This article covers everything you need to know if you plan to visit Merzouga and the Sahara desert in Morocco. You’ll find information on how to get to the Merzouga desert village and where to stay, to free activities and things to do on a budget, including a desert trip and staying in a luxury camp in Erg Chebbi in Morocco.
Who has never dreamed of sleeping in the Sahara cozily nestled between sand dunes while looking at the stars?
The desert has always inspired me and when I was young, I often imagined myself riding camels between the sand dunes of some far away country. I dreamed of sleeping under the stars in the desert while drinking tea next to a campfire.
Merzouga in the southern region of Morocco was the perfect place for me to live all of these fantasies. It’s a small town in the Sahara desert in Morocco, not too far from the Algerian border. It’s known as the door to erg chabbi, a huge stretch of sand dunes south of town.
Merzouga is such an iconic place to visit in Morocco that it’s considered one of the best destinations in the country!
I was there five years ago and couldn’t resist visiting this charming little village once more this year. I pitched my tent in the desert, got lost between the dunes, drank plenty of tea and saw more camels than I could imagine.
The best part is that it was super easy to get there and I did all of these activities without spending a fortune. If you want to experience the beauties of the Sahara desert without breaking your piggy bank, this is the place to visit.
THINGS TO DO IN ERG CHEBBI, THE MERZOUGA DESERT IN MOROCCO
Merzouga is a calm and quiet town in the Sahara, yet it offers a surprisingly big amount of cool fun activities.
The best time of the year to visit Merzouga is in spring between the months of March and May, or in fall between the months of September and November.
During these periods, the weather isn’t too hot and you’ll be able to enjoy your time in the desert much more. The temperature in summer reaches highs of 40°C (104°F ) and it rarely drops below 26.7°C (80°F) at night.
Regardless of the time of the year you visit Merzouga, always cover your head to avoid getting sunstroke. Sun protection is vital.
It could be a good idea to cover yourself with a wide-brimmed hat or a bandana. To avoid losing a lot of water through sweat, a good clothing option to spend time in the desert are light-colored long-sleeve shirts and pants.
Make sure to always drink plenty of water while you visit the desert. The general rule is to drink at least a gallon a day—and you should double that amount if you are going on long walks.
No matter what time of the year you visit this village (although I wouldn’t recommend summertime, it’s just way too hot then), you’ll always find plenty of cool things to do.
Here is a small list of super fun activities you can do in Merzouga, whether you are a budget traveler like us or whether you prefer to travel a bit more luxuriously. Since Merzouga is the perfect place to do many free activities, I really encourage you to try these first.
- SPEND THE NIGHT CAMPING IN THE MERZOUGA DESERT
This is, in my opinion, one of the best free activities to do in Merzouga. For a lot of people, camping means hiking to the heart of a lush forest, perhaps near a pristine alpine lake or on the shores of a fast-flowing river.
Many imagine the desert as a vast and arid place where they would never pitch their tent. It’s true that the desert can be quite inhospitable, however, that’s not the whole picture.
I witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets in my life right from the side of my tent in the desert of Merzouga. Seeing the sun gradually disappear between the dunes while it paints the arid landscape with warm shades of colors was quite a spectacle.
Dawn in the desert is also a beautiful sight, as the sun’s first rays begin to diminish the night chill and you feel the air warming up.
Camping in this Moroccan desert is a really fun experience but it does require a bit of planning. Make sure you have a good tent, a thick floor mattress ( the desert sand becomes cold as ice at night) and a warm sleeping bag.
The temperature in the desert cools down very quickly at night so if you want to sleep well it’s important to have warm layers under and over your body.
- WALK TO THE HIGHEST DUNE OF ERG CHEBBI
The desert near Merzouga is known as Erg Chebbi. It’s a large area filled with sand dunes south of Merzouga.
Out of all the sand dunes that can be seen from the village, one particularly stands out. It’s much higher than all the rest of the desert and looks like a huge mountain of sand.
Reaching the top of this dune from the center of town takes about one hour. Be aware that climbing in the sand is not so easy, so bring a lot of water with you and avoid going there around noon.
The best moment to go there is right before sunset. Watching the sun slowly disappearing over the horizon from the top of this dune is a spectacular sight and makes the long and strenuous climb really worth it.
recommend you bring a blanket with you if you go at that time as the temperature will drop very quickly the moment the sun disappears.
- WATCH THE STARS IN THE SAHARA DESERT
There is no better place to admire the stars than in the desert itself.
Since Merzouga is a small town, the sand dunes around it receive almost no light pollution, making this a prime stargazing location.
