Things to do in Merzouga

Merzouga is the most famous Sahara city in Morocco. It is the last urban stop before venturing into the wild and the empty golden dunes of the Sahara desert. Merzouga is a small Berber town by the dunes of Erg Chebbi which reach up to 350m high, 5kms wide and an astonishing 50kms long. To the west of Merzouga, exists the salt lake Dayat Srji which attracts a wide range of migratory birds and desert birds and occasionally, Flamingos. The lake is usually dry in summer.

In recent years, Merzouga has become one of the most attractive touristic destination for both Moroccan visitors, who benefit from the heat of the sand dunes for their health and for tourists who find the Sahara desert to be the most suitable of most deserts for the adventure of a lifetime.

To help you plan your trip to the Sahara desert, here are the top things to do in Merzouga:

1- Camel Trekking :

Just like the nomads do, the best way to venture through the high sand dunes in a traditional style is on the back of a camel. The camel caravans in the sand dunes have a beautiful charm to them, with the camel guide in front leading the caravan through the desert. It is an experience like non other, especially during sunset, as you’ll get to enjoy the view of the spectacle on the back of a camel.

2- Night in a desert camp :

You cannot miss out on the chance to spend at least one night in a desert camp in the middle of Erg Chebbi dunes, just like the indigenous people of the Sahara used to do, except a little more luxurious. The desert camps all have running water, hot water, private/shared bathrooms (depending on the rate) and they all serve dinner. Their location is their best feature as they allow you to hang out in the sand dune under the light of the bright moon and the countless stars, undisturbed and uninterrupted by the swallowing modernization. You will also enjoy a drum show at the desert camp from the traditional Berber folklore.

3- Wake up for sunrise :

If you are obsessed with gorgeous landscapes or looking for the perfect light for a picture on the sand dunes, you’ll have to wake up to the captivating view of sunrise where light and shadow create a rather meticulous and mesmerizing scene on the golden curves of sand .

4- Sand boarding, 4WD in the dunes and Quad driving :

The sand dunes might seem boring, but they’re not. You can enjoy many activities in the Erg Chebbi dunes like sliding down the high dunes on a sand board, savor an intense and thrilling drive through the dunes on a 4- wheel drive or rejoice the freedom and wilderness with quad driving.

5- Visit the surrounding villages and landscapes

There’s more to the Sahara desert than just the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. The Sahara provides many other gorgeous landscapes to visit like the lake of Dayat Srij, Lake Yasmina, Al Khamlia village, the abandoned village at old mines and the black desert. You should also visit a local Berber family and get an insight into the daily life of the Berber people.

6- Visit the surrounding oasis :

Oasis are the essential life giving source for the people of the Sahara desert, where water is scarce and everything seems lifeless except for the Oases that usually surround a water source, a lake or follow by the sides of a river. They’re the only available ground for vegetation to grow and for life to flourish. Their main products are a variety of dates, known for their excellent quality in the desert.

7- Spot the animals of the desert :

The animal you’ll want to see most in the Sahara desert is the Fennec Fox. Unique to the Sahara desert, the Fennec fox has white fur and the longest ears of all fox species. The fox shares the Sahara with the desert cats, the same size as domestic cats with white-yellow fur, they’re the rarest of all animals in the Sahara desert. Other animals like lizards and snakes also roam the Sahara desert.

8- Shop in Rissani Market :

Rissani has a big market with many various local products like dates and other plants and fruits of the neighboring oases, traditional handmaid Berber carpets, the Saharan scarf with its beautiful colors, the traditional pottery of the area and Berber clothing.