feel like locals than tourists. Overall 10/10
Our drivers Moha and Imad14 were super nice and organised the long drive very well with enough stops for food/toilet and even photo opportunities at the spectacular views we passes along the way.
Our drivers, Moha and Imad14 were very nice and drove us safely to the camp and back. We also did the 4x4 tour through the desert with Youssef, it was very cool to see all the different spots people live and all the different views!
The drivers Moha and Imad14 were excellent and very friendly! The 4x4 tour in the desert was the best, Youssef was a wonderful guide and took his time to show us everything.
Good drive with Mohammed and Ihmed.
Great tour (Fès - Fès), very good organized, top team on site, good food, … perfect choice. A night at a camp in the desert is a unique experience. The second night at the hotel in Hassi Labied (hotel Fatima) was also perfect. We took the optional 4x4 half-day excursion and it was awesome. Mubarak was our guide and we enjoyed every minute with him.
All was perfect, a great place in the desert, great dinner and room. Best of all was the time spent with the guide Mohamed, from marzouka to Marrakech. He was so nice, he explained to us everthing not only about the place we visited but also about maroccan culture. In particular was great the visit of the kasbah and the gorges of todra
The driver was excellent and made sure the MAJORITY was happy not just satisfying one group and spoke good English Spanish and French our drivers name was houssam and he was excellent.
Very good experience, Mohamed is a good driver funny and patient! Good in French and English for explanations. He stopped us to every point of view, and visits we wanted, even in the freezing cold and the snow, and gave us good advices for marrakech, I definitely recommend! Only kind of disappointing point is the camel ride. As the tens are not in the middle of the dunes we are only doing a little tour between camps on camels led by a pedestrian. At the end the camel owner asked us to by stuff. As we didn't wanted to buy a littel wood camel for 15€ and he was not very open to negotiation he just let us in the middle of the dunes, sulking! So if you do it get ready to spend 15€ or walk! For the animals fait wandering I can't tell.
Tour was nice, Mohammed was very kind and available, Thank you so much
Lovely people and amazing desert experience! The van rides were a bit long but that is to be expected, getting to the Sahara. We missed the monkeys due to snow and closed roads. Drivers on the way back weee fantastic and had good English. The glamping accommodations were beyond incredible!
Our driver mohammed was amazing. He made sure we had fun, he was very knowlegable and very professional. He was trustworthy and was speaking very good English. I am so glad that he was our driver and we will miss him so much. If you want to feel safe and learn a lot about Morocco, definitely consider Mohamed.
Wow Mohammed was awesome! The tour was great and he made me feel right at home while a country away. throughout the car ride, we made very fun stops exploring Morocco beyond just the desert tour. Mohammed was very accommodating and kind he was a very knowledgeable tour guide, sharing history, facts and personal stories about Morocco making the Tour unique and engaging. I would totally recommend this tour to anyone interested in experience Morocco through an authentic fun activity filled adventure.
We had an excellent experience and Mohammed, our tour guide, was brilliant. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and was very warm, kind and helpful - providing as much information as you could possibly want or need and looking after our group very nicely. He was super easy to get along with and made the trip fun, interesting and comfortable. The route itself is good and you get to see a lot in a short space of time. Yes it is a lot of driving but you are in a comfortable SUV van for 7 people and you stop regularly for comfort breaks etc. A few of the stops are very brief and feel more like opportunities to sell you things but it doesn't ruin the experience. The night in the desert was a real highlight, both the activities (camel ride, sunset, sandboarding etc.) and the accommodation. The second night you are in a hotel that is nothing special but is fine. Small negatives were the second place we stopped for lunch - it was too much of a tourist trap with poor wifi, a small selection of food (not all of which you can trust according to the online reviews) that is expensive.
Aimed was our driver from Sahara to Fez and he did great job, explaining us the local culture and making sure we have enough stops on the way. Can recommend!
We had a wonderful trip with the driver Youssef. He was a good driver and we enjoyed the stops and photos and he was explaining many things to us.
After reading reviews of other trips, I was not sure what to expect. Aimed was a great tour guide and driver. Always cheerful, happy to chat, explain things, answer questions. Asked us what we preferred and how long to stay. He was very kind, fun, good music. Whole tour was a great experience. Small group/van. Recommend Aimed.
We took a trip with Aissaoui Mohammed, a fantastic person with fun stories and always attentive to whether we needed anything. The trip was exactly as advertised, and my family had a great time. I recommend this visit and this agency.
Highly recommend this tour! We had a blast seeing all the sights from Fes to Marrakesh and Mohammed was a wonderful guide. His English was perfect and he also alternated to French for the other family with us which was awesome. Overall, he was super helpful, funny, and kept to a great schedule. The highlight of our trip was definitely our night in the desert-- it's beautiful to be on the dunes at night looking up at the stars and you should do it at least once, especially if you book this tour!
Everything was fantastic. We had a luxury desert camp which was private. The food at the desert camp was great too.. our chauffeur was friendly and super helpful. He spoke English well and we had no problems with anything. It was romantic and perfect. Mohamed was amazing and told me not to wear heels to walk to ait bin haddou which was a good suggestion 👍
Outstanding experience with this company, very smooth communication on every step. The organizing manager Moha was very helpful at the booking stage, gave a lot of advices and polished the desired schedule. While in Morocco, everything worked as a Swiss clock, the vehicle, driver and the guide were all excellent. The guys were very punctual, when necessary - flexible. I truly cannot image how we can get it better, if you look for professionals - here they are. Strongly recommended!
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