Merzouga and Erg Chebbi: the big dunes, three days away

Merzouga and Erg Chebbi are not the same thing

Merzouga is a village near the Algerian border. Erg Chebbi is the field of dunes beside it, with crests often quoted at up to about 150 m high. Tours use the two names interchangeably.

Camps are spread along different edges of the erg. Some are a short walk from the road, others are reached by camel or 4x4 across the sand. Ask where your camp is and how you get there from the vehicle.

What a three-day Merzouga tour really means

On the classic route, day one crosses the Atlas, stops at Aït Ben Haddou and ends in the Dades valley, about 5.5–6.5 h of driving from Marrakech. Day two passes the Todra gorge and reaches the dunes in the late afternoon. Day three starts with sunrise and continues with the drive back, around 9–10 h without long stops.

So a three-day tour gives you one evening and one morning on the sand. That is enough for most people, but it is not three days in the desert. If a tour promises the same in two days, see the FAQ below.

What a fourth day adds

Four-day tours spread the same distance over more days, often with a second night near the dunes or an extra stop in the gorges. Itineraries differ, so read where you sleep each night and when you arrive at and leave the camp.

On Civitatis the four-day version starts at around €207 per person, against around €109 for three days. Prices change. Four days from Marrakech compares it with other ways to spend the same time.

Your camp matters more than its label

Standard, comfort and luxury are not shared categories, and the same tour can use different camps in busy weeks. Check the details that change your night rather than the name of the category.

Lunches and drinks are usually paid separately. Bring some cash in dirhams for them.

• Private bathroom in the tent, or shared?
• Heating in winter, or just blankets?
• Camel ride to the camp, or a 4x4 alternative if you prefer not to ride?
• Is a private tent guaranteed, or could you share?

Back to Marrakech or on to Fes?

If Fes is next on your trip, a tour that ends there avoids driving back the way you came. Fes is about 465 km from Merzouga, 7.5–8.5 h by road, and the three-day version ending in Fes starts at around €202 per person on Civitatis.

It only makes sense if your onward plans start in Fes: you travel with all your luggage and arrive in the evening. The desert comparison has more on this option.