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The immediate region surrounding Erg Chebbi is filled with cultural history. The Berber people have inhabited this region for centuries, and showcase a traditional way of life through their music, dance, and handicrafts. Travelers can get a taste of this unique culture when they experience Berber hospitality in their traditional desert camps, sampling local dishes and listening to traditional Berber stories under the countryside starry sky.
One of the more popular activities in Erg Chebbi is camel trekking. Camel riding is a unique way to cross the undulating sand dunes; sitting atop a camel's hump allows the rider to admire the vastness and beauty of the desert in a way not possible at ground level. If camel riding is too laid back for the traveler, they can engage with the Egr Chebbi dunes in more active ways like sandboarding down the steep sides of the dunes or take a 4x4 tour of the region. While Erg Chebbi is remote, it is an accessible travel destination. The town of Merzouga acts as a jumping off point for visiting the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Merzouga offers accommodation options that satisfy both luxury-seeking travelers and budget traveling accommodations (hostels or camps) alike! From Merzouga, travelers can book guided tours that will accommodate transportation, meals, and overnight accommodations in desert camps. Erg Chebbi is not just a destination for adventure enthusiasts, it also welcomes photographers and lovers of nature happy to see or capture the colours, shapes, beauty, flora and fauna of this ever-changing, dynamic and stunning land. Many visitors enjoy the silence and tranquility of camping in Erg Chebbi.
Itineraries
Day 1
Marrakech to Dades Gorge
Your trip will begin in the city of Marrakech. After breakfast, you will leave your hotel and take a scenic drive through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass with incredible views of the surrounding landscape. You will stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, famous for its unique architecture, films shot here, and UNESCO World Heritage status. After a visit you'll continue on from there and pass through Ouarzazate, the "Gateway to the Sahara" which is home to Taourirt Kasbah. After lunch, you will drive through the Valley of Roses and into Dades Gorge in the evening. When you arrive you will check into your hotel and have dinner while enjoying the view of the gorge.
Day 2
Dades Gorge to Merzouga
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will set off in an easterly direction towards Merzouga. You will drive through Todra Gorge, another incredible natural wonder, where you can enjoy the sheer cliffs and beautiful palm trees for great photo opportunities. Then your journey will allow for travel through many Berber villages and changing landscapes as you approach the Sahara Desert. When you arrive in Merzouga later in the afternoon, you will see excellent views of the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes. You will then have the opportunity for a camel trek into the desert. Riding camels through the sand is an incredible experience as the sun sets over the dunes. When your camel trek is complete, you will reach a desert Berber camp for the overnight stay in a comfortable tent. At the camp, along with a good Moroccan meal, you can enjoy traditional music around the fire under a starry sky.
Day 3
Day 4
Merzouga to Marrakech
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will set off in an easterly direction towards Merzouga. You will drive through Todra Gorge, another incredible natural wonder, where you can enjoy the sheer cliffs and beautiful palm trees for great photo opportunities. Then your journey will allow for travel through many Berber villages and changing landscapes as you approach the Sahara Desert. When you arrive in Merzouga later in the afternoon, you will see excellent views of the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes. You will then have the opportunity for a camel trek into the desert. Riding camels through the sand is an incredible experience as the sun sets over the dunes. When your camel trek is complete, you will reach a desert Berber camp for the overnight stay in a comfortable tent. At the camp, along with a good Moroccan meal, you can enjoy traditional music around the fire under a starry sky.
mini-bus / 4x4 with English speaking driver
1 night in a hotel at Dades gorges dinner & breakfast
1 overnight in the Dunes with dinner & breakfast
1 night in Ait benhaddou kasbah with evening meal & breakfast
Camel ride on the dunes.
Travel insurance.
Soft/alcoholic drinks
Tips and personal expanses
Lunches Entrance fee (Monuments visits)
Merzouga is roughly 560 kilometers from Marrakech, but the tour divides the drive with scenic stops, overnights and cultural visits.
Day wear should be lightweight; night wear should be light with warm layers. Pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a day pack and comfortable shoes. When you visit in the winter, make sure to take extra warm clothes.
The tour is also family-friendly and will be tailored to accommodate varying comfort levels. You also have the option to shorten or utilise a 4x4 transfer instead of the camel ride.
There is some easy level of walking in Dades and Todra Gorges as well as the camel riding. Walking is optional and at your own pace.
Yes! You could spend an extra night in the desert, omit certain stops or add others, and you can finish the tour in Fes rather than in Marrakech upon request.
Best weather is during spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). The desert is hot in summer and can become very cold in winter at night.
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