I am searching for suggestions for an affordable Sahara Camel Trek. In late February, my family of four (two young children - 6 and 9) will arrive in Fes. We would like to make our way to the Sahara for an overnight camel trek. We are on a very tight budget and therefore are looking for an affordable way to do this. I would love suggestions regarding reputable camel trek services and whether it is recommended that we make our own way down to the Sahara to meet up with a camel trek, or is there an affordable guide? If it is recommended that we make our own way down, I'd like recommendations for how to do so, e.g., rent car, train, bus? and the recommended route.

Thanks so much; I look forward to your reply.

It's late so I'll be brief. My wife & I went with Sahara Services and found them very good. We didn't have any experience with any other outfit, mind you, so we can't compare. We went from Marrakesh by 4x4 but returned on the CTM bus. It's a long way, and even further if you start at Fes. You could get the train from Fes to Marrakesh, it may be a bit mire comfortable than a bus, & it's probably worth paying extra for 1st class (which should at least guarantee your seats). If you go by bus, use CTM or Supratours, they go by proper schedules.
SaharaServices have drivers and 4x4's; the advantage is that they can stop for photos & diversions (such as Ait Benhaiddu). They may well stop at places where they hope youi will do business & they probably take a cut, but realistically, for most of us who use this website, the prices they charge shouldn't be a problem. But coming back on the bus we found the views were better as we were higher up on the bus, and the views are wonderful. Also the bus is a lot cheaper, at least for 2 of us. For 4 of you it would still be cheaper. I think the CTM bus was about 100dh for M'hamid to Marrakesh + a small bit for luggage.
You can check their website & email any queries to Abdel.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and hope you do too.

The cheapest way to do it is by CTM (or Supratours) bus from Fes. The CTM schedules are at www.ctm.ma

Contrary to popular belief, the journey from Fes to Merzouga is actually a little quicker than that from Marrakech to Merzouga, mainly thanks to the absence of the High Atlas crossing. It's still around 300 miles, though, and about 7 hours is likely by car; the buses run overnight from Fes.

Inevitably you'll miss most of the spectacular scenery en route, and whilst the buses are newish and comfortable, fellow passengers can be occasionally irritating.

Alternatives are hiring a car - from about 400dhs a day from a tiny rollerskate in Fes, up to 1,200dhs plus for an incapable faux 4x4/SUV in Fes. Marrakech is cheaper and you can hire 'proper' 4x4's.

Morocco's roads are good but driving standards aren't; the death toll is around 4,000 a year and you have to be a competent and confident driver.

Another alternative is to charter a Grand Taxi. These are generally 20 year old plus Mercedes. Some of the vehicles are extremely tired - others are unroadworthy. At the very least, check the vehicle first. Drivers are often as unreliable as vehicles...

There is a 'tourist class' of taxi, which are marginally better; they are supposed to be air conditioned but it never, ever works.

For cheap accommodation and friendly camels I can't beat the Auberge Panorama in Merzouga - not to be confused with the dreadful Hotel Panorama in Rissani!

It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't fancy an overnight bus journey myself, let alone with 2 children. We did 4 long bus journeys, 2 of which were with CTM. At all of them there was a prolonged stop (20-30 mins) at some out-of-the-way village and most people got off & bought a meal in a café or hot food from street markets. I wouldn't be surprised to learn it was the driver's cousin's café or something similar. Usually any signs (if they exist at all) were only in Arabic. We always carried our own food & water so we stuck to that.
Our first experience in Africa was that our plane left Dublin 1½ hrs late (we were glad to get away at all as many flights were cancelled because of the snow)on 22 Dec. At Agadir there were no buses as we had expected, apparently they stop around 6pm. We took a grand taxi, 2 of us tried to get in with another lady but the taxi rank chief wouldn't have it (as the Rough Guide says, we should agree all that before exiting the airport). After 3 or 4 miles... phut...phut. "Oh dear, I'm running out of diesel" (gazoil). He managed to pull off the road, flagged down another taxi driver & returned 20 min later with 2 water bottles full of diesel ... chug, chug then it came to life. So that was our introduction to Africa!
On another grand taxi I noticed a window winder lying on the front dashboard. I looked around and none of the 4 doors had one!
Re distances from Fes & Marrakesh- yes I'm sure markwillenbrock is correct about Merzouga; I should have said that we went to M'hamid, which is a bit further south-west. There we paid €20 for evening meal & bed & breakfast in a little hut, or €30 for an ensuite room in the hotel kasbah.
As we went south from Ouarzazate the road got narrower, especially after Zagora, when it basically becomes a one-lane tarmac road with gravel at each side (& it was dark by then). Drivers seem to stay on the tarmac as long as possible when another vehicle is approaching, and then veer off to the right at the last minute so 2 wheels are on the tarmac road & 2 on the gravelly hard shoulder or sometimes all 4 wheels were off the road. A lot of horn-blowing when bicycles or slower-moving vehicles were ahead of us. But we survived.

Thank you Mark - I will look in to your suggestions. I really want to make this happen for my children; I think it will be such a great experience. Unfortunately both our time and budget is tight.

I appreciate that you point out we would miss a lot of scenery if we take the overnight bus.

You are the first to indicate that the time to the Merzouga from Fez might actually be a little faster; I appreciate that too.

Thanks!
J

Thank you Ricardo for your thoughts. I will look in to Sahara Services too.
I welcome any more thoughts.
thanks,
j

I can second Sahara Services. We too went from Marrakech to M'hamid, but I do know that they also operate on the Fes - Merzouga route.

The other company I researched was Naturally Morocco. They seem to have good reviews and are responsive via phone/email. Their costs were slightly lower than those of Sahara Services.

Thank you Ssachida; I haven't yet heard of Naturally Morocco. i will try them.

j

We did a tour with Camel Safaries. Ali Oussou was the guide. It was a fantastic experience. Native Moroccan's who really make you feel like your traveling with friends, and are very professional and dependable. Enjoy Morocco!