To see beyond the dunes
4x4 excursion
A half day (3–4 hours) or a full day around Erg Chebbi: tea with a nomad family, Gnawa music in Khamlia, the Mfis mines, the black desert and, if it has rained, the lake of Dayet Srij.
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Activity in the Sahara · Merzouga, Morocco
Merzouga activities in the Sahara Desert
These are our Merzouga activities in the Sahara Desert of Morocco, for exploring the Erg Chebbi dunes if you’re already here or staying more than one night. They all start from Hassi Labied, at the foot of the dunes, and you can combine them on the same day.
Which Merzouga desert activity to choose
To see what lies around the dunes — nomads, Khamlia, the Mfis mines, Dayet Srij — take the 4x4 excursion. For adrenaline, the quad or the buggy on the dunes. For a quiet sunset, the camel. And depending on the season, we also arrange horse rides.
The activities, one by one
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For adrenalineQuad biking
1 to 3 hours on the dunes, with a local guide and a handling briefing before you set off. No experience needed: the route adapts to each group.
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For adrenaline, as a pairBuggy
A two-seater with a steering wheel and a roll cage: it drives like a car. The way to race across the dunes as a pair, also with a guide.
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For a quiet sunsetCamel trek
An hour to an hour and a half at sunset, with a Berber guide on foot, a stop on top of a dune and sandboarding on the same outing.
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Depending on the seasonHorse riding
A ride through the palm groves of Hassi Labied and along the edge of the dunes, depending on the season and conditions.
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Sahara desert activities in Morocco: why Merzouga
Merzouga is the village at the foot of Erg Chebbi, in south-eastern Morocco: a Saharan sea of dunes you can reach on a paved road right up to the edge of the sand. That’s why it has more services around it, and our activities start at the foot of the dunes, from Hassi Labied: quad biking, dune buggies, camel rides, seasonal horse riding and 4x4 trips around the area.
Near Marrakech you’ll also see “desert” activities advertised, but Agafay is a stone desert with no sand dunes. If it’s your first trip to the Moroccan desert: Merzouga is about 560 km from Marrakech and about 470 km from Fes, so most people arrive on a multi-day tour and book the activities for their day in the dunes.
How to plan them if you stay more than one night
With one night in Merzouga, there’s time for one activity at sunset: the camel, the quad or the buggy. With two nights you have a full day: the 4x4 excursion in the morning and another activity on the dunes late in the afternoon. In summer, everything is arranged early or at sunset, to avoid the midday heat.
For all of them, bring closed shoes, sunglasses, a scarf against the sand, sunscreen and water. In winter, a warm layer: the nights are cold.
How to book
Message us on WhatsApp or by email with the date, the activity or activities you’re interested in, your preferred time and how many of you there are. We’ll reply with a proposal and a fixed price, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine several activities?
Yes. The most popular combination is the 4x4 excursion in the morning and the quad or the camel at sunset. Tell us what you’d like to do and we’ll arrange it.
Do I need experience for the quad or the buggy?
No. They always go out with a local guide, who adapts the route to each group.
When is the best time for the activities?
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, especially in summer: the light is better and it’s cooler.
Is Merzouga in the Sahara Desert?
Yes. Merzouga is in south-eastern Morocco, next to Erg Chebbi, one of the Sahara’s sand seas in the country. All our activities start from Hassi Labied, at the foot of those dunes.
What activities can you do in the Sahara Desert in Morocco?
On the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga: quad biking, dune buggies, a sunset camel ride (with sandboarding at the stop), seasonal horse riding and 4x4 trips around the area to nomad families, Khamlia and the Mfis mines.
Where to sleep in the desert
A night in a private tent
If you want to stay longer in the desert, Tassili Luxury Desert Camp has ten tents with private bathrooms in Erg Znaigui, away from the main camp area.
- Ten private tents
- A private bathroom in every tent
- In Erg Znaigui, away from the main camp area