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Merzouga Meet the locals

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From Merzouga: Overnight Camel Trek over Erg Chebbi Dunes

1. From Merzouga: Overnight Camel Trek over Erg Chebbi Dunes

Head into Morocco's Sahara Desert on a camel and watch the sun set over the Erg Chebbi Dunes. This overnight tour offers spectacular views and a chance to experience the desert nomad lifestyle. Eat a traditional Moroccan tagine, take part in a drum circle, and sleep in an authentic Berber tent. See pink flamingoes at an oasis near Merzouga, and search for desert reptiles and mammals as you trek. Day 1: Erg Chebbi Dunes– D Ride your camel over the dunes and view the stunning desert scenery. Enjoy a traditional desert welcome in the Berber tent where you will spend the night. Take a sunset camel ride, try sand boarding, and in the evening, enjoy a Moroccan campfire dinner and drum circle before falling asleep under the stars. Day 2: Erg Chebbi Dunes–B Watch the sunrise from Algeria as it catches the dunes, and enjoy a camp breakfast before heading back through the Erg Chebbi dunes to Merzouga.

Merzouga Overnight Stay in a Berber Tent and Camel Ride

2. Merzouga Overnight Stay in a Berber Tent and Camel Ride

Depart Merzouga, Rissani or the oasis town of Erfoud and travel by 4WD vehicle to a traditional Kasbah at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Depending on your time of arrival, rest with a refreshing mint tea. Then, follow your guide into the desert and ride a camel across the sands. Trek across the magnificent landscape watching the sunset as you go. Arrive at the desert camp after a camel trek of approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, your camels will be tethered as you drink some more mint tea. Enjoy a delicious dinner in the desert wilderness, and then sit around a camp fire to hear the beat of the drums and the songs of the Berber nomads of southern Morocco. Wake early in the morning and walk over the sand dunes to watch the sunrise from just behind the Algerian border, about 50 kilometers from Merzouga. Ride your camel back to the hotel, where you can relax with a shower and enjoy breakfast. Drive back to the bus station or your hotel in Rissani or Merzouga for the end of the tour services. 

From Marrakesh: 4-Day Private Atlas Mountains & Desert Tour

3. From Marrakesh: 4-Day Private Atlas Mountains & Desert Tour

Immerse yourself in the mountains and desert of Morocco with this 4-day guided trip from Marrakesh. See scenic landscapes, stay in a charming guest house and a desert camp, and tour the movie sets of Ouarzazate. An example of the itinerary you will follow: Day 1: Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Dades Valley Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation and you will set off on your 4 day adventure. Pass through the Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas mountains and from Marrakech to Ouarzazate you can enjoy the scenic route, the landscapes with changing colors and terrain and the Berber villages along the way. You will have free time to visit the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate and have lunch on site. Then, on to the green valley of Dadès and the valley of roses by the palm grove of Skoura. You will have dinner and stay overnight at a charming guest house in the valley. Day 2: Dades Valley, Todra Gorges, Dunes of Merzouga After breakfast, you will set off on the road to the 1000 Kasbahs, then check check out Tinghr with its magnificent palm groves. At Todra Gorge, the bravest explorers can trek along the canyon, 300 metres above the ground. Then continue towards Merzouga and the erg Chebbi dune in the Sahara desert. In the largest desert in the world, you can experience the sunset on the back of a camel as you ride towards the oasis where the camp is located. You may spend the night in the nomadic tents or under the stars and play music or sing along with the locals and become immersed in true nomadic culture. Day 3: Merzouga, Tazarine, Agdz, Ouarzazate Watch the sunrise over the dunes of erg Chebbi, followed by breakfast in the camp. Return to a hostel via camel trek for a quick shower then drive to Rissani, a small town in southern Saharan Morocco where you can stop to visit a fossil workshop, before continuing to the junction of the Drâa and Agdz valley. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and hotel stay in Ouarzazate. Day 4: Ouarzazate, Aït ben Haddou, Telouet, Marrakech Go on a tour of the movie sets and studios located in Ouarzazate: the "Hollywood of Africa". Visit the Ksar of Aït ben Haddou, a world heritage site. Aït ben Haddou has been used to date as a backdrop for more than twenty films, including "Gladiator", "Indiana Jones "and" Lawrence of Arabia ". Take advantage of this walk through the area to admire the traditional architecture of the kasbahs. Continue on home to Marrakech through the mountains.

