Merzouga is a small town out on the edge of the Sahara Desert of Erg Chebbi. Merzouga is only 20 km away from the Algerian border where the paved road ends and the real Sahara Desert sand dunes begin. Merzouga desert is the most common destination in Morocco for Camel treks and desert camps. To experience the Sahara desert dunes it is a must to take a camel trip and stay overnight in a Berber tent or in a luxury camp. The camel trip takes approximately 1 hour through amazing red-orange sand dunes at sunset to reach the Sahara desert camp where you will be served a wonderful and rich dinner, enjoy a musical play with the staff around the blazing fire. But note it is at least a ten hours drive from the Erg Chebbi dunes to Marrakech. The trip is possible in 3 days however we recommend a slow pace over 4 or 5 days.
Visiting Merzouga; viewing sunset and sunrise on the highest sand dune is actually a must for all those who have the desire to visit Morocco. The journey starts by driving towards Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou via the highest series of mountains pass in Africa Tizi N’ Tichka (Altitude 2260 m) while enjoying the panoramic views of the giant High Atlas Mountains with the wonderful Berber villages, the journey resumes its way to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aït Benhaddou which is situated on a hill along the Ouarzazate River. The latter beautiful example of southern Moroccan architecture has been used as a backdrop for over 20 famous movies such as The Mummy, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. On the way, we pass by Ouarzazat one major Berber city in southern Morocco known as the Hollywood of Africa and by the rose valley and overnight would be spent in a hotel in the Dades Gorges.
After breakfast in the selected hotel, visitors and the guide(s) leave the Dades gorges heading to Todra gorges Gorge via Tinghir and the lush valley of Todra where you – the visitors- would be expected to have a short hike along the narrow and high cliffs of Todra. Afterward, the journey continues its way to Merzouga via the exciting stony desert, and the palm grove of Erfoud (capital of the fossils and the best qualities of natural dates) and Rissani which is known for its traditional market in the south. In the afternoon we arrive at Merzouga desert where visitors get ready, accompanied of course by a camel guide, to go for an authentic camel trek experience of utmost one hour and a half where they could catch the sunset in the heart of the Erg Chebbi dunes and spend a memorable night enjoying serenity and calmness while looking at a numerous of shiny stars and enjoying a Berber dinner. At last, the sleep is to be in traditional nomadic tents.
Enjoying the view of the sunrise is an experience that should not be missed at dawn. After such a gorgeous adventure, the visitors would ride their camels to go back to the hotel for taking a shower and eat breakfast. Next, the trip is to head to ‘Ouarzazate’ through the range of the amazing Anti-Atlas mountains passing by ‘Alnif’ which is known of the Henna groves, and ‘Agdz’ the small town which is located at the shore of the ‘Draa River’, that is considered the longest in Morocco. After lunch in ‘Ouarzazat’, the journey continues by the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Arrival would be at 7:00 pm Approx.
