Excursions to the Merzouga Desert in Morocco from Marrakech
If you are ready for a Thousand and One Nights adventure, the Merzouga desert excursions in Morocco are perfect for you: from luxury camping, camel rides, breathtaking dunes or 4x4 safaris, you will find it all here!
Postcard of the Moroccan Desert | ©Maria Sanchez
Merzouga is a favourite destination for travellers from all over the world because of its 150-metre high sand dunes. At the foot of the dunes you will find many campsites and amenities that will make your excursion to the Moroccan desert an adventure like no other. The Merzouga desert is the perfect setting for unique adventures and today I'll share with you a list of my favourites.
When talking about Morocco it is almost impossible to avoid thinking about the Sahara Desert, the largest and most diverse expanse of desert on the planet. In Morocco you will find two popular desert areas. One of them, the Erg Chebbi Desert, is just a stone's throw from the town of Merzouga, which is why many call this town "the Gateway to the Desert''.
Merzouga Desert 3-Day Trip from Marrakech
Three-day excursion in the desert of Merzouga with professional guide
Enjoy the Saharan dunes, take a camel ride, admire the sunrise and experience the deep desert. You will get to know the Berber culture and the environment they live in.
About 600 km from Marrakech is the marvellous desert of Merzouga, which I definitely recommend you to visit if you have a few days in Morocco.
This proposal to spend 3 days in the desert is one of the most complete you are going to find and it is worth it, as it is not a usual experience in a tourist itinerary. You will visit the dunes of the Sahara, the Berber settlements and other nomadic communities and of course, you will see the most impressive landscapes you can imagine.
Always accompanied by a professional guide, you can ride a camel for 2 hours and choose between a quad tour or finish your excursion in the neighbouring city of Fez. The tour also includes all meals, transfers and accommodation, which on the second night will be in a tent in the middle of the desert!
Recommended if... you have enough days to explore Morocco and you enjoy adventures. With this three-day activity you can experience the desert in all its splendour.
Sunrise or sunset camel trekking in Merzouga desert
Camel trekking in the dunes is a must if you visit the Merzouga desert. Depending on the company you hire, the tour will start in the late afternoon or early morning.
It takes 30 minutes to reach the sand dunes, the camels should stay about 80 metres from the highest dunes in Merzouga. From here, if you want to enjoy a panoramic view you will have to climb to the top of the dunes in an average 10-minute walk. If you don't want to climb to the top, the area around the dunes is equally perfect for admiring the sun set or sunrise.
Sunset usually takes about 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to relax and take all the pictures you want. At the end of the experience, you will get back on your camel for the return journey to Merzouga. The tour usually includes an additional stop at a point of interest.
Sunrise tour with camping and desert activities
Spending the night in a desert camp is one of the motivations for thousands of travellers from all over the world to visit the dunes of Merzouga.
This alternative is particularly interesting because of the possibility of combining a night camping under the stars with a camel ride to see the sunrise in the desert and many other activities. I don't think you can do anything similar anywhere else in the world.
What are the camps like?
Camping in the desert is an interesting adventure. Aside from how rustic or uncomfortable camping can be for many, most of the campsites in the Erg Chebbi desert have a surprising level of luxury.
As a result, the experience of camping under the stars in the Sahara is known as glamping. The amenities on offer vary depending on the company you hire and the type of accommodation.
- With standard accommodation: They offer single bed, dinner, breakfast, camel rides.
- With deluxe accommodation: They offer a large bed, individual bathroom, washbasin, Wifi, tables and chairs inside the Berber tent.
I recommend looking in detail at the accommodation options and prices, as as a general rule those that include more amenities or additional activities tend to cost a little more.
4X4 Safari desert tour
Opt for a 4X4 Safari to take you to the dunes of the Merzouga desert and explore the area in a different way. Be prepared to ride through the dunes accompanied by an expert guide and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the sandy mountains.