I was amazed by how clear the milky way appeared above us and how bright and big the stars seemed to be. It was a really soothing experience to see millions of lights above us in all directions and the best part is that it was completely free.
If you would like to admire the stars through the lens and optics of a powerful telescope in Merzouga, there is a company that can help you do just that!!
This company is called Morocco terrific trips and they organize awesome trips to the desert where you can watch the stars from their telescopes.
- WATCH CAMELS AND FLAMINGOS AT THE SALT LAKE IN MERZOUGA
As we were hitchhiking towards Merzouga, a few Moroccan drivers told us we would be able to see flamingos next to this southern village. Flamingos in the desert!? I couldn’t believe what I was hearin
I thought it would be impossible to find a lake (and birds) in such an arid location. But we found the lake and it was surrounded by herds of camels that were there to refresh themselves in the cool wate
The lake is called Dayet Srji and it’s located West of Merzouga. It can easily be reached by walking and it takes about 45 minutes to get there on foot from the village.
The lake is often dry in summer but when full (usually during winter), it attracts all kinds of migratory and desert birds including flamingos (unfortunately, we didn’t see them while we were there).
Dayet Srji is also a great place to watch the sunset and many Moroccan families will spend the winter evenings on the shores of this lake having a picnic with their loved ones.
- GO ON A SUNSET CAMEL RIDE IN THE SAHARA DESERT
There are various companies in Merzouga offering camel rides throughout the whole day and they are generally not too expensive
For travelers who are fascinated with the ancient African camel caravans, this is the perfect opportunity to feel like a nomad for a couple of hours.
Although these treks are possible during the whole day, the best time is at sunset. Short camel rides to the desert that do not include overnight camping in a luxury camp are relatively cheap
They start at around 17 USD per person for two hours with a private guide.
Most of these local companies advertise online so you can compare prices and reviews:
These short camel rides can also be super romantic so it’s a great activity to do if you are traveling with your significant other.
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GO SANDBOARDING IN THE DESERT
If you want to discover the desert in a more “alternative” way and get covered in sand in the process, you should try sandboarding. Although this activity looks at first glance as something that could be dangerous, it’s actually super safe.
The sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga are really soft so you shouldn’t fear falling down. This is also a great activity to do with kids but make sure to cover your eyes with goggles to avoid getting sand in them.
Imagine the thrill of sliding down a dune at full speed while standing on a board. This is what we did in Merzouga with other travelers that were staying in our hostel and we had such an awesome day.
There are some tents near the entrance of the desert where you can rent boards for the price of 100 MAD for the whole day. There is also a shop directly on the main street in town next to the mosque where you can rent sandboards for 50 MAD per day.
- ENJOY A THRILLING 4×4 RIDE IN ERG CHEBBI
Although this activity is not as traditional as riding a camel through the dunes, nothing beats the feeling of zooming up and down through the desert in an off-road vehicle.
The guides operating in Merzouga are all quite young but don’t let their youthful appearance fool you. These guys are all very experienced guides and they know the desert like the back of their hands.
It’s possible to go on a short 2-hour trip in a 4×4 or go on a full-day trip with a private guide to some nearby Berber villages and then to the dunes.
This day trip is a great choice because it gives you the chance to discover traditional Berber music and dance, and have the opportunity to try their instruments and learn to play some desert music of your own!
You’ll also get to visit a Berber family in their tent for lunch. You’ll learn how they live in their tents with their goats, sheep and working donkeys, as well as how to prepare a Berber pizza on the fire.
- LISTEN TO TRADITIONAL GNAWA MUSIC IN KHAMLIA
The Gnawa are an ethnic group inhabiting Morocco and they have some of the most beautiful traditional music you will hear while visiting the country.
The ancestors of the Gnawa people were brought from Central and West Africa as slaves through the Sahara desert in caravans that eventually arrived in the southeastern part of Morocco.
One village where you can discover this culture is Khamlia. It’s located just 7 km south of Merzouga. The town itself is quite small with a population of 390 people of Gnawa and Berber origins. Khamlia is located right next to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
It’s possible to reach the village by shared taxi or to drive there if you have your own car. There are two Gnawa musical groups that receive tourists and play music for them in Khamlia.
One of the two groups is called Bambara and the other group is called Pigeon des Sables. You can go anytime you want and you don’t need to reserve in advance. They have signs on the side of the road advertising their business and they will play for you even if you are alone.
Although they don’t ask for money, it’s a nice gesture to give them some if you enjoyed the music and you can also buy a CD to support them and help them continue sharing their culture with the world.
- GO ON A LUXURY DESERT CAMP TRIP IN MERZOUGA
