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.
Marrakech, MoroccoConcierge · 7 Days · 9–21H GMT+1
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Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
Sahara & Merzouga, Morocco
Real Sahara: 150m dunes, camel caravans, and luxury camps under more stars than you've ever seen.
Best time
October–April (avoid July–August)
Recommended
3 days minimum from Marrakech
Airport
Errachidia (ERH), then 2h drive
Region
Erg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
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. It's a 9-hour drive from Marrakech through the Tizi n'Tichka pass and the Dadès and Todra gorges (or a one-hour flight to Errachidia, then 2h drive). The reward is one of the most cinematic landscapes on the planet, and a night in a tented camp with Berber hosts.
What to see
Highlights of Sahara & Merzouga
Luxury desert camp
Canvas suites with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, candlelit dinner and gnaoua musicians around the fire.
Sunrise climb to the high dune
Wake at 5:30, climb 150m of sand, watch the sun come up over Algeria.
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.
Itineraries
11 tours 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.
5 daysBestsellerSahara
The Silence of Chigaga
A small private 4x4 expedition to the wilder, quieter dunes south of Zagora. Three nights under canvas with Berber hosts, one night in a kasbah, all driver-led.
from $1,240 4.9 · view →
1 daysSahara
One Night in Erg Chebbi
Camel ride to a luxury camp on the high dunes, gnaoua music around the fire, sunrise climb.
from $380 4.8 · view →
3 daysSahara
Zagora & the Draa Desert
Three days from Marrakech over the High Atlas and down the palm-fringed Draa Valley to the golden dunes south of Zagora — the most accessible edge of the Moroccan Sahara.
from $760 4.8 · view →
7 daysSignatureMulti-day
The Grand Tour — Seven Days
Our most comprehensive private circuit: Marrakech, High Atlas, Dades and Todra gorges, Merzouga Sahara dunes, and Fes — seven days, one dedicated driver, no compromises.
from $2,180 5 · view →
6 daysSignatureMulti-day
A Honeymoon in Morocco
A six-day private honeymoon circuit: two nights in a top-tier Marrakech riad, a night at a restored Atlas mountain lodge, a sunrise balloon flight, and two nights at a luxury desert camp in the Sahara — every detail curated for couples.
from $2,960 5 · view →
5 daysSmall groupMulti-day
Morocco Through the Lens
A five-day private circuit built around golden light: Aït Ben Haddou at dusk, the Dades gorge at first light, Todra at midday, and the Erg Chebbi dunes at dawn and sunset — driven by a guide who knows exactly where to position you.
from $1,560 4.9 · view →
10 daysBestsellerMulti-day
Full Morocco — Ten Days
The complete Morocco experience: Marrakech medina, High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou, Sahara dunes at Merzouga, Fes, Chefchaouen, and the Atlantic coast — ten days in one private vehicle with a dedicated driver-guide.
from $3,180 5 · view →
12 daysSignatureMulti-day
The Ultimate Morocco Grand Tour — 12 Days | Maison Atlas
Morocco's defining circuit from north to south: Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Sahara at Merzouga, High Atlas, Marrakech and the Atlantic coast — twelve days with one dedicated driver-guide and hand-picked accommodation throughout.
from $3,980 5 · view →
5 daysBestsellerMulti-day
Marrakech & Sahara Express — 5 Days | Maison Atlas
Five private days combining Marrakech's medina with a full Sahara experience at Erg Chebbi: High Atlas crossing, Aït Ben Haddou, camel ride, two nights in a luxury desert camp and a different route home through the Dades gorge.
from $1,380 4.9 · view →
4 daysPopularMulti-day
Fes & the Sahara — 4 Days | Maison Atlas
Four private days combining a full day in Fes el-Bali with a medieval historian, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, and two nights at a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes — the most dramatic short circuit in Morocco.
from $1,290 4.9 · view →
4 daysRareSahara
Sahara Luxury — Erg Chigaga & M'hamid | Maison Atlas
Four private days to Erg Chigaga — Morocco's most remote luxury dunes, 40km past the last paved road south of M'hamid. High Atlas crossing, Draa Valley palms, a night in Zagora, two nights at a solar-powered private camp in the deepest Sahara.
from $1,560 4.9 · view →
Before you go
Practical notes
- Getting there: 9h drive Marrakech → Merzouga (we split it over 2 days). Or fly to Errachidia.
- 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.
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 proposal →FAQ
Sahara & Merzouga — common questions
Can I do the Sahara as a day trip from Marrakech?+
No — the real dunes (Erg Chebbi / Chigaga) are 9 hours away. The closest 'desert' day trip is the Agafay stone desert, which is beautiful but not the 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.