Merzouga Desert Tours: Erg Chebbi Dunes, Camel Treks and Camps
Merzouga is the village at the edge of Erg Chebbi, a sea of Sahara dunes rising to about 150 m in south-east Morocco. A private Merzouga desert tour, built around a sunset camel trek and a night in a desert camp, needs at least three days from Marrakech, about 560 km away, or a long day’s drive from Fes.
This page is about Merzouga and Erg Chebbi specifically. If you are still deciding which desert to visit, or only have two days, compare the options – including the shorter trip to Zagora – on desert tours from Marrakech.
Getting to Merzouga
| Starting point | Driving to Merzouga | How it is usually split | On the way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | About 560 km, 9–10 h | Two days out with a night in the Dades Valley, or three for a slower pace | Tizi n’Tichka (2,260 m), Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Dades Gorges, Todra Gorge |
| Fes | About 7–8 h | One long day | Ifrane and the Middle Atlas, Midelt, the Ziz Valley palm groves, Erfoud |
| Casablanca or Tangier | Via Fes | Part of a longer loop | The imperial cities first, then the desert |
The most efficient plan is one-way: Marrakech to Merzouga to Fes, or the reverse, so that no road is driven twice. If you are starting in the north, our Morocco tours from Fes reach the dunes fastest.
The camel trek: sunset in, sunrise out
Treks leave from the edge of the erg in the late afternoon. The dromedaries walk in a line, led on foot by a cameleer, and the ride into camp takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half, with a stop on a high ridge as the sun goes down. Next morning you climb a dune for sunrise before riding back out of the sand. Lean back when the camel kneels or walks downhill, wear long trousers, and keep a scarf for wind and sand. If you would rather not ride, a 4x4 can take you to camp instead. Our Merzouga camel trekking guide covers the rest.
One night in camp or two
- One night – arrive in the afternoon, trek at sunset, dinner and music by the fire, sunrise on the dunes, then on to Fes or back towards Marrakech.
- Two nights – adds a full day around the erg: Khamlia, the market town of Rissani, a 4x4 loop around the dunes, sandboarding and a slow afternoon in camp. The longer itineraries leave room for it.
Khamlia, Rissani and the villages around the dunes
Khamlia, a few kilometres south of Merzouga, is home to a Gnawa community whose music – iron castanets, drums and call-and-response songs – has its roots in West Africa and was carried north across the Sahara generations ago. Visitors are welcomed into a music house for tea and a set. Rissani, about 40 minutes north, is the old market town of the Tafilalt oasis, beside the ruins of Sijilmassa, the medieval caravan city, and Erfoud is known for the fossils quarried from the hills around it.
3-Day Luxury Desert Adventure & Camel Trek from Fes to Marrakech
Fes
From € 240.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
3-Day Private Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga & Dades Valley
Marrakech
From € 240.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
4-Day Private Sahara Tour from Marrakech: UNESCO sites, Dades Valley & Merzouga Desert
Marrakech
From € 325.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
7-Day Private Morocco Tour: Chefchaouen, Fes Heritage & Merzouga Desert Safari
Marrakech
From € 640.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
3-Day Private Luxury Sahara Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga Desert via Dades Valley
Marrakech
From € 225.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
5-Day Private Luxury Tour Merzouga Desert from Marrakech
Marrakech
From € 385.00 based on 7 person This price is based on 7 travelers. Price varies for different group sizes.
What desert camps are like
Camps sit inside the dunes or along their edge, reached by camel or by 4x4 on sand tracks. A standard camp has sturdy tents with proper beds and shared toilets and showers; a luxury camp adds tents with their own bathroom, hot water and more space. Dinner is usually soup, a tagine and fruit, eaten in a dining tent or under the sky. Electricity in many camps is solar and limited, so bring a power bank. Our comparison of luxury and standard desert camps sets out the difference, and for upgraded rooms throughout a trip see luxury Morocco tours.
When to go to Merzouga
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) bring warm days and comfortable nights. From December to February the days are bright but nights in camp are cold, so pack a warm jacket and hat. In summer the dunes often pass 40°C by midday, and treks are timed for the last hour of light. Spring winds can lift the sand for a day at a time, which is when a scarf earns its place. Month-by-month figures are in our Merzouga weather guide.
Making the drive part of the trip
From Marrakech the road is half the experience: kasbahs, palm oases and two of Morocco’s great canyons – see Todra Gorge and the Dades Valley. Each tour page shows where the nights fall and which stops are included. To add nights, change the route or pair Merzouga with Chefchaouen, use the custom itinerary form.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Merzouga from Marrakech?
Three days and two nights is the minimum: the first night in the Dades Valley, the second in a desert camp, then a long drive back or on to Fes on day three. Four or five days give a calmer pace and a second night in the dunes.
Is it better to reach Merzouga from Fes or from Marrakech?
Fes is closer, at about 7–8 hours against 9–10 from Marrakech, and its road through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley is beautiful. Marrakech has more to see on the way, including Ait Ben Haddou and the gorges. Travelling one way between the two cities gives you both.
Do you have to ride a camel to reach the camp?
No. The camel trek is the classic way in, but a 4x4 transfer to camp can be arranged if you have back problems, are travelling with young children or simply prefer not to ride. You can still walk up a dune to watch the sunset.
How cold is the Sahara at night in Merzouga?
From December to February, nights can drop close to freezing even after a mild, sunny day. Camps supply thick blankets, but a warm jacket, hat and socks make a real difference. In spring and autumn the evenings are cool rather than cold.
More ways to travel
- Morocco Food Tours: Moroccan Cooking Class, Markets and Street Food
- Morocco Atlas Mountains Tours: Imlil, Ourika and Berber Villages
- Morocco Holidays Built as Private Tours
- Marrakech Tours: Private City Tours, Day Trips and Experiences
- Morocco Guided Tours with Driver-Guides and Local City Guides
- Morocco Tours from Tangier