Camel trek · Merzouga
Two nights in the dunes, a sunset camel trek and a full day exploring the Merzouga region by 4x4.
One night in the desert is magical; two nights let you settle into its rhythm. This three-day experience combines a classic sunset camel trek with a second, unhurried day in the Sahara, so you see far more than the dunes around your camp.
On the first evening you ride into Erg Chebbi by camel and watch the sun set from the sand before arriving at camp for dinner and music around the fire. The second day begins with sunrise over the dunes, followed by a full-day 4x4 excursion through the Merzouga region: a palm oasis and its old irrigation channels, a seasonal lake, the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, the fossil-rich M'ifis mines and tea with a nomad family.
You return to camp in the afternoon with time to climb the dunes, try sandboarding and enjoy a second evening under the stars. On the last morning, after breakfast, a 4x4 brings you comfortably back to the village.
Best for: Desert lovers, photographers and travellers who want time to enjoy the camp as well as the wider Merzouga region.
Merzouga village · Erg Chebbi dunes · desert camp · About 1.5 hours by camel
On arrival at our guesthouse in Merzouga village, you can leave your car in our secure parking area, hand over any luggage you do not need and get ready for the desert. Pack a small bag for two nights; everything else stays safely with us.
Your camel trek sets off approximately two hours before sunset and takes around an hour and a half, following the soft ridges of Erg Chebbi as the light turns golden. Partway through, the caravan halts so you can watch the sun go down over the dunes, a sight that silences even the most talkative groups, before continuing to your camp in the heart of the Sahara.
A glass of Moroccan mint tea is waiting when you arrive, and you are shown to your private tent. Dinner is served in the evening, followed by traditional Berber music around the campfire beneath a sky crowded with stars. Join the dancing, try the drums yourself, or simply lean back and take in the stillness of the desert.
Desert camp · Hassi Labied · Dayet Srij · Khamlia · M'ifis · desert camp · Full-day 4x4 excursion
We recommend setting an early alarm: sunrise over the dunes is one of the most beautiful moments of the whole stay, and from the crest beside the camp you can watch the sand shift from grey to rose to gold. Breakfast is served afterwards.
A 4x4 then collects you for a full day discovering the Merzouga region. Begin in the oasis of Hassi Labied, where a network of narrow channels shares water between the palm gardens in the traditional way. Continue to Dayet Srij, a seasonal lake that fills after the rains and draws flamingos and other birds to the edge of the desert, then to Khamlia, whose musicians welcome you with a live performance of Gnawa music.
Around midday there is free time for lunch at a local restaurant in Khamlia. Lunch is not included, so you are free to choose what you like; the Berber pizza, a stuffed bread baked to order, is the local favourite.
The route carries on to the M'ifis mines, an abandoned site well known for its fossils and minerals, and to the tent of a Berber nomad family, where mint tea is poured and you can ask about daily life in the Sahara.
In the afternoon you return to the camp for your second night. There is time to climb the dunes for sunset and try sandboarding before dinner, and the evening ends once more with live music under the stars.
Desert camp · Merzouga village · Short 4x4 transfer
Enjoy a final morning in the dunes, with another chance to see the sunrise, then take a shower and a relaxed breakfast at camp.
Afterwards we transfer you by 4x4 from the camp to the meeting point in Merzouga village, where your car is waiting. You leave with two nights of desert memories and, very likely, a camera full of photographs.
Every tent is private. Pick the comfort level that suits you; tell us your choice when you book.
Private tents with their own en-suite bathroom, offering a good balance between comfort and the authentic feel of a Berber camp.
Spacious, elegantly furnished tents equipped with air conditioning and heating, so you stay cool on summer nights and warm in winter. Ideal for couples and families.
Most travellers arrive by car or on one of our private tours. By public transport, Supratours buses run daily from Marrakech (departing around 8:00 am, arriving around 9:00 pm) and overnight from Fes (departing around 7:00 pm, arriving around 6:00 am). Tell us your bus and we will meet you at the stop.
No. Our camps provide real beds, pillows and plenty of blankets in both the mid-range luxury and the luxury camp.
Yes. If you prefer not to ride, we offer a 4x4 transfer to and from the camp at no extra charge.
Yes. The camps run on solar power and have charging points for phones and cameras.
Both camps have private tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and comfortable bedding. The mid-range luxury camp offers a good balance between comfort and authenticity. The luxury camp adds air conditioning and heating in every tent, plus more spacious, elegantly furnished tents, so you stay comfortable on hot summer nights and cold winter ones.
Before you go
Where the dunes are, the best season to visit and what a night in Erg Chebbi is really like.
How to reach Erg Chebbi, what to do there and how to choose between a camel trek, a 4x4 day and a night in camp.
A practical packing list for medinas, mountains and a night in the Sahara, with what to wear in each season.
Related tours
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