Merzouga sits at the edge of Erg Chebbi, a sea of Saharan sand dunes rising up to 150 metres, some of the tallest and most accessible in Morocco, a place where camel treks at sunset, overnight stays in Berber desert camps, and star-filled skies far from any city light have made it one of the country's most memorable stops for travellers heading beyond the Atlas Mountains.
The Dunes
Erg Chebbi's dunes shift colour dramatically through the day, from pale gold at midday to deep orange and red at sunset, climbing the highest dunes near camp for the sunset view is the standard, and thoroughly worthwhile, evening activity.
Sandboarding down the steeper dune faces has become a popular addition to the standard camel trek, offered by most desert camps as an afternoon activity before the evening trek out to camp.
Desert Camps and Stargazing
Overnight stays in Berber-style camps range from simple shared tents to increasingly elaborate 'luxury desert camp' setups with private bathrooms and proper beds, either way, the experience centres on a communal dinner, traditional music around a fire, and a night sky essentially free of light pollution.
The camel trek out to camp, typically departing in the late afternoon to time arrival with sunset, takes about an hour or two depending on the specific camp's distance into the dunes, an uncomfortable but genuinely memorable way to arrive.
Recommended Stay · Merzouga · Erg Chebbi Dunes
Erg Chebbi Luxury Desert Camp
A private camp of furnished tents set among the dunes, with en-suite bathrooms, a shared dining tent, and camel treks included for arriving and departing guests.
