Sahara Desert

The Golden Dunes of Erg Chebbi

The Moroccan Sahara is a place of extraordinary beauty and profound silence. Rising dramatically from the stony desert floor near Merzouga, the magnificent dunes of Erg Chebbi soar up to 150 meters high in waves of orange and golden sand that shift color from pale gold in midday to deep red and purple at sunset. This is one of Morocco's most iconic and unforgettable landscapes — a place where time seems to stop and the grandeur of nature is overwhelmingly clear.

Arriving at the edge of the dunes as the sun descends is a life-changing experience. Camel caravans carry visitors into the sea of sand as the temperature drops and the stars begin to emerge. By nightfall, the Saharan sky becomes one of the most spectacular stargazing canvases on earth, far from any light pollution, with the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon in breathtaking clarity.

Beyond the dunes, the region surrounding Merzouga offers fascinating geological and cultural landscapes. The Ziz Valley, carved by the Ziz River, is a long ribbon of green palms and Berber kasbahs cutting through the desert. The Todra Gorge and Dades Valley, just a few hours west, offer dramatic rock formations, river oases, and traditional mud-brick Berber villages that have stood for centuries.

Top Desert Experiences

1. Camel Trekking to a Desert Camp

Mount a camel and trek into the sea of dunes as the sun sets, arriving at a luxury tented desert camp where a traditional Moroccan dinner, live Berber music, and a sky full of stars await you.

2. 4x4 Dune Bashing

For the more adventurous, climb aboard a 4x4 vehicle and traverse the dunes at exhilarating speeds, cresting dune peaks and descending into golden valleys in an adrenaline-filled Saharan adventure.

Things to See and Do

• Sunrise Over Erg Chebbi: Wake before dawn and climb the nearest dune crest to witness the sunrise transform the Sahara in an explosion of orange, red, and gold.
• Quad Biking: Explore the dunes and surrounding desert landscape on a quad bike, covering terrain inaccessible on foot.
• Todra Gorge: Visit the spectacular 300-meter high narrow gorge carved by the Todra River, one of Morocco's most dramatic natural wonders.
• Dades Valley: Drive through the "Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs" and explore the traditional Berber mud-brick fortresses along the southern route.
• Nomad Village Visit: Meet local nomadic Berber families in their traditional black tent camps and share tea as they explain their way of life.
• Stargazing Experience: Join a guided stargazing session in the desert with a local astronomer identifying constellations in one of the darkest skies in North Africa.
• Fossil Museum: Visit local fossil shops in Erfoud showcasing extraordinary geological specimens from the ancient Saharan sea, including trilobites and ammonites.