Things to do in Erg Chebbi at a glance
The things to do in Erg Chebbi start on the dunes: a camel ride at sunset, a guided quad trip, sandboarding and a night in a desert camp. Around Merzouga you add the village of Hassilabied, the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia, Rissani market and the seasonal lake of Dayet Srij. Two journeys, from Marrakech and from Fes, link the dunes with the rest of Morocco.
The list below runs from the dunes (1 to 4) through the villages and the market (5 to 8) to the lake, the long journeys and the season (9 to 12). Prices are published examples as of 14 November 2026, and they differ between providers.
On the dunes and in the camps (1 to 4)
1. Ride a camel into the dunes
One published guided ride in the Erg Chebbi lasts 1 hour. It costs 31 USD per adult aged 15 to 70 and 21 USD per child aged 4 to 14, who rides together with an adult on the same animal. The provider excludes children under 4. Sunset rides are available on request, subject to availability. See the camel ride options for longer treks.
2. Take a guided quad ride
One quad programme lists 1 hour at about 38.68 USD per single quad and 60.79 USD per double quad, or 2 hours at about 88.42 and 132.62 USD. Prices are per vehicle and cover guide, fuel, helmet and water. This provider takes drivers from 16 and passengers from 5, while others set higher limits, so check the age rules for your booking. The guided quad rides page compares the options.
3. Try sandboarding on a dune slope
Sandboarding comes inside camp and quad packages: one standard camp lends boards free to its guests, and a one-hour quad option lists sandboarding with pickup in Merzouga. The dune field is about 28 km long from north to south and 5 to 7 km wide from east to west, so the sand covers a large area. More in the quad and sandboarding guide.
4. Sleep in a desert camp
A standard camp offers private tents with beds and shared sanitary facilities. A luxury tent adds a bathroom with toilet and a warm shower. Dinner and breakfast belong to the examples, and you arrive by camel or 4x4. Standard twin tents cost about 88.42 USD per tent and night, luxury twin tents about 154.73 USD. Check-in starts at 4 p.m. See where to stay near the dunes.
Erg Chebbi experiences
The Marrakech options combine road travel with a camp night.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private Fes to Marrakech desert trip
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- 2 Breakfasts & 2 Dinners
- Sandboarding in the dunes
Ride a camel to the camp and return to the meeting point by 4WD at sunrise.
Check availability →
Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga
- Accommodation for 2 nights
- Camel ride
- Dinner
A professional driver takes you in an air-conditioned vehicle from Fes to Marrakech, with breakfast included.
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Fes to Marrakech with desert camp
- Camel rides at sunset and sunrise
- Sandboarding experience
- Berber music show around the campfire
A private tent depends on the option. A local kasbah guide costs extra.
Check availability →
Two-day desert trip from Marrakech
- Overnight in Desert Camp
- Camel Ride
- Dinner included
The Aït Ben Haddou stop depends on the booked option; sandboarding is available on request.
Check availability →Marrakech desert trip with camp night
- Comfortable, air-conditioned transportation
- Sandboarding adventure
- 2 traditional Moroccan breakfasts
The camp is standard or luxury depending on your selection. A local guide in Aït Ben Haddou costs extra.
Check availability →
Luxury camp night with camel ride
- Camel ride through the Sahara dunes
- Luxury tent with en-suite bathroom
- Sandboarding on the dunes
Dinner and breakfast are served at the camp, and your luggage is transferred to and from the camp.
Check availability →Camel rides, camp nights and desert journeys
Camp nights near Merzouga and multi-day journeys from Marrakech and Fes, with live prices and availability.
Villages, music and the market (5 to 8)
What to see around the dune field when you want a break from the sand.
5. Walk through Merzouga village
Merzouga is the usual base on the western edge of the dune field. A local activity provider lists shops, a pharmacy and a bus stop there, and paved roads lead to the centres of both Merzouga and Hassilabied. Guesthouses and camps line the dunes from north to south.
6. Visit Hassilabied at the dune edge
Hassilabied lies north of Merzouga, directly beside the dunes. NASA explains the oasis with a shallow groundwater body under the sand and traditional underground channels, called khettaras, which carry water towards the western villages. The description dates from 2016. The village suits visitors who want palms and dunes in one view.
7. Hear Gnawa music in Khamlia
Khamlia lies about 7 km from Merzouga. Regional tourism pages describe musical visits with drums, guembri and qraqeb at the local Gnawa group. One quad provider includes a half-day trip to Khamlia in its programme, so the village combines well with a ride.
8. Browse Rissani market
Rissani holds its large market days on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Stalls sell food, dates, spices, household goods, crafts and livestock. One transport report puts Rissani about 35 to 40 km from Merzouga. A local visitor project also points to the nearby archaeological site of Sijilmassa for a longer day out.
The lake, the long journeys and the season (9 to 12)
One nature stop, two multi-day trips and the choice of months.
9. Look for birds at Dayet Srij
Dayet Srij is a seasonal lake near Merzouga. Morocco's tourism board describes migratory birds there. Water depends on rain, and an older survey from 2001 records water usually from November to May.
10. Travel from Marrakech to the dunes
The road from Marrakech to Merzouga is about 560 km and 9 to 10 hours via Tizi n'Tichka, Ouarzazate and Tinghir, according to a local provider. The three-day trips use that route with a hotel night in Tinghir or Kelaat Mgouna and a camp night, and stop at the Todgha Gorges. See desert trips from Marrakech.
11. Cross the Atlas from Fes
From Fes to Merzouga the road runs about 470 km in 7.5 to 8 hours through Ifrane, Midelt, the Ziz Valley and Erfoud. One three-day trip stops at Ifrane, the Azrou cedar forest, Midelt and the Ziz Valley, spends a camp night in Merzouga and ends in Marrakech. Details in desert trips from Fes.
12. Choose the cooler months
Morocco's tourism board names October to April as the right time for the desert in this region. Summer is extremely hot, and winter nights are cold. In hot summer months one camp moves check-in from 4 p.m. to about 6 p.m. Read when to visit Erg Chebbi before you fix a date.
Practical tips for Erg Chebbi
Erg Chebbi trips are built around one camp night near Merzouga plus travel time. From Errachidia airport (ERH) the drive to Merzouga is about 125 km and 1.5 to 2 hours, and the getting there guide compares buses, flights and rental cars.
Erg Chebbi payments run in Moroccan dirhams. A local provider warns that cash machines in Merzouga are unreliable, so withdraw cash before the last leg. Camps can reschedule or cancel after strong sandstorms or floods.
Things to do in Erg Chebbi: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Erg Chebbi?
Erg Chebbi offers camel rides, guided quad trips, sandboarding and camp nights on the dunes. Around Merzouga you can visit Hassilabied, hear Gnawa music in Khamlia, browse Rissani market on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday and look for birds at Dayet Srij when the lake holds water.
Can you visit Erg Chebbi without staying overnight?
Yes. A guided camel ride takes 1 hour and costs 31 USD per adult, and a one-hour quad ride starts at about 38.68 USD per single quad (14 November 2026). A camp night adds dinner, breakfast and the sunrise, and many tours include sandboarding on the dunes.
When is the right time to visit Erg Chebbi?
October to April, according to Morocco's tourism board. Summer in the region is extremely hot and winter nights are cold, so pack warm layers for a camp night. Strong sandstorms or floods can lead camps to move or cancel a booking, so keep your dates flexible.