🐪 Erg Chebbi, Morocco
Things to do in Merzouga & the Sahara
Towering golden dunes and nights under the stars
A favourite for honeymoons
Merzouga is the gateway to Erg Chebbi, the towering golden sand dunes that are most travellers’ image of the Moroccan Sahara. The classic experience is a camel trek over the dunes to a desert camp for sunset, a night under the stars, and sunrise from the sand — usually reached on a multi-day desert tour from Marrakesh.
A private dune camp, a campfire dinner and a sky full of stars — desert romance at its best.
Time needed
3 days (from Marrakesh)
Best time
October–April for bearable daytime heat; spring and autumn are ideal
Region
Erg Chebbi, Morocco
Don’t miss
Camel trek and a night in the dunes
Ride a camel caravan into Erg Chebbi as the sun sets, then sleep in a Berber desert camp — from simple tents to luxury “glamping” — with drumming, tagine dinners and astonishing star-filled skies, before climbing a dune for sunrise.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Merzouga & the Sahara
- A sunset camel trek over the Erg Chebbi dunes.Find tours
- An overnight in a Berber desert camp under the stars.Find tours
- A 4x4 dune drive, sandboarding, or a visit to nomadic families.Find tours
- The 3-day Marrakesh–Sahara route via the Dades and Todra gorges and Aït Benhaddou.Find tours
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See all Merzouga & the Sahara experiences on GetYourGuideWhere to stay near Merzouga & the Sahara
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How to get to Merzouga & the Sahara
Merzouga is a long way from Marrakesh (8–10 hours), so it’s almost always done as a 3-day/2-night tour that breaks the drive at Aït Benhaddou, the Dades Valley and Todra Gorge. Shorter trips run from Fes (closer) too.
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Best time to visit
October–April for bearable daytime heat; spring and autumn are ideal. Summer is brutally hot in the desert, and winter nights get genuinely cold — pack layers.
Merzouga & the Sahara tips
- Treat the long drive as part of the trip — the gorges and kasbahs en route are highlights, not filler.
- Pack warm layers: desert nights are cold even when days are hot.
- Choose your camp tier deliberately — comfort ranges from basic shared tents to private luxury camps.
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