On this type of excursion you will discover not only the desert but also the surroundings of Merzouga. The adventure includes stops at points of interest such as: visiting the lead mines of Mifis, visiting the seasonal lake, meeting the nomadic families of the desert or visiting the Hassi Labied village with its gardens.
What to do in the Merzouga Desert
Sandboarding
If your trip to Merzouga includes a few hours of leisure, sandboarding is an option. This adventure usually includes professional boards and the necessary safety equipment.
I don't recommend it for amateurs. If you have previous experience on a surfboard or skateboard, sliding down the dunes is another possibility to enjoy the Sahara Desert that adrenaline junkies will appreciate.
Enjoy a sunrise in the desert
If you decide to spend the night in one of the camps in Erg Chebbi you should prepare yourself for one of the most important events of the experience: the sunrises in the dunes.
At approximately 06:00 hours we campers get up to walk through the dunes and admire how the sun rises over the sand. This is one of the most magnificent spectacles you will ever see in your life.
This spectacle can be combined with a camel ride so you don't have to walk. Many camps include a camel ride at sunrise in their list of experiences.
Take photographs at night
Due to the low light pollution in the area, night photography in the desert is truly breathtaking and the clear night skies of Erg Chebbi allow you to count billions of stars. If you are a photography enthusiast with good equipment, take advantage of your night in the desert to take night shots of one of the most perfect skies on the planet.
How to get to the Merzouga desert in Morocco?
First of all, you should be aware that the Merzouga desert is located near the town of Merzouga and that getting to this area of Merzouga from Marrakech is not the easiest task. A one-way trip can take up to 12 hours depending on the method used.
Option I: Guided tours from Marrakech
My favourite alternative of all. A guided tour from Marrakech is able to free you from worries and the need to plan ahead. It is the perfect alternative if you are visiting the country for the first time and the ideal option for tourists who wish to have a hassle-free holiday. The minimum price to pay for this experience is €100.
Option II: Hire your own transport
Although this alternative requires a little more planning on your part, it is an attractive option, as you can organise your own stops along the way, visit interesting historical sites and spend as much time there as you deem prudent.
Renting a small, simple car in Marrakesh will cost you approximately €8-10 per day. Consider fuel and tolls as additional costs.
Option III Taking the bus route from Marrakech
Some local companies offer bus services from major Moroccan cities to destinations such as Merzouga. This is an interesting option for those travelling on a tight budget.
Where will you sleep on your trip to the Merzouga desert?
Merzouga is a destination that offers travellers a variety of accommodation options. You can either enjoy the goodness and fun of the desert during the day, staying in a comfortable hotel in the village, or you can have an immersive experience camping under the stars in one of the luxury camps located in the desert.
If you decide to stay in the village of Merzouga
The desert is only a 10-minute camel ride away. However, getting to the highest dunes, the most interesting attraction, usually takes 30 minutes on the camel. However, the time flies by, distracted by the beauty of the scenery.
Camping in the desert
Another alternative is to do Glam Camp, really comfortable luxury camping options that allow you to spend the night in the Sahara desert surrounded by dunes on the sands of Erg Chebbi.
Some accommodation options worth exploring:
When is the best time of year to visit the Merzouga desert?
The best time to visit Merzouga is between spring and autumn. At this time of year the weather in Morocco tends to be a little more pleasant, making the strenuous activities in the sun more bearable than in the extreme heat of summer.
Bear in mind that spring brings sporadic sandstorms, although tour operators are well equipped to deal with such eventualities.
Many travellers find the warm summer nights in the desert appealing and prefer this time of year to avoid getting cold when the temperature drops. However, the heat of the day can be very exhausting and in some years with extreme heat many operators have been forced to close their tours in July and August.
Winter is another season that often attracts travellers from all over the world to the Merzouga desert. The presence of clouds in the desert makes the daytime temperature very pleasant, but the nights can be quite cold. If you are someone who can handle low temperatures, this is an option to consider.
Other desert excursions
For other excursion alternatives to the Moroccan Sahara Desert explore this information.