Erg Chebbi
The dune field beside Merzouga, up to roughly 150 metres high, best at sunrise and sunset.
South-east Morocco · Erg Chebbi and the desert south
Sahara Desert
The reason the whole journey exists.
Why travellers come
Visiting Sahara Desert
The Moroccan Sahara begins where the Atlas foothills flatten out into stone desert, and it becomes what most people picture at Erg Chebbi, the dune sea beside Merzouga. That is where our circuits spend the night.
A desert night is quiet in a way that is hard to describe: no traffic, no light pollution, and a temperature drop that makes a fire welcome even after a hot day. It is worth arranging your route so you arrive with daylight to spare.
You can reach real dunes, sleep among them and be back in a city within two or three days — few deserts in the world are this accessible.
Travel information
- Best months
- October to April for comfortable daytime temperatures
- Nights
- Cold in winter — a warm layer is essential
- Access
- 2 days from Marrakech, 1 long day from Fes
- Alternative
- 4x4 transfer to camp if you prefer not to ride a camel
Main attractions
What to see in Sahara Desert
The places worth your time, and roughly how they fit into a day on the road.
Desert camps
From traditional Berber tents to en-suite luxury camps with hot showers, real beds and dinner served under the stars.
Camel caravans
The classic one-hour trek into the dunes, still the calmest way to arrive at camp.
Nomad and oasis life
Families still herd and move seasonally in this region; the road in passes wells, palm groves and small ksour.
Best experiences
- Sunset camel trek to a camp inside the dunes
- Drums and tea around the fire after dinner
- Sandboarding down a dune face
- Sunrise from the highest ridge near camp
Tours that go there
Private tours including Sahara Desert
Each route below is private, flexible and led by our own driver-guides.
