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Camel caravan crossing the crest of an Erg Chebbi dune at sunset

Merzouga · Erg Chebbi · Morocco

Camel treks and desert nights in the Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga

Ride out on a camel at sunset, sleep in a camp among the dunes, or cross Morocco on a 3 to 5 day tour from Marrakech or Fes. We're a local team, and our guides live right at the edge of the sand.

  • Local team in Merzouga
  • Book directly with us
  • Prices shown upfront
  • Free quote, no obligation
Dunes
Erg Chebbi, Merzouga
Tours
3, 4 & 5 days
Format
Private or shared

Activities

Things to do in Merzouga

Slow camel rides, quads, stargazing and more. Do one, or put a few together into a full day.

  • Camel caravan crossing the crest of an Erg Chebbi dune at sunsetCamel treks

    Sunset Camel Trek in Merzouga

    Our sunset camel trek in Merzouga is a slow, guided ride into Erg Chebbi that gets you to the top of a dune as the sun goes down.

    About 1.5–2 hours in totalSunset

    from €20 per person

  • Two camel silhouettes on a dune ridge against the dawn skyCamel treks

    Sunrise Camel Trek in Merzouga

    The sunrise camel trek in Merzouga leaves in the half-light and gets you onto a dune crest in Erg Chebbi just as the sun comes up.

    About 1.5–2 hours in totalSunrise

    from €20 per person

  • Camel caravan arriving at a traditional tented camp among the dunesCamel treks

    Overnight Camel Trek to a Desert Camp

    Our overnight camel trek in Merzouga takes you out by camel at sunset to a camp deep in the dunes. You sleep there and ride back as the sun comes up.

    Approx. 16 hours, from late afternoon until after sunrise the next morningSunset · Evening · Night · Sunrise

    from €40 per person

  • A traveller sitting on rippled sand above a desert camp at duskAdventure

    A Night in the Sahara: Overnight Desert Experience

    A night in the Sahara at Merzouga covers sunset, dinner by the fire, the stars and sunrise over Erg Chebbi. You get to camp by camel or by 4x4.

    Approx. 16 hours, from late afternoon until after breakfast the next morningSunset · Evening · Night · Sunrise

    from €40 per person

  • A rider in a helmet sitting on a quad bike at the top of a duneQuad, buggy & 4x4

    Quad Biking in the Erg Chebbi Dunes

    Quad biking in Merzouga: a guided ATV ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes, 1 or 2 hours long, with a safety briefing first so beginners can join.

    About 1 or 2 hours of riding, plus time for the briefingMorning · Afternoon · Sunset

    from €40 per person

  • Two 4x4 vehicles parked on a high dune while travellers take in the viewQuad, buggy & 4x4

    4x4 Desert Excursion around Erg Chebbi

    A 4x4 desert excursion in Merzouga: a loop around the Erg Chebbi dunes with a local driver, taking in desert tracks, palm groves, Khamlia and wide views.

    About 4 hours for the half day; a full day (around 7–8 hours) is also possibleMorning · Afternoon · Flexible

    from €40 per person

Desert camps

Where to sleep in the desert

There are four quite different ways to spend a night in the Sahara here. Pick the one that suits you and we'll check what's available.

  • White canvas tents, lanterns and red rugs at a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi at dusk

    Proper beds in the dunes, and a fire under the stars

    Luxury Desert Camp in Erg Chebbi, Merzouga

    A luxury desert camp in Merzouga means a night among the Erg Chebbi dunes in a big tent with a proper bed. Dinner and music around the fire, then sunrise over the Sahara.

    from €70 per personView details

  • White tents of a desert camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset

    Same dunes, same stars, simpler comfort

    Standard Desert Camp in Merzouga

    Our standard desert camp in Merzouga is a traditional tented camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes, with dinner, breakfast and a campfire. It's a good-value way to spend a night in the Sahara.

    from €40 per personView details

  • A simple wild camp among the Erg Chebbi dunes

    A simple bivouac, a fire and the whole sky above you

    Wild Camping in the Sahara near Merzouga

    Wild camping in the Sahara takes you away from the fixed camps to a simple bivouac your guide sets up among the dunes. It's basic and very quiet, and you're right in the desert.

    from €60 per personView details

  • A simple nomad shelter of wood, palm fronds and woven cloth on the open desert plain near Merzouga

    A simple night as guests of a family who live in the desert

    Overnight with a Nomadic Family near Merzouga

    A night with a nomadic family near Merzouga, sharing tea, a simple meal and a bit of their daily life. Conditions are basic, and a guide comes along to translate.

    from €50 per personView details

Desert tours

Desert tours from Marrakech & Fes

Our tours are one-way. Start in Marrakech and you finish in Fes, or the other way round, so you cross the country without driving back the same road.

