What to do in Merzouga
The desert is not only dunes. What surrounds it surprises almost everyone, and it is what turns one night into a proper stay.
On the dunes
The sunset camel ride is what brings most people, and it still earns its place: you set off with time, reach a high point and watch the sun drop onto the sand. You come back in the dark.
At sunrise it is the other way round: you climb a nearby dune and watch it come up. There are fewer people than at sunset and the light is better. It is what guests thank us for most as they leave.
And in between, sandboarding, which is easier than it looks because sand forgives far more than snow.
Beyond the sand
This is the part almost nobody expects. Half an hour away by 4x4 there is an oasis with water, mines where marine fossils millions of years old are cut out of the rock, and nomad families still living in the area, where you stop for tea.
The village of Khamlia, a few kilometres off, is a Gnawa community, descended from people who came up from sub-Saharan Africa along the caravan routes. Their music, with metal castanets and drums, is one of the things people remember most from southern Morocco.
And if you come in spring, the lake at Dayet Srji fills with water and the flamingos arrive. It does not always have water, so ask before counting on it.
Everything you can do from here
Ordered from most asked for to most specific:
- Sunset camel ride, included in your stay.
- Sunrise from the top of a dune.
- Sandboarding, with the camp’s boards.
- 4x4 trip: oasis, fossils, nomads and Khamlia.
- Quad or buggy along the sand tracks.
- Berber cooking class in Khamlia, by prior arrangement.
- Evenings of Berber music by the fire.
- The Rissani souk, one of the most genuine in the south, on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Questions about what to do
How many days do I need to do it all?
Two nights covers the main things: camel ride, sunrise, sandboarding and the 4x4 trip. With one night you get the sunset, dinner and the sunrise, which is already a good deal.
What is included and what is extra?
The sunset camel ride, sandboarding and the Berber music are part of your stay. Quad biking, the buggy, the 4x4 trip and the cooking class are extra: message us and we will give you a fixed price.
Is there anything to do in the summer heat?
In the hottest months the plan changes hour, not content: everything happens early morning or late afternoon. We close in July because the heat makes it impossible to enjoy.
Is there anything if I do not want to ride anything?
Plenty. The sunrise, the evening of music, dinner outside on the sand, and the 4x4 trip, which asks the least effort and surprises people the most.
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We will put your stay together
Tell us how many days you have and what appeals, and we will tell you what is included and what is worth booking ahead.
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Keep reading
- Luxury desert camp in Merzouga, Morocco Just 10 private tents, away from the crowded camp area. From €100 a night, with half board, a sunset camel ride and the 4x4 transfer included.
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- Our luxury tents in the Merzouga desert Ten private tents, from €100 to €425 a night depending on occupancy. All with their own bathroom, a hot shower and air conditioning and heating.