Merzouga and the Sahara Desert Guide 2026: Camps & Camels

The Sahara at Merzouga is not a day trip from anywhere. It sits in Morocco’s far south-east, a long way from Marrakech and Fes, and that distance is the whole planning problem. Get the month, the route and the camp right and it is one of the most memorable nights in North Africa. Facts and fares below were checked on 10 October 2026.

When is the best time to visit Merzouga?

Autumn and spring are the sweet spot. Winter is sunny and dry but cold at night; summer is dangerously hot by day.

These are the World Meteorological Organization 1991-2020 normals for Errachidia, the nearest official station, about two hours’ drive north of the dunes. Rain is scarce all year (about 133 mm annually), with September and October the wettest months on average.

Winter is a good choice if you plan for it: the light is beautiful, the camps are quieter, and the night sky is sharp. Just know that most desert camps are unheated or only lightly heated tents.

Where should you stay: village, dune hotel or desert camp?

The village of Merzouga and the hamlet of Hassi Labied sit right on the edge of Erg Chebbi, with the camps scattered among the dunes behind them.

The honest pick for a first visit: one night in a camp with private facilities, then, if you have time, a second night in a dune-edge hotel. Ask before booking whether dinner, breakfast and the camel ride are included, whether the tent has its own bathroom, and whether the camp is heated in winter.

How do you get to Merzouga?

There are three realistic ways in, and they differ mostly in how much of your trip you spend on the road.

From Marrakech, see our Marrakech guide for where to base yourself before and after, and getting around Morocco for how trains, CTM and Supratours fit together.

What is there to do at Erg Chebbi?

• Camel trek into the dunes. Most camps include a ride out at sunset and back after sunrise. It is usually an hour or two, gentle, and led on foot by a guide.
• Sunrise from the top of a dune. The climb is steep soft sand; start early and allow time.
• Night sky. With little light pollution, the stars are the reason many people stay two nights.
• Sandboarding. Many camps and dune-edge hotels can arrange a board.
• Khamlia. A small village on the edge of the dunes, a short walk or drive from the camps.
• Dayet Srij. A seasonal lake at the edge of the erg; when it holds water after rain it attracts birds, including storks, according to the Moroccan National Tourist Office.
• Rissani. The old market town of the Tafilalt oasis, about 40 km north, worth a stop for its souk, dates and local life.

Quad bikes and 4x4 dune trips are widely sold too. They are loud, so if you want silence in the dunes, ask whether your camp sits away from the quad routes.

Day trips and stops on the way

Todra Gorge, near Tinghir, is the classic stop on the drive between Marrakech and the dunes: a narrow canyon of sheer rock walls with a river at the bottom. The Dades Gorge is nearby on the same route. Further back towards Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate make a natural first night. If you are heading north instead, the road runs through Errachidia and the Ziz valley towards Fes.

What goes wrong on a Sahara trip?

• Too little time. A 3-day tour from Marrakech means two long driving days for one desert night. If you can add a day, spend it at the dunes, not in the van.
• Cheap tours, big groups. The lowest-priced shared tours pack large groups into basic camps. Read what is included (camp type, private bathroom, meals, camel ride) before comparing prices.
• Touts and “guides” on arrival. In Rissani and Merzouga, people may flag down cars or approach you offering camps and treks. Book your camp in advance and arrange pickup with it directly.
• Cold nights. In December and January the average low is about 2 to 3.5°C. Bring a warm layer, hat and socks, even if the day was 16°C.
• Summer heat. From June to August, average highs run 35 to 40°C. Ride only at dawn and dusk and carry plenty of water.
• Sand and electronics. Fine sand gets into everything. Keep your phone and camera in a sealed bag on the camel.

Check entry rules in our Morocco visa guide and costs in the Morocco budget guide. Mobile data can be patchy at the camps: see Morocco eSIM.

How many days do you need in Merzouga?

One night is the minimum: sunset camel ride, dinner and the night sky, sunrise on a dune. Two nights is better, giving you a full day for Khamlia, Rissani or simply the dunes in afternoon light. If you are driving from Marrakech, split the trip with a night near the Todra or Dades gorges each way. For how the desert fits into a wider route, see our Morocco itinerary.

Sources

Climate figures are the World Meteorological Organization 1991-2020 normals for Errachidia (station 60210), published by NOAA NCEI. Coach information comes from Supratours, flight information from ONDA, Morocco’s airports authority, and the Dayet Srij description from the Moroccan National Tourist Office. Dune dimensions are from a 2024 study of Erg Chebbi by Bristow and Duller in Scientific Reports. Camp prices come from a Booking.com search for one night in mid-November 2026 and change with season and demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Merzouga and the Sahara?

October, November, March and April are the most comfortable months. WMO 1991-2020 normals for Errachidia, the nearest weather station, show average highs of about 21 to 27°C in those months. June to August averages 35 to 40°C by day, and December and January nights average only 2 to 3.5°C, so winter is clear and sunny but cold after dark.

How cold does the Sahara get at night in winter?

Cold enough to plan for. At Errachidia, the nearest WMO station, the average January low is 2.0°C and the December low 3.5°C, with daytime highs around 16°C. Desert camps are unheated or only lightly heated, so bring a warm layer, a hat and socks for the night and the sunrise walk up the dunes.

How do I get to Merzouga without a tour?

Supratours, the coach company owned by the rail operator ONCF, sells tickets to Merzouga and Hassi Labied, with fares from Merzouga advertised from 250 dirhams. Royal Air Maroc flies Casablanca to Errachidia, roughly two hours’ drive north of the dunes. Self-drive works too, since the road runs all the way to the village.

Is a 3-day Sahara tour from Marrakech worth it?

It is the easiest way in, but most of those three days is spent in a minivan crossing the High Atlas, and the desert part is one evening camel ride, one night in camp and a sunrise. Cheap shared tours fill large groups and use basic camps. If you have the time, travel independently or book a private tour and spend two nights at the dunes.

How much does a desert camp in Merzouga cost?

Prices vary widely by camp type. A Booking.com search for a mid-November 2026 night showed luxury camps with private tents and bathrooms at around 60 to 150 euros for two, usually with dinner and breakfast and sometimes the camel ride. Basic camps with shared facilities cost less, and are usually sold as part of a tour.

How many days do you need in Merzouga?

One night in a desert camp covers a sunset camel ride, dinner under the stars and a sunrise climb. Two nights let you add a day around Erg Chebbi without rushing: Khamlia village, the seasonal Dayet Srij lake, sandboarding or the Rissani market town. Add a night at Todra Gorge if you are driving between Marrakech and the dunes.

Start planning your Sahara trip

If a tour from Marrakech already includes your camp, you only need flights. If you are travelling independently, book the camp first, then the coach or flight around it.

Find cheap flights to Marrakech | Compare Merzouga desert camps

Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit Morocco guide, Fes, Chefchaouen and Essaouira.