Merzouga — The Gateway to Erg Chebbi

Everything you need to know about Merzouga, Morocco: how to get there, the Erg Chebbi dunes, best time to visit, things to do, where to stay, and desert tours.

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Written by Hassan, host at Hotel Les Roches Merzouga — hosting Sahara travellers since 2004.

Merzouga is a small village in south-east Morocco that has become the country's most famous desert destination — and for one reason: it sits at the foot of Erg Chebbi, a sea of orange dunes rising up to 150 metres from the desert floor. This is the Sahara of the imagination, and it's far easier to reach than most people expect.

How to get to Merzouga

Most travellers reach Merzouga overland on a tour: roughly 9 hours' drive from Marrakech (usually over 2–3 days via Ait Ben Haddou and the gorges) or about 7–8 hours from Fes via the Ziz Valley. The nearest airport is Errachidia (ERH). See our Marrakech and Fes desert tours, or read how to get to Merzouga.

Best time to visit Merzouga

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal — warm days, cool nights. Winter is quiet and cold after dark with superb stargazing; July–August is very hot at midday. More in our best time to visit guide.

Top things to do

Camel trek into the dunes, sleep at a luxury desert camp, take a 4x4 excursion to nomad families and fossil fields, hear Gnawa music in Khamlia, and watch the sunrise over the dunes. Full list: 10 things to do in Merzouga.

Where to stay

Merzouga has everything from simple guesthouses to desert camps. Our own Hotel Les Roches Merzouga sits right at the dunes with a pool, and we run the desert camps and tours ourselves.