Starting in Marrakech · ending in Fes

Starting in Fes · ending in Marrakech

A saddled camel standing in front of a high dune in warm evening light

Erg Chebbi

Why Merzouga and Erg Chebbi?

Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two big Saharan sand seas: about 22 km of dunes, with the highest crests rising around 150 metres above the plain. Most of southern Morocco is stony desert. This is the orange sand people picture when they think of the Sahara.

Merzouga and the next village, Hassilabied, sit right at the foot of the dunes. You walk out of your guesthouse and you're on the sand. A short drive away you'll find the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the market town of Rissani, palm groves, fossil beds and families who still live from their herds.

  • Proper sand dunes

    High dunes that keep shifting, gold in the middle of the day and deep orange towards evening.

  • Easy to reach

    Merzouga is on the classic routes from Marrakech and Fes, and the road is paved all the way to the dunes.

  • Local culture

    Amazigh villages, Gnawa music and nomad families live close by. Our local guides take you as a guest, respectfully.

Sunrise · Sunset

Sunrise and sunset on the dunes

The desert looks its best at either end of the day. Late in the afternoon the sand turns orange and the dune shadows stretch out. At dawn it's cool and completely quiet as the first light reaches the crests. Most people plan their camel trek or 4x4 trip around one of the two, and plenty do both.

A camel's head in the foreground as the sun sets over the dunes and a camp
A group of friends celebrating sunrise on top of a dune
A musician in a blue robe and turban playing a traditional stringed instrument

Amazigh · Gnawa

Amazigh culture and desert life

Amazigh (Berber) families live in and around Merzouga, and Khamlia is home to a Gnawa community. You can share mint tea, listen to music by the fire or spend some time with a nomad family. You go as a guest, with a local guide who translates and introduces you.

What travellers say

Read reviews from our guests on:

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How it works

How booking works

There's no online payment. You see the programme and the price, and you agree to them before anything is booked.

  1. Tell us your plans

    Message us on WhatsApp or fill in the form with your dates, how many you are and what you'd like to do.

  2. Get a written offer

    We send back the programme, what's included and the price. If something doesn't suit you, we change it.

  3. Meet us in the desert

    Your guide or driver meets you at the agreed time and place. You can reach us on WhatsApp throughout the trip.

FAQ

Planning questions

Contact
How do I get to Merzouga?
How many days do I need in Merzouga?
Is the Sahara desert safe to visit?
What's the difference between a private and a shared tour?
Is my booking confirmed when I send a request?
Can you cater for vegetarians or food allergies?

Travel guide

Desert travel guide

Straightforward advice for planning your Sahara trip, from people who live here.

  • Travellers of different ages on a camel trek in the Merzouga dunes, led by a local guide

    Desert experiences

    What to Expect During a Camel Trek

    Getting on, staying comfortable, taking photos and riding with children: a practical guide to your first camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes, and how to pick an operator that looks after its camels.

    6 October 2026 · 5 min read

  • A traveller sitting on rippled sand above a desert camp in Erg Chebbi at dusk

    Desert camps

    How to Choose a Sahara Desert Camp

    Camps around Erg Chebbi go from simple shared tents to roomy private suites. Six steps and a short checklist to find the one that suits your trip.

    6 October 2026 · 4 min read

  • Traveller wearing a scarf taking a selfie on a camel in the dunes

    Trip planning

    What to Pack for a Sahara Desert Trip

    Hot days, cold nights, wind and fine sand. Packing for the Sahara comes down to layers and a handful of essentials, and this list covers every season.

    2 October 2026 · 4 min read

Instagram

Erg Chebbi through our lens

Camels, camps and desert light, photographed by our team in Merzouga.

  • Four saddled camels resting on the sand at the foot of the dunes
  • A cushioned swing and glowing lanterns set on the sand at a desert camp
  • A sandboard leaning on a shade shelter under a sky full of stars
  • Two 4x4 vehicles parked on a high dune while travellers take in the view from the crest
  • Two camel silhouettes on a dune ridge against the dawn sky
  • A man in a traditional embroidered robe and grey turban sitting on the dunes near earthen camp buildings

Follow @safarisaharadesert on Instagram

The quickest way to plan: WhatsApp

Send us your dates, how many of you are coming and what you'd like to do. We'll reply with ideas and a clear price. Nothing is booked until you say yes.

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