Private 2 days desert tour from Meknes

Overview:

A private 2-day desert tour from Meknes is an intense but incredibly rewarding journey that takes you from the imperial city straight to the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga. Because the drive takes roughly 7 to 8 hours each way, a private tour ensures a comfortable, modern 4x4 or minivan with a dedicated driver-guide so you can move at your own pace and make stops whenever you want.

Highlights:

Your private driver picks you up directly from your Riad or hotel in Meknes.

Ifrane: A brief stop in the "Switzerland of Morocco," known for its clean alpine architecture, ski slopes, and cool mountain air.

Azrou Cedar Forest: A short pause to stretch your legs and see (or hand-feed) the wild Barbary macaque monkeys that live in the ancient forest.

Stop at a roadside restaurant for a traditional Moroccan lunch nestled between the Middle and High Atlas ranges.

A breathtaking stop at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking one of Morocco's largest palm oases and canyons.

Arrive at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga.

Sunset Camel Trek: Switch your vehicle for a camel (or an optional 4x4/quad bike) and trek into the golden dunes as the sun begins to set.

Arrive at a luxury camp. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, a roaring campfire, and live Berber drum music under an incredibly clear, starry sky. Sleep in a private tent featuring an ensuite bathroom.

Return to Meknes:

Sunrise Over the Dunes: Wake up early to catch the spectacular morning sun rising over the Sahara landscape.

Enjoy breakfast at the camp followed by a quick session of sandboarding down the steep dunes.

Journey back to the hotel base via camel or Jeep to rejoin your private vehicle. Head north back through the Atlas Mountains, stopping for lunch and scenic photos along the way, arriving back in Meknes by early evening.

Day 1: Meknes — Ifrane — Midelt – Ziz Gorges – Erfoud — Rissani — Merzouga

Your driver picks you up at your riad at 8:00 a.m. Depart Meknes to Merzouga over the Middle Atlas Mountains through the cedar forests of Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco, Azrou, Midelt and crossing the Ziz Valley and its gorges towards the Sahara.

We reach Merzouga before sunset and arrive at the hotel at the foot of the dunes of Erg-Chebbi.

After resting with a mint tea, the guide and camels will be waiting to carry you across the sandy dunes of Erg-Chebbi. You will enjoy the beauty of the sunset on the dunes before reaching the desert camp to spend the night in a Berber tent.

At your desert shelter, your camels are hobbled, and mint tea is served. After a wonderful dinner, there will be a campfire and drums playing.

Day 2: Merzouga – Midelt — Ifrane — Meknes

We will wake up early to enjoy a magnificent sunrise on the dunes, then have breakfast and take a shower before riding the camels back to the hotel.

Afterward, we leave for Meknes through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing through the cedar forests of Azrou and stopping to hand-feed the monkeys.

We will continue via Ifrane, the ‘Switzerland of Morocco’, and arrive in Meknes in the early evening.