From Marrakech: Private 3-Day Desert Trip to Merzouga

4. From Marrakech: Private 3-Day Desert Trip to Merzouga

Discover the edge of the Sahara Desert on a 3-day budget tour from Marrakech. Explore the dramatic landscapes of the Dades Valley and the Kasbah of Ourzazate. Ride across the dunes of Erg Chebbi by camel and sleep at a desert camp surrounded by high sand dunes. • Day 1: Marrakech - Boumalne Dades Following an early pickup from your hotel in Marrakech, travel across the High Atlas Mountains to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ait Ben Haddou. See the fortified Kasbah, used as a location set for some famous Hollywood epics, such as Lawrence of Arabia. Enjoy some time in the Kasbah before driving to Ouarzazate, known as the Gate of the Sahara. Following lunch, continue to the Boumalne Dades via the Valley of the Roses. Upon arrival at Boumalne Dades, take the back roads through the Dades Canyons, passing stunning rock formations and fortified Kasbahs along the Dades River. Continue to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. • Day 2: Boumalne Dades - Erg Chebbi Following breakfast at your hotel, drive the Road of 1001 Kasbahs to the small oasis town of Tinghir. Continue through the dramatic Todgha Gorges, pausing for some free time to explore the canyons and enjoy lunch at a local café. Continue to Merzouga to meet your camel caravan. Then, experience the Erg Chebbi dunes on camel-back and watch the sunset change the color of the sand. Reach your desert camp before nightfall and enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner under the stars. Local nomads will provide entertainment and show you how to play the tam tam drums. • Day 3: Erg Chebbi - Marrakech Wake early to watch the sunrise before breakfast. Then, ride your camel back to the main road. Your driver will be waiting to pick you up for the transfer back to Marrakech. Stop half-way for lunch in Ouarzazate.

Marrakech to Merzouga: 3-Day Private Tour with Camel Riding

5. Marrakech to Merzouga: 3-Day Private Tour with Camel Riding

Day 01: Marrakech - Art Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Todra Gorges Start your Marrakech adventure bright and early with a convenient pick-up from your Marrakech located hotel. After a short meet and greet with your driver you will be on your to your first location. Cross the High Atlas Mountains until you reach the Tizi N Tichka's pass (2250 meter altitude). Continue on until you reach the Kasbah of Alt Ben Haddou, here you will marvel at the unique looking desert villages. Visit the magnificent Ksar (selected as a heritage listed site by UNESCO) before continuing on to Ouarzazate. In Ouarzazate you will have the chance to stroll through Taourirt. After your sightseeing you will continue on your travel until you reach Todra Gorges, here you will settle in for a relaxing sleep overnight and enjoy dinner under the stars.  Day 02: Todra Gorges - Erfoud - Merzouga Dunes Depart in the morning for day two of your adventure. Start your day by taking a short drive to the Merzouga dunes and witness an outstanding and picturesque natural occurrence. Enjoy a drive to the Palmeraie area, dotted with thousands of Palm Trees. Visit Todra Gorges and witness the breathtaking, panoramic views of the steep gorges that sweep across the desert landscape. Once you have finished walking amongst the gorges you will pass through Tinejdad and Erfoud until you reach Rissani where you will enjoy a lunch. After lunch you will be taken to visit the tomb of King of Alaouit (belonging to the current royal family).  Next you will visit Merzouga, where an exciting camel ride over the dunes of Erg Chebbi awaits you. Whilst on the back of a camel you will be able to marvel at the Sunset as it falls behind the dunes. Pitch a tent in the evening and spend the night under the desert night sky.  Day 03: Merzouga - Rissani - Nqob - Tammougalte - Ouarzazate - Marrakech After you have enjoyed a delicious breakfast, you will depart back to Marrakech on an alternative route. On the way you will stop by new locations you have not yet seen.  Drive through the Draa valley in Nqob. Pass through a desert landscape that many of the locals consider to be mysterious. As you drive through it you will get to see the beautiful Oases that seem to survive in this harsh habitat. Before reaching your final destination in Marrakech you will stop in Ouarzazate and enjoy a delicious lunch with panoramic views. After your lunch you will be returned to your accomodation in Marrakech. 

From Merzouga: Private 4x4 Dunes Tour incl. lunch

6. From Merzouga: Private 4x4 Dunes Tour incl. lunch

Start your visit to the area around Merzouga and the land of the Ait Khebbach tribe with pick-up from your accommodation in a spacious and comfortable 4x4 vehicle. Start your desert exploration with a visit to the village of Khamlia. Here, you'll enjoy the inhabitants' music and dance, and have the opportunity to try their instruments and learn to play some desert music of your own! Cross desert plateaus far away from concrete roads and visit a Berber family in their tent for lunch. Learn how they live in their tents with goats, sheep and working donkeys, as well as how to prepare a Berber pizza on the fire. Enjoy this delicious communal meal in their home. Afterwards, take a 4x4 down a gravel road to the Lake of Merzouga (also named Lake Tamezguida), which appears seasonally from November to May during the rainy season in  Middle Atlas. This is the best spot to see desert birds, and sometimes even flamingos! Return to your accommodation in Merzouga in the afternoon.

