//
Place in Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco
Photo: Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Merzouga is a village in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, on the edge of Erg Chebbi, a set of sand dunes about 28 km long and 5 km wide that reach up to about 150 m above the plain and 808 m above sea level.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Hike the dune
Even though there is not a single liquor store around to buy a decent wine for such a great show and view, it is still worth sitting on the Grand Dune and watching the surrounding area and sun set.
Instead of dropping hundreds of dirham for a remote camping experience with an all so fake looking headscarf, why not just stay on top of the dunes yourself after the sun has set? Bring a sleeping bag, the sand is quite soft. Also, bring water and leave nothing but footprint.
From where Merzouga ends in the south it is basically just 5 km straight across the dune from west to east to reach the other side of the dune. If you feel bored, simply hike over to the other side, north by the Grand Dune, visit the setup camps on the other side and head back afterwards. Bring enough water!
This does not seem to have become a trend yet. Nevertheless, some accommodations have skiers for rent, try Dar Gamra. Otherwise, maybe you are lucky and find a snowboard. Or, a relative strong and smooth plastic "slide" that you can properly hold fix with your hands does the trick while going down the dune. Head for the Grand Dune with the steepest and highest slopes.
It is also possible to tour the dunes on ATVs. However, it is not as much fun as it might sound at first. You are basically following a guide and can not go bananas with your rented quad. If the latter is more of you taste, try to find a regular ATV rental and go on your own from there. On the way towards Merzouga there seem to be some regular rentals.
Many tourist that come here with their own or rented motorbikes or 4WD go right into the dunes for a little fun. Some discourage this touring, but touring the dunes on a camel is neither more authentic nor worth more protection.
A 2 hour drive that includes a ride with a 4WD onto the dunes, visit to a local village (and probably shop of a cousin), and a visit of the Dayet Srij lake with the impressive dunes in the back.
Arrange lunches at Haven La Chance Desert Hotel, either at the hotel or in the desert itself. A popular item is pizza cooked in the sand as the nomads do.
Family Morrocon House
A decent house, rated pretty well. The owner is relaxed and not too pressuring about selling you anything and you could just stay around, use that WiFi and wait for the heat to vanish in the afternoon. They apparently also have their own camel tour.
A locally-owned and -operated traditional Kasbah hotel five minutes' walk from the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. The hotel has a roof terrace and provides food for their guests from their kitchen. They also organise a wide range of excursions in the area, including desert camping and camel treks. Free pickup for reserved guests from the local bus stop. English, French, and Spanish are spoken.
This is the nearest hotel to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, and offers 42 rooms, a restaurant, snack bar, bar, terrace, swimming pool, bivouac and provides excursions by 4x4 or camel.
Located right on the edge of the dunes, offering single, double and triple rooms.
35 rooms. Children's activities, restaurant, room service, shuttle bus service, swimming pool, airport transportation
Clean hotel in an oasis at the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes run by flexible staff. Swimming pool, restaurant, free parking, and a variety of accommodation options including camping under palm trees. Camel safaris and various trips around the area can be arranged.
Spotless, very friendly French/English/German-speaking staff, great meals (tajines can be shared).
Dar el Khamlia is just outside of Merzouga, offering lodging for those who like to be more near the local people. Comfortable rooms, meals included. Camel trekking into dunes, excursions by 4x4, pick up at airports of Errachidia, Ouarzazate or Marrakech.
Right next to the sand dunes. A bivouac with a space to eat and relax and very nice, comfortable Berber tents. The place is managed by some very friendly young boys. The Berber tents are nice and clean, there are three good showers, the food is good, they play live Gnaoua music after dinner.
Modern, comfortable hotel right next to the sand dunes and palm trees in a private setting. A swimming pool (11 m by 6 m) has been added amongst the olive trees and roses. 15 rooms are en-suite with toilets and showers. 12 Berber tents next to the hotel for the more adventurous. Singles / doubles/triples/quads with en-suite toilet and shower. Home made local food for dinner as well as breakfast is included in the price. Brand new restaurant with unique arches has just been finished. The owners also run a tour company, www.bluemenofmorocco.com, that can organize custom private tours around Morocco for individuals, families and small groups. Caravan parking with showers also located by the hotel. Wifi connection available by the pool and around the hotel for clients. N31.08'031" W004.01'128"
Yasmina is located right on the bottom of the dunes of Erg Chebbi, on a hill with great views of the dunes. Pool, on site restaurant and camel safaris.
