Morocco's Sahara is not one place. From Marrakech there are two great dune fields to choose from, and they are very different trips.
Erg Chebbi, at Merzouga
Dunes of up to about 150 m rising straight out of flat desert, with camps at their foot and the Gnawa village of Khamlia nearby. Merzouga is about 550 km from Marrakech by road, through the Dades valley and Tinghir, so it takes at least three days there and back. Our 3-day and 5-day tours go here.
Erg Chegaga, beyond M'Hamid
About 50–60 km beyond M'Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village of the Draa valley, with no paved road. Fewer camps, fewer people. Our 5-day camel trek walks there.
On the way
- The Tizi n'Tichka pass over the High Atlas, 2,260 m on the sign.
- Aït Ben Haddou, the earthen ksar on UNESCO's list since 1987.
- The Skoura palm grove, the Valley of Roses (its festival is in May), and the Dades and Todra gorges.
Good to know
- Desert nights are cold from November to March; summer days are extremely hot.
- Agafay, 37 km from Marrakech, is a stony desert, not the Sahara. See Agafay vs the Sahara.
- Read Marrakech to Merzouga for the route in detail.
Read before you go
From our trips
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