The majority of travelers arrive in Merzouga on multi-day excursions from cities such as Marrakech. Typically, these private or group adventures cross Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, then check out sights such as Ouarzazate, the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou casbah, and the Todra Gorges, before moving on to Merzouga. Most then continue with short camel treks into Erg Chebbi, where guests stay overnight in tented camps among the dunes.
Those staying longer in Merzouga can book various desert sports and adventure trips like dune buggy drives, 4WD safaris, and sunset camel rides.
The easiest way to reach Merzouga from Marrakech is on a guided tour; you’ll maximize your sightseeing while skipping the hassle of driving yourself. Daily buses also run to Merzouga from Marrakech, while overnight buses depart from Fez. Alternatively, fly to Errachidia Airport, a 2-hour taxi ride from Merzouga.
Between June and September, Merzouga and the dunes are unbearably hot, with midday temperatures often hitting 115°F (46°C). The town is busiest between October and February, when the days are comfortably warm. March and April are also pleasant, but sandstorms aren’t uncommon.
If you have time to spare in Merzouga, grab the chance to go a little off the main tourist trail. Head to the nearby mirage-like Lake Dayet Srij, crowded with flamingos, storks, and egrets. Or, visit the village of Khamlia, where Gnawa musicians chant and play castanets and drums, performing songs that draw on their ancestors’ history as slaves.