Merzouga & the Sahara Desert Place guide

The 150m-high dunes of Erg Chebbi are the main draw of Merzouga. The vast piles of sand stretching into the Sahara here are actually an offshoot of a much bigger area of dunes across the border in Algeria, but are accessed more easily on the Moroccan side. 

Many a Hollywood director has used Erg Chebbi as a film set, and it’s not hard to see why. As the sun moves across the sky during the day, the dunes change color from pale cream to deep orange and even red. The wind plays artist here, continuously sculpting beautiful shapes and patterns on the landscape. 

Despite the popularity of the dunes, one can easily escape any sign of human habitation on an overnight camel trekking adventure. If you’re en route to Fes from Marrakech, try going via a multi-day tour that makes a detour at the desert.