Merzouga Sahara Desert: Camel Trekking & Desert Camps Guide

Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco that sits at the foot of Erg Chebbi — among the tallest dune fields in the entire Sahara. It is, for most visitors, the reason to make the long drive south from Marrakech or Fes in the first place.

The Camel Trek

The classic Merzouga experience is a camel trek into the dunes timed for sunset, when the sand shifts through shades of gold, orange, and deep red as the light drops. Treks typically end at a Berber desert camp, where the group spends the night under a sky with almost no light pollution — the stargazing here is genuinely exceptional.

Desert Camps and Overnight Stays

Camps range from simple shared-bathroom Berber tents to more comfortable private setups, but the core experience is the same: dinner around a fire, traditional drumming, and a night in the dunes before an early rise to watch the sunrise from the top of the highest nearby dune.

Best Time of Year

Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable desert temperatures for camel trekking and overnight camping. Winter is also a popular window — days stay pleasant even though nights get cold — while high summer can be uncomfortably hot for extended time in the open dunes.

Getting to Merzouga

Merzouga is roughly a full day's drive from both Marrakech and Fes, which is why most itineraries build in stops along the way — the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge among them. Our 3-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech and 7-day Sahara desert tour from Marrakech both build the desert camp around this same route.