Erg Chebbi Merzouga: the dunes of the Sahara

In southeastern Morocco, where the asphalt ends and the desert begins to tell its own story, you will find the country’s best-known dunes. Erg Chebbi, the most famous and accessible dune field in the country, lies near the tiny village of Merzouga. Here the golden sands rise up to 150 meters high and their color changes with the daylight, from the soft gold of sunrise to the deep copper of sunset.

Getting to Erg Chebbi is not just a trip; it is a fundamental part of the experience. The drive from Fez or Marrakech can take around ten hours, but the route is full of unforgettable stops and contrasts. It is lined with adobe kasbahs, green oases and Berber villages, including iconic sites such as the Valley of Roses, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Gorges and the impressive Todra Gorges. All this turns the drive into a journey through the most genuine Morocco.

The excursion to Erg Chebbi can be done in 3 days and 2 nights, but it is best to take 4 days and 3 nights so that the journey is enjoyable and unhurried. Taking your time gives you the chance to explore the landscapes, stroll through small villages and understand how life adapts to the rhythm of the desert. In this case, the journey is just as important as the destination.

When you reach Merzouga, one of the most awaited experiences begins: the camel trek into the heart of the dunes. In the Sahara, the swaying of the camel, the vastness and the silence create a feeling of complete disconnection for nearly two hours. When night falls, the desert fills with soft colors and the sky fills with stars.

The camps in Erg Chebbi come in different styles and sizes, from the simplest to the most comfortable. The distant sounds of drums and Berber music, although camps are not usually completely isolated, do not break the magic; on the contrary, they enrich the experience with authenticity and life. The desert feels close and deeply human around the warmth of the fire, under a starry sky.

 One of the main advantages of Erg Chebbi is its strategic location, between Fez and Marrakech, which makes it an ideal stop on any itinerary through Morocco. More than a place you visit, Erg Chebbi is an experience you live: the calm of dawn, tea in good company and the feeling of being small before the vastness of the Sahara.