From Marrakech: 3-Days Private Desert Tour

7. From Marrakech: 3-Days Private Desert Tour

Embark on a three-day tour from Marrakech through the beautiful scenery of southern Morocco. This journey passes through many interesting towns and villages, where you will get a look into authentic Moroccan life. Sleep in authentic nomad tents or under the stars. Day one: Marrakech - Tisi n'Tichka - Ait Ben Hadou - Ouarzazat - Skoura - Rose Valley Distance: 180 miles  Depart Marrakech and drive through the High Atlas Mountains, via the twisting Tizi n’ Tichka mountain pass to Ouarzazate. Visit the exotic Casbah of Aït Benhaddou, then continue to Ouarzazate center, where you can tour the Atlas Studios, the largest movie studio in Africa.  Enjoy lunch at the Casbah of Tourirt, the former residence of the Glaoui Dynasty. Continue to Rose Valley and the Casbah of Amerhidil in Skoura, situated by the Amerhidil River and one of the largest in Morocco. Settle in for the night in Rose Valley. Day two: Rose valley - Boumalen Dadès – Tinghir – Todra Gorge – Arfoud – Merzouga Dunes Distance: 167 miles After breakfast, depart for the Dadès Gorges and stop to enjoy the spectacular scenery while sipping on mint tea, also known as “Berber Whiskey.” Continue to Tinghir via Boulman Dadès, and see beautiful palm trees and lush landscapes. The journey then moves on the Todra Gorges for a leisurely lunch. After lunch, drive to Merzouga to trek by camel across the wind-blown Erg Chebbi Dunes, and to experience a classic Saharan desert straight from the picture books. Spend the evening in a bivouac (camp) with a typical Moroccan dinner. Sleep in a traditional nomadic tent in the dunes of Erg Chebbi under the stars. Day three: Erg Chebbi - Marrakech Distance: 347 miles Wake up early for the sunrise and a mint tea before a camel ride to a casbah hotel for breakfast and a shower. Then, return through the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, where your adventure ends.

2 Days 1 Night Desert Trip from Fes Group or Private

8. 2 Days 1 Night Desert Trip from Fes Group or Private

On this guided overnight trip, experience the wonders of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert as you journey from Fez. Travel through the stunning natural beauty of the mountains and sandy dunes. Enjoy a unique immersion experience with a camel trek and Berber campfire dinner. Day 1 : A night in the Sahara Desert from Fes - Atlas Begin your tour bright and early on the first day and enjoy convenient pickup from your hotel or riad. From there, ride in comfort to the town of Ifrane, built by the French in the 1930s and known as Morocco's Switzerland. Pause here and admire the quaint architecture and enchanting atmosphere. Continue onwards through the large cedar forests around the Berber village of Azrou, or "The Rock" in the local Berber dialect. Here, the famous Barbary apes, or macaques, may attempt to partake in your lunch as you sit in their natural habitat. Breathe in the fresh cedar while you snack. Next, pass through the Atlas Mountains, which are said to hold up the sky. Forested peaks, twisting mountain streams, and steep rock walls decorate your drive to Rissani. Then, once you've reached the edge of the Sahara, continue on southwards to Merzouga. As dusk sets in, set out with your camel on a ninety-minute trek through the unforgettable, shifting desert sands of the Sahara. Arrive at a traditional Berber encampment and settle in for the evening. While you relax, enjoy an authentic Moroccan feast and marvel at the brilliant stars above. Day 2 : Sahara Desert– Middle Atlas Mountains - Fes The next morning, wake up to a breathtaking sunrise and enjoy the sights of the dawn breaking over the sandy dunes. Next, you will drive back to Fes or direct transfer to Marrakech.

Other Sightseeing Options in Merzouga

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What people are saying about Merzouga

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 250 reviews

Perfect trip for first time travelers to Morocco, ideal to get a taste of the country outside the main cities. The trip will take you from the Atlas Mountains, through inner valleys and gorges to the very far desert. You will see a great variety of climates and landscapes changing before your eyes as you head toward Merzouga. Personally, we especially enjoyed Ait Ben Haddou, Todra and the magical experience of the camel ride at sunset and sunrise in the desert - a highlight of the experience, highly recommended! Our guide Ali was exceptionally friendly, kind and so insightful on all the aspects of the lifestyle, traditions and culture of the Berber communities. He helped us navigating through the souks and gave great recommendations along the way for future trips to Morocco. We were delighted to meet him and have him as our guide and friend for journey. We loved every stop along the way and wish it could have lasted longer. Until next time!

We have just returned from a 4-day trip to the Merzouga desert with our guides Hassan and Said, very good people who made our trip very pleasant to the rhythm of Berber music (although we could choose another music if we wanted). The desert landscapes are beautiful, the accommodations very different from each other and in general it has been a satisfactory experience. Driving in Morocco is quite different from European countries, Said and Hassan handle the roads well. We recommend this trip for those who like the desert landscape and don't mind spending several hours a day in the car :)

A 4 day tour, in which you can see many beautiful places. Hassan was our guide, Yassin our driver. Both very helpful and friendly, they help you with everything and make sure you don't have to arrange anything yourself. As a result, we had a very nice experience. Riads were good and clean and the food was delicious. It was an unforgettable tour, highly recommended! Hassan and Yassin, thank you so much for everything!

Hassan was the perfect guide and we loved this private tour to discover the beauties of Marocco! It was the most exquisite experience and we are recommending it to our friends.

Excellent, interesting, a great trip. Very cold in the desert... Thank you! T