Suggested Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Erg Chebbi Camel Treks
Merzouga Excursions and Camel Trekking
Erg Chebbi camel treks with a desert guide, to sleep in a nomad tent at a desert camp with dinner served under the stars, are included on our Morocco Desert tours from Marrakech, Fes, Marrakech to Fes and Fes to Marrakech. Erg Chebbi camel trekking options, as part of a desert tour, include 1 night, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or 5 days and longer.
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Tours of Morocco that include the Erg Chebbi sand dunes at Merzouga are a popular choice for independent travellers including family tours. Erg Chebbi camel treks at sunset, into the tall sandy dunes, are the highlight of desert tours and you have the option of a night in a desert camp or a hotel with pool at the dune line.
If you prefer not to drive in Morocco, our organized 4x4 desert tours and Sahara excursions run daily from Marrakech, Fes, Marrakech to Fes, Fes to Marrakech, Casablanca or elsewhere on request. Your local Moroccan driver will pick you up in a private Toyota Land Cruiser to transport you across the High Atlas and through rose-filled valleys in Spring, along oasis valley gorges and past one thousand Kasbahs for a sunset camel trek across the sandy dunes of the Erg Chebbi.
Quick Links for Sahara Desert Trips and Morocco Camel Treks
- The Erg Chebbi Dunes at Merzouga
- How to reach the Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- The Desert Village of Merzouga
- What to do and What to see in Merzouga
- Sand-boarding, Dune-boarding and Quad Biking
- 1 Night Overnight Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi– What to Expect
- Organised Sahara Desert Trips with Erg Chebbi Camel Treks
- Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment Options
- Testimonials
The Erg Chebbi Dunes at Merzouga
Of all the deserts in Morocco, the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga is one of the highest and most easily accessible because the paved road runs all the way to the base of dunes. Although the sand sea looks quite small and distinct on the map, it is worth noting that this is relative to the enormity of the Sahara desert. The Sahara is the only true desert to be found along the 0° meridian line and also happens to be world's largest. It covers most of North Africa, more than a third of the continent, and an area roughly the same size as the United States of America. It is a desert of extraordinary beauty and variety; all the standard desert landscape types are present from great fields of shifting sand dunes to vast plains filled with rocks.
How to reach the Erg Chebbi sand dunes at Merzouga
Merzouga can be reached in a rental car or with public transport as there is a paved/surfaced road between Rissani and Merzouga. However, to reach the small hotels along the dune line does mean crossing a section of unpaved road (piste) and this should be approached with care in a small car.
If you have limited time, and prefer not to drive in Morocco, then hiring a 4x4 and driver is a relaxed way to travel. On a 4x4 tour, with an experienced local driver who knows the routes, it is possible to avoid the busy tourist routes and travel off-road across unsurfaced roads (pistes/off-road) to experience the hospitality and traditional lifestyle of the Berbers.
The Desert Village of Merzouga
Merzouga is a sizeable, and growing, desert village with a palmerie and gardens where crops are grown e.g. dates, cereals, mint and alfalfa. Close by are two seasonal lakes, a favourite spot for migrating birds in Spring, when Dayet Srji flamingos can often be seen.
For most of the year it is a sleepy place where young men make a living by guiding tourists to local hotels or selling fossils that are locally mined and polished. There is, however, another side to this sleepy village and, in the summer months, it fills with Moroccans who come here to bathe in the sand. Sand bathing is a traditional treatment for rheumatism and arthritis and, along with the sand bathers, come the street traders and Merzouga transforms into a bustling desert experience.
Merzouga Tours - What to do and see in Merzouga
- Search for a fossil in the fossil beds near Erfoud
- Listen to Gnawa musicians and whirl to the rhythms of the desert
- Visit Merzouga to watch the world pass by as you drink tea in the Sahara
- Visit the Souk in Rissani and the Apothecary for spices & saffron
- One night in the desert tours to sleep in a nomad tent at a desert camp
- Overnight camel treks to a desert camp with a desert camel guide
- Walk through palmerie gardens where crops are grown
- Visit the seasonal lakes, perhaps see flamingos in spring
- 4x4 landrover safaris to explore the Erg Chebbi sand dunes
Sand-boarding, Dune-boarding and Quad Biking
Boards for sand-boarding and dune-boarding are available for local hire.
Quad bikes are available for local hire in Merzouga although you are encouraged not to disturb other people who may be visiting the desert for peace and tranquility.
1 Night Overnight Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi – What to Expect
Meet you guide and camels in the late afternoon to set off, with the bare essentials for your ‘one night under the stars in the desert’ camel trek trek - travel light and leave the rest of your luggage safely stored behind you. Mounting a camel is unusual because camel legs have double joints so initially you are thrown forward (there is a bar to hold) and then backwards as the camel stands up.
Set off on your sunset camel trek across the sandy dunes with your expert guide. On arrival at the desert camp and your nomad tent, traditionally made of thick goat and camel hair, the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served while an evening meal is prepared and served under the stars. After dinner it is usual for the camel guides to drum and sing Berber songs.
Wake early to watch the sunrise and, with the camels re-loaded, trek back across the dunes - or continue camel trekking with your desert guide for another day or days.
Organised Sahara Desert Trips with Erg Chebbi Camel Treks
Organised Sahara trips and tours, customised to suit your dates and timescales, run from Marrakech, Fes, Marrakech to Fes, Fes to Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier or elsewhere on requests. Tours can start and end in the same city e.g. Marrakech to Marrakech or we can drop you off in another city e.g. Marrakech to Fes. Because of the distance and drive times to reach the Erg Chebbi dunes i.e. 10 hours from Marrakech, we recommend a minimum of 4 days for a desert tour so that you can travel at a more comfortable pace and have time to see the many sites of interest along the route.
For more on Morocco Desert Tours: 'Morocco Sahara Trips and Camel Treks'
Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment
Please refer to: 'Private Morocco Tours - Pricing'
Testimonials
To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Testimonials'