A traditional, family-run kasbah with views of the dunes from the roof terrace. En suite rooms arranged around two plant-filled courtyards. English, French, Spanish, German and Italian are spoken.
A comfortable hotel decorated in a mix of Arabesque, Andalusian and European styles. Pool, on site restaurant, and camel safaris.
Nasser Palace is a hotel with swimming pool and spa located on the dunes of Merzouga. 20 rooms with private toilets, bivouac and camel treks on Sahara dunes.
Hotel Nomad Palace is located outside Merzouga, on the way to Taouz, before Khamlia. Comfortable, quiet, with terraces, swimming pool, restaurant, all rooms with private bathrooms, suite with king size beds. Half board included. Camel treks, 4x4 tours and pick up form any airport. Other tours can be arranged.
Ksar Hassi Labiad
Snack Hassi Labied located in center of Hassi Labied. tagine, couscous, Kalia, juices and sandwich. Snack Hassi Labied can arrange also camel trekking into the desert, ski with sand boards, rent bike, quads, excursion with 4x4.
Beautiful hotel with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, fluent in English/French/Arabic/Berber and other languages. Many rooms include terraces overlooking the Erg Chebbi and air conditioning. Rooms are comfortable and clean, with private bathrooms (Western style). Hotel also features a swimming pool, free internet connection, and a restaurant. You can arrange for desert excursions by camel with guides and Berber tent accommodations.
Hotel Kanz Erremal is located at the base of the desert dunes Erg Chebbi, in the southeast of Morocco. Kanz Erremal has a haimas camp and also organizes a ridding a camel trip in order to spend a night in the desert. Furthermore, it organizes seven-road trips to explore the spectacular places that the landscape offers. The rooms have a traditional decoration, typical from the region. They have air conditioning, free wifi access, bathroom and great external views, most of them to the dunes. The pool is located in front of the dunes, so swimmers have the impression to swim in the middle of the desert. The hotel offers a good example of traditional Moroccan cuisine based on natural ingredients.
Camels 60 dirham/hour. Excursions available.
Spend an unforgettable night in a haima in the Merzouga desert
Sunrise Palace
Located next to the dunes, the Sunrise Palace is a luxury hotel in Merzouga with 12 rooms, a restaurant, and a pool overlooking the desert.
By bus
Supratours buses from Marrakech and also from Fez have one daily trip each that end in Merzouga village, for 160 dirham. CTM only goes up until Erfoud and Rissani.
By grand taxi
From Rissani to Merzouga, a grand taxi or van is 12-15 dirham and goes about every 30 min. If you don't want to wait for other people to fill your grand taxi, pay 60 dirham.
By car
From Marrakech, drive east to Erfoud (2 days drive, stop for the night in or near Ouarzazate). From Fez, drive south to Erfoud (1 day).
By tour
Tour operators can arrange 4x4s with driver/guides from Marrakech or Casablanca and back.
The only way to get around Merzouga is on foot. It's fairly small and easily walkable, but you'll likely want to avoid the midday heat.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Errachidia · Regional · ERH
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Merzouga and Morocco.
ItinerariesPlan an epic 7-day Morocco itinerary for 2026. Explore Marrakech, Fes medinas, and the Erg Chebbi Sahara dunes with transit tips and real costs.
8 min read
ItinerariesExplore our Fes travel guide. Navigate the car-free alleys of Fes el-Bali, visit Chouara Tannery, Bou Inania Madrasa, riads, and food stalls.
8 min read
InspirationWhere to watch the 2 August 2027 total solar eclipse, comparing 6 minutes of totality in Luxor with southern Spain, weather and hotel bookings.
6 min read
Travel tipsDriving can be a good option for independent travel in Morocco. The country is comparatively easily accessible by car ferry from Europe, and car rental is readily available.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.