“Camel trek” can mean two very different things in Morocco: an hour on a camel at sunset to reach a desert camp, or several days walking through the dunes with a camel team carrying the bags. Which one you want decides which desert you go to.
From Marrakech there are two big seas of sand within reach: Erg Chebbi, at the village of Merzouga in the east, and Erg Chegaga, beyond M’Hamid El Ghizlane in the south. (An *erg* is a field of sand dunes.)
The short answer
| Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) | Erg Chegaga (M’Hamid) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Marrakech | 554 km by road | about 444 km to M’Hamid, then 50-60 km into the dunes |
| Driving time | about 10 h without stops | about 8 h 35 to M’Hamid, then a 4×4 or camel |
| Dunes | tall, up to about 150 m | spread out, far from any village |
| Typical camel trip | a sunset ride to a camp, back at sunrise | a trek of several days on foot, camels carrying the bags |
| Fewest days from Marrakech | 3 | 5 |
Erg Chebbi and Merzouga
Erg Chebbi is the dune field most photos of “the Sahara in Morocco” show: tall orange dunes, up to about 150 m, rising straight out of a flat stony plain at the village of Merzouga. It is 554 km from Marrakech, about ten hours of driving without stops, which is why tours take three days and break the drive in the Dades valley.
The classic camel trip here is short. You ride out from the edge of the village in the late afternoon, reach a camp in the dunes in time for sunset, spend the night there, and ride back after sunrise. It suits almost everyone: no fitness needed, and the dunes do the rest.
Nearby, the village of Khamlia, about 7 km from Merzouga, is home to a community of Gnawa musicians. Gnawa music and ritual are on UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech is built around this ride, and the 5-day Sahara tour of Erg Chebbi and the kasbahs does it at a slower pace. Our guide to getting from Marrakech to Merzouga has the full route.
Is Merzouga worth it?
It is a fair question, given ten hours of driving each way. Our honest answer:
- Yes, if you want big dunes. Erg Chebbi’s dunes reach about 150 m, while Agafay, the desert near Marrakech, has no sand dunes at all.
- Yes, if you give it three days or more. In two days you spend almost all your time in a vehicle.
- No, if you only have one free day. Then the Agafay desert, 37 km from Marrakech, is the realistic choice. It is a stony desert, not sand dunes; our article on Agafay vs the Sahara explains the difference.
Erg Chegaga: the remote one
Erg Chegaga lies 50 to 60 km beyond the end of the road at M’Hamid El Ghizlane, past the palm groves of the Draa valley. There is no village at its edge, so getting there is part of the trip, on foot with camels or by 4×4. Its dunes are spread over a wide area, and the sense of distance is the point.
This is the desert for a real camel trek. On our 5-day camel trek through the Draa valley to Erg Chegaga:
- you drive from Marrakech over the High Atlas and down the Draa valley to M’Hamid on the first day;
- you walk most of days two to four, across plains, tamarisk groves and the smaller dunes of Erg Smar, then into Erg Chegaga;
- the camels carry the luggage, and you can ride for part of the way;
- you walk out across a dry lake bed and a 4×4 takes you to Foum Zguid and back towards Ouarzazate.
The walking is moderate: no climbing, but several hours a day on sand. The 4×4 legs are long. M’Hamid to Foum Zguid is 218 km, about 3 h 50, and Foum Zguid to Ouarzazate another 150 km.
Ride or walk?
Most people picture riding, but on a multi-day trek most of the distance is walked, with the camels carrying the bags and riding possible for part of the way. On a short sunset ride at Merzouga, you ride the whole way.
A few practical points for either:
- Wear long, light trousers for riding, and closed shoes or sandals that hold your feet for walking on sand.
- Bring a scarf for wind and sun. Your guide will show you how to tie it.
- Desert nights are cold outside summer. Bring a warm layer even if the day is hot.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons for a trek. Summer days in the Draa valley and at Merzouga are very hot, so a summer trip means short rides at sunset and sunrise rather than walking. In winter the days are pleasant but the nights are cold. Our guide to the best time to visit Morocco has more detail.
Which one should you choose?
- 3 days, first time in the desert, any fitness: Erg Chebbi and a sunset camel ride.
- 5 days or more, happy to walk, want quiet: Erg Chegaga on foot.
- A longer trip around Morocco: add Erg Chebbi between Fes and Marrakech, or see our 10-day Sahara and Berber heritage tour.
All our desert tours are private, so the pace, the number of days on foot and the camp follow your group. Contact us with your dates.