Watch the Erg Chebbi dunes
Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two great ergs, a 22-km-long expanse of orange sand dunes that shift colour from dawn to dusk. The highest crests tower roughly 150 metres above the surrounding hamada plain.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Erg Chebbi, Merzouga · Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Things to do in Merzouga
Merzouga is a small Saharan village beside Erg Chebbi, a field of wind-shaped dunes and the classic desert base in Morocco. Ride a camel into the dunes at sunrise or sunset, sleep in a desert camp, try sandboarding, hear Gnaoua music in Khamlia and look up at the Sahara night sky.
- Written by our Fes team
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Things to do around Merzouga
Merzouga is a small Saharan village beside Erg Chebbi, a sea of wind-sculpted dunes rising up to around 150 metres. It is Morocco's classic desert base, and here are twelve experiences worth your time.
Camel trek at sunrise or sunset
Riding a dromedary caravan over the dunes at first or last light is the signature Merzouga experience. Local cameleers lead trains across the sand toward viewpoints where the low sun sets the ridges glowing.
Visit a nomad family
Berber nomad families still live in tents and stone shelters in the desert around Erg Chebbi, herding goats and camels. Guided visits offer mint tea and a glimpse of a way of life shaped by the Sahara's seasons.
Explore Rissani market and Sijilmassa
Rissani holds one of the region's liveliest souks, busiest on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, including a famous donkey market. Nearby lie the ruins of Sijilmassa, a medieval caravan city on the trans-Saharan gold route.
More to do around Merzouga
Sleep in an overnight desert camp
Tented camps pitched among the dunes range from simple Berber bivouacs to luxury setups with private bathrooms. Most include a traditional dinner, drumming around the fire and breakfast as the sun rises over Erg Chebbi.
Try sandboarding on the dunes
The steep faces of Erg Chebbi make a natural slope for sandboarding. Boards can be hired locally, and the soft sand means tumbles are gentle while you carve down the dunes near the village.
Take a 4x4 dune drive
Guided 4x4 excursions cross the gravel plains and skirt the dunes, reaching outlying sights such as nomad encampments and old mining villages that are hard to walk to in the desert heat.
Hear Gnaoua music in Khamlia
The village of Khamlia, a few kilometres south of Merzouga, is home to descendants of sub-Saharan peoples who keep alive the trance-like rhythms of Gnaoua music, performed with metal qraqeb castanets and drums.
Spot flamingos at Dayet Srji
After winter rains the seasonal lake of Dayet Srji, west of Merzouga, fills with water and attracts migratory birds, including pink flamingos. The lake is dry for much of the year, so sightings depend on rainfall.
Stargaze over the Sahara
Far from city lights, Merzouga has some of Morocco's clearest night skies. From a dune top the Milky Way, planets and countless stars stand out vividly, especially on moonless nights away from the village.
Go quad biking on the sand
Quad and buggy tours run from Merzouga out across the flats and around the edges of the dunes. They are a fast-paced way to cover ground and reach desert viewpoints, with guides setting the route.
Browse the fossil shops of Erfoud
About an hour north, the town of Erfoud is the centre of Morocco's fossil trade. Workshops cut and polish slabs of black marble studded with ancient ammonites and orthoceras from the surrounding Devonian seabeds.
Before you knock
The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.
How many days do you need in Merzouga?
One night and two days is enough for a camel trek and an overnight camp in Erg Chebbi. Two or three days lets you add day trips to Khamlia, Rissani, Erfoud and the desert tracks around the dunes.
When is the best time to visit Merzouga?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) offer the most comfortable temperatures. Summer days are extremely hot, while winter brings warm days but cold desert nights, so pack layers for camping.
How do you get to Merzouga?
Merzouga is most often reached by road from Fes, Marrakech or Ouarzazate, with the drive from Fes or Marrakech typically taking two days. The nearest airport is at Errachidia, around two hours away by car.
Want to see Merzouga with a local? We'll plan the day.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.