Camel trek into the dunes
A 60–90 minute sway from the village out to camp, which we time for late afternoon so you arrive as the sand glows copper and the shadows stretch long.
Agadir, Morocco · 300 days of sunshine· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
Sahara & Merzouga, Morocco
The real Sahara: 150m dunes, camel caravans and candlelit camps beneath a sky crowded with stars, far out in Morocco's southeast.
Best time
October–April (avoid July–August)
Recommended
3 days minimum from Marrakech
Airport
Errachidia (ERH), then 2h drive
Region
Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
Why Sahara & Merzouga
This is the Morocco of the imagination, and the one our coastal guests travel furthest to reach: Erg Chebbi, a 22 km wall of orange dunes near the village of Merzouga, cresting up to 150 m above the flat hammada. It sits deep in the southeast, well past the range of any day trip from the beach — from Agadir it's a two-day overland haul east through Taroudant and the kasbah road, or up over the Tizi n'Tichka via Marrakech. So rather than rushing it, we build the dunes into a multi-night southern loop. The payoff is one of the most cinematic landscapes on earth and a night under canvas with Berber hosts, a long way from the surf.
What to see
Highlights of Sahara & Merzouga.
Luxury desert camp
Canvas suites with real beds and en-suite bathrooms, dinner by candlelight, and gnaoua drummers around the fire once the stars come out.
Sunrise climb to the high dune
Up before first light, a lung-burning haul up 150 m of soft sand, and the reward of the sun breaking over the Algerian frontier in silence.
Erg Chigaga (the wilder alternative)
Out west toward the side of the desert nearer Agadir, reached from M'Hamid only by 4x4 — emptier, fewer camps, harder to get to. The dunes for travellers who've already ticked off the easy ones.
Itineraries
1 tour that visit Sahara & Merzouga.
Every itinerary below is privately operated, fully customisable, and includes a deep stop in Sahara & Merzouga. Click any tour for the day-by-day plan, the map, dates and pricing.
Before you go
Practical notes.
- Getting there: A long overland run from Agadir — two days east via Taroudant and the kasbah road, or up via Marrakech and the Tizi n'Tichka. We split the drive across two days; a flight into Errachidia trims the final leg.
- What to pack: Layers (the nights bite even in summer, unlike the mild coast), a scarf against blowing sand, a headlamp and slip-on shoes.
- Connectivity: A flicker of mobile signal at the camp's edge and no Wi-Fi at most camps — switched off on purpose.
Concierge
Have your Sahara & Merzouga trip designed by a local
Tell us your dates, group size and pace. We'll send back a written proposal within 24 hours — private guides, transfers, riads, the lot.
Request a proposalFAQ
Sahara & Merzouga — common questions.
Can I reach the Sahara as a day trip from Agadir?+
No. The genuine dunes — Erg Chebbi and Chigaga — are a long overland journey out and need a three-day loop at minimum. If a single day is all you have from the coast, the nearest desert flavour is inland around Taroudant and the Anti-Atlas, but be clear that isn't the Sahara.
Is it too hot in summer?+
In July and August the deep south routinely tops 45°C and camps close or relocate — far hotter than the breeze-cooled Agadir coast. Aim for October to April; March and November are the sweet spots.
Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga?+
Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is the easier reach with more camps to choose from. Erg Chigaga, accessed from M'Hamid on the western flank of the desert closer to the Agadir side, is wilder and quieter and needs a 4x4 — the pick once you've already done the simpler dunes.
Read more
From the journal
Stories and practical guides to plan your time in Sahara & Merzouga and the wider Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco.
Closest destinations
Pair Sahara & Merzouga with.
These destinations are closest to Sahara & Merzouga — easily combined on a private itinerary.
32 kmTafilalt oasis · Drâa-Tafilalet
Rissani
East across the Anti-Atlas from the Souss — Rissani, the old Tafilalt caravan town at the gateway to Merzouga's dunes.
Explore
152 kmDrâa-Tafilalet · Todra Valley
Tinghir
The Todra valley gateway — a green oasis town under the southern Atlas, base for one of Morocco's most dramatic canyon walks.
Explore
171 kmPre-Sahara · Kasbah road
Dadès & Todra Gorges
Towering red canyons, palm oases and that famous switchback road — the dramatic core of the southern desert route.
Explore