I can’t remember how many times I was dreaming about being in the epic Sahara, word coming from Arabic ṣaḥrā´(صَحراء) and meaning “deserts”. The desert source of thousands of stories and cultures that developed around the magical sand dunes. Stories about nomads, camels, and stars that were stuck in my mind since I’m a little girl.

 

During our road trip through Morocco, one of the key places we wanted to visit was the Sahara, and thanks to Marruecos.com our experience was more than perfect!

 

 

Some facts about the Sahara

 

Did you know that sand dunes cover only around 25% of the Sahara’s actual surface?

This is the biggest hot desert in the world, covering 9,4 million square meters (3.6 million square miles) this is about 30% of the African continent.

The Sahara is not only sand dunes, but it also has salt flats, gravel plains, plateaus and even mountains as high as 3415mt (11,204 feet)  in Mount Koussi, an extinct volcano in Chad. There has been even snow reported on some occasions at higher elevations.

The desert is shared by 11 countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia.

Where to go for a desert experience in Morocco, Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga?

 

To visit the desert in Morocco you have two major Ergs, those large sand sea dunes formed by wind-blown sands, Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga.

Day trips from Marrakech are impossible and if you are offered one you will be probably brought to Zagora, which is nice but having only a few small dunes, nothing compared to Erg Chebbi high dunes.

If you want an off the beaten path and longer experience, then Erg Chigaga is your option. Located in the Drâa-Tafilalet area, to reach the high dunes you will need two hours in a 4×4 and a couple of days by camel, so it’s not always the best option for everyone. The installations in Erg Chigaga are not as developed as in Erg Chebbi and you will have a more rustic experience, but this is having a charm, right?

Erg Chebbi is perfect for almost everyone due to its accessible location close to Merzouga. This was our option as we were doing a 12-day road trip in Morocco and we could drive to the area independently without needing to take a tour from Marrakech.

 

Why choosing Erg Chebbi for a perfect Sahara experience in Morocco?

 

The sand dunes that rise up to 300 meters are visible from the road and I have to confess I was almost in tears when I first saw them from afar. I couldn’t stop recording and taking pictures even though we were still super far!

The hospitality offer around Erg Chebbi dunes is big and one of the main sources of income in the area. It became that big, that nowadays the hoteliers are working on a plan to keep the ecology of the sand dunes and decided to take out of the dunes all the Camps who were previously located deep inside the dunes. They were in a moment as many as 300 camps inside the dunes.

Can you imagine that magical night in the silent of the desert it was not that silent as you would have the next camp just after the next dune, plus the issue with the waste produced and water needed to maintain them?

Today, all the camps are located right on the edge of the sand dunes, so there are better services and environmental protection. You will still have an amazing experience and you can still camp for one night or go for camel rides, but the majority of installations are not inside the dunes anymore.

 

Best time to visit Erg Chigaga

 

The best time for visiting the Sahara Desert is between May and October when daytime temperatures are milder.

During the Saharan winter, the temperatures at night can drop below freezing, especially in December and January.  It can be very windy with windstorms sweeping the sand up to heights of 1000 meters and moving the sand dunes constantly, consider the sandstorms are more frequent between January and May and especially during the Sirocco wind season that goes between March and April.

During the summer months, between June and September, the area around Merzouga and the western Sahara Desert can be brutally hot, with temperatures averaging around 45ºC/ 115ºF during the middle of the day.

 

What to do during your desert stay in Erg Chebbi

The activities you can do in a desert Hotel are several and we tried to do as much as we could during our three-day stay.

We reached the Cafe du Sud, located at the base of the sand dunes in the evening and we were welcomed with tea and very friendly faces. After drinking the best Whiskey Berber, aka Morrocan Tea, we were ready to start our way to see the sunset.

 

 

Doing a camel safari in Erg Chebbi sand dunes

Riding a camel in Erg Chebbi dunes is one of the must-do activities to do in the Sahara.

I was doing a lot of research about how sustainable and responsible it’s to ride a camel and I couldn’t find clear and serious information pointing it’s bad for them being ridden.

The most important thing is to never ride camel that is in the city riding in the heat a lot of people, and NEVER ride them by two people. Also, it’s important to know how are they have taken care of and how they look. It’s also important though they can be for days without water that they have water available when they need it.

So we decided to go for a short ride in the evening to see the sunset in the higher dunes near our hotel.

 

 

Sitting in the sand dunes

Spending time in the sand dunes will be probably one of the best places to enjoy your stay. The sand is so soft and the color is incredible, plus the peace you feel sitting up there and enjoying the view will be a bath for your soul.

Sitting early in the morning to meditate while you wait for the sunrise or waiting to see the sunset is a good idea to enjoy the dunes, and don’t miss to go out during the night and watch the stars!

 

Doing a 4×4 Day tour around Erg Chebbi

Taking a day tour around the area was a very good idea as we could see so much and have a better idea about the region, to know closer the culture and nature.

The area around the Erg Chebbi dunes is beautiful and unexpectedly full of life and during the day we passed Villages, Nomad communities, we listened to Bambara music, eaten Berber pizza, walked near a lake full of Flamingos, and even visited an oasis.

 

 

 

Driving a Quad in the dunes

Taking a day trip through the area is a good one to get a better idea about the region, learn more about culture and nature.

The area around the dunes of Erg Chebbi is beautiful and unexpectedly full of life and during the day we pass through villages, nomadic communities, we listen to Bambara music, we ate Berber pizza, we walked near a lake full of flamingos and even an oasis.

 

 

 

What to wear in Moroccan Sahara

 

When packing for your Sahara experience is important to keep in mind the season when you will go as in the summer months it’s the hottest place in the world with summer temperatures that often exceed 57 degrees Celsius, but in winter it can get as cold as freezing temperatures by night.

The best is to wear layers and be covered from the sun during the day, and from the cold during the night.

No matter when you visit, having good sun protection is vital and covering your head to avoid getting a sunstroke, also wearing clothes that allow your skin being dry so you don’t lose water through sweat.

Regardless of the time of the year you visit Merzouga and any other area in Morocco, always keep in mind they are a conservative country and they follow the Muslim traditions. This means men and women should always cover bodies, including the arms and legs, and for women, the ideal is to wear more conservative clothes not showing too much skin or being too tight.

For example, wearing a tunic maxi dress, or jeans with a summer cardigan or a Kimono on top it’s a perfect outfit for your whole Morocco trip.

Where to stay for a Luxury experience in Erg Chebbi

There are several options to stay in the area. You can choose to stay in the town of Merzouga or Erfoud and from there make tours to the dunes for the day, or also stay in a hotel or camp right on the edge of the dunes, as well as camp for one or two nights in the middle of the dunes.
We stayed at the Cafe du sud complex where we could enjoy the Sahara at its best.

The first night we stayed at the Bivouac Luxury Camp, and the following night at the Riad Cafe du Sud.

 

READ MORE Cafe du Sud Hotel, Riad and Luxury Camp Review

 

Located right near the bigger dunes in Erg Chebbi, it was the perfect place to stay and we had so much fun, plus delicious food and a perfect mix between adventure and relaxing time in Merzouga.

 

 

How to get to Erg Chebbi from Marrakech

 

Technically Merzouga and Erg Chebbi dunes are located in an area called Pre-Saharan in southeast Morocco.

The nearest town is Erfoud, about 60 kilometers north, and Merzouga is about 40 km from the dunes that can be reached through the R702 road.

If you are in Marrakech, keep in mind Merzouga is located 560 kilometers to the East and it takes about 9 hours driving to get there.

We were doing a road trip so we made a stop in Ouarzazate before and after heading to Merzouga