A night in the Erg Chebbi desert
Near Merzouga, the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise up to 150 metres above the hamada and stretch for about 28 km from north to south. Camel trips lead to permanent camps for the night.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Merzouga, on the western edge of the dunesErg Chebbi (Wikipedia)
- GPS coordinates
- 31.16667, -3.98333Erg Chebbi (Wikipedia)
- Duration
- One night in a camp among the dunesErg Chebbi (Wikipedia)
- Best season
- October to April, when temperatures are milderErg Chebbi (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
Bring enough water and avoid walking in the dunes in the midday heat.
Merzouga (Wikivoyage)Choose a licensed camp: the authorities closed unlicensed camps in 2019.
Merzouga (Wikipedia)Overnight buses sometimes arrive more than an hour early, before sunrise.
Merzouga (Wikivoyage)
Plan the trip
Our recommended partners
One link per need, chosen for reliability. Prices and availability are the partner’s, in a new tab.
Keep exploring
Morocco
Climbing Toubkal from Imlil
At 4,167 m, Toubkal is the highest peak in North Africa, 63 km south of Marrakesh.
The Jardin Majorelle
The painter Jacques Majorelle began planting this Marrakech garden with species from all over the world in 1922.
The ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou
In the province of Ouarzazate, this ksar packs its earthen houses behind walls reinforced by corner towers.
Sources · 3 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Erg Chebbi (Wikipedia)
In places, the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise to 150 meters from the surrounding hamada (rocky desert) and altogether span an area of approximately 28 kilometers from north to south and 5–7 kilometers from east to west lining the Algerian border. Many companies offer camel trips into the dunes, taking tourists on overnight trips to permanent campsites on the outer sections of the erg. The most favorable time to visit Erg Chebbi is typically between October and April, when temperatures are milder and conditions are more suitable for camel trekking and desert excursions.
- Merzouga (Wikipedia)
Local authorities have taken measures to regulate tourism activities, including closing unlicensed desert camps in 2019 due to concerns over waste disposal, water usage, and infrastructure sustainability.
- Merzouga (Wikivoyage)
Beware that overnight buses may sometimes arrive more than an hour early, putting you in Merzouga before sunrise. It's fairly small and easily walkable, but you'll likely want to avoid the midday heat. Bring enough water!
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.