Southern Morocco has two great ergs, those seas of sand dunes: Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, and Erg Chegaga, beyond M’Hamid. Both feature in our escapes, but they are experienced quite differently. Here is what sets them apart, based on our own itineraries.
Erg Chebbi, the golden dunes of Merzouga
On the edge of the village of Merzouga, Erg Chebbi unfolds its golden sand dunes. The road there is already a journey: the Todgha (Toudra) gorges in the heart of the Tinghir palm grove, Erfoud and its fossils, then Rissani, whose souk was an important caravan trading post and where you can try a Berber pizza.
In Merzouga, the camel drivers are waiting to take you on a 45- to 50-minute camel ride, depending on the tour, to the evening’s desert camp, often at sunset. Depending on the programme, you spend the night at a comfort camp with private showers and toilets, or in a comfort tent, sometimes with Berber music and entertainment.
Sunrise among the dunes of Erg Chebbi: a magical moment not to be missed, especially if you love photography.
Our departures to Erg Chebbi
- From Ouarzazate: Merzouga Desert (2 days / 1 night) and Sea of Sand (3 days / 2 nights);
- From Marrakech: Sahara Express (3 days / 2 nights) and Erg & Reg (4 days / 3 nights).
Erg Chegaga, the wildest desert
To reach Erg Chegaga, the largest and wildest of Morocco’s deserts, you leave the tarmac at M’Hamid, the last village in the Drâa valley. From there it is the old Paris-Dakar tracks, between stony plateaux (reg) and sand dunes (erg). There is no shortage of vegetation: acacias, tamarisks and calotropis dominate this part of the Sahara. Lunch is a picnic at the Sacred Oasis, an essential stop for the caravans of old.
At the camp, you are welcomed with Sahrawi tea. An optional camel ride, or a walk, lets you take in the sea of sand and the sunset over the dunes. You sleep in nomad tents or comfort tents, with separate or shared showers and toilets; on some evenings, the young Berbers of the camp bring the night to life with music.
The next day, the track crosses the dry lake of Iriki (watch out for mirages) and follows the jbel Bani to Foum Zguid, after some 90 km of track. On the road to Ouarzazate, Taznakht, the capital of Berber carpets, offers the chance to visit a women’s weaving cooperative if you wish.
Our departures to Erg Chegaga
- From Ouarzazate: Chegaga Desert (2 days / 1 night);
- From Marrakech: Dream of Sand (6 days / 5 nights) and Desert & Ocean (7 days / 6 nights);
- From Agadir: Valleys & Dunes and Magic of the South (4 days / 3 nights);
- As a family holiday: Magic of the South (11 days / 10 nights).
How to choose
- By departure city and time available: from Ouarzazate, either erg can be reached in 2 days. From Marrakech, Erg Chebbi is possible in 3 days and Erg Chegaga from 6 days. From Agadir, our escapes reach Erg Chegaga in 4 days.
- By the atmosphere you are after: Erg Chebbi appeals with its golden dunes and arriving at camp by camel; Erg Chegaga with the adventure of the track and its wild character.
- By the level of comfort you want: the type of tent and the facilities vary from one programme to another; we specify them in every proposal.
Still undecided? Tell us what you are looking for and we will build the right escape with you.
