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Orange sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, with tufts of grass in the hollows

Sahara & Merzouga, Morocco

Real Sahara: 150m dunes, camel caravans and luxury camps — the great onward journey from your Casablanca arrival.

Plan a Sahara & Merzouga trip

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Most travellers' image of Morocco is Erg Chebbi — a 22km field of orange dunes near the village of Merzouga, rising up to 150m above the surrounding hammada. The desert is the furthest reach from a Casablanca arrival, not a quick add-on: we usually have guests train south from Casablanca to Marrakech first, then drive over the Tizi n'Tichka pass through the Dadès and Todra gorges (about 9 hours, split over two days), or fly Casablanca to Errachidia and drive the final 2 hours. The reward is one of the most cinematic landscapes on the planet, and a night in a tented camp with Berber hosts.

434 km from Casablanca as the crow flies. Every dot is a place we go.
Best time
October–April (avoid July–August)
Recommended
5 days (4 nights) minimum; shorter on request
Airport
Errachidia (ERH), then 2h drive
Region
Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco

Highlights of Sahara & Merzouga.

  1. Camel trek into the dunes

    A 60–90 minute ride from the village to your camp, ideally timed for late afternoon when the dunes turn copper.

  2. Luxury desert camp

    Canvas suites with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, candlelit dinner and gnaoua musicians around the fire.

  3. Sunrise climb to the high dune

    Wake at 5:30, climb 150m of sand, watch the sun come up over Algeria.

  4. Erg Chigaga (the wilder alternative)

    Further south, accessed from M'Hamid by 4x4 — quieter, fewer camps, harder to reach. Our preferred option for repeat visitors.

Our Sahara & Merzouga tours.

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.

  1. 5 days · Written quote in 24h

    The silence of Chigaga

    Private 4x4 expedition to the quieter dunes south of Zagora. Three nights under canvas with Berber hosts.

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  2. 5 days · Written quote in 24h

    Erg Chebbi: the dunes in five days

    Camel ride to a luxury camp on the high dunes, gnaoua music around the fire, sunrise climb. Two camp nights inside a private five-day (four-night) desert trip; a single camp night, as a 3–4 day trip, is a custom request.

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Sahara & Merzouga — common questions.

Can I reach the Sahara quickly from Casablanca?
Not quickly — the real dunes (Erg Chebbi / Chigaga) are a long way from your Casablanca arrival, around two days of travel via Marrakech and the kasbah road. The fastest option is to fly Casablanca to Errachidia and drive 2 hours. For a short trip, the Agafay stone desert near Marrakech is a beautiful stand-in, though it is not the true Sahara.
Is it too hot in summer?
July–August daytime temperatures regularly exceed 45°C and camps close or move. October–April is the season; March and November are ideal.
Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga?
Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is more accessible and has more camp options. Erg Chigaga is wilder, quieter and requires 4x4 — better for travellers who've done the easier desert trips elsewhere.

Practical notes.

Getting there
From Casablanca: train to Marrakech then 9h drive over 2 days, or fly Casablanca → Errachidia + 2h.
What to pack
Layers (cold nights even in summer), scarf for blowing sand, headlamp, slip-on shoes.
Connectivity
Mobile signal at the camp edge, no Wi-Fi at most camps — by design.

Pair Sahara & Merzouga with.

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From the journal.

Stories, guides and practical tips to help you plan your time in Sahara & Merzouga and beyond.

Have your Sahara & Merzouga trip designed by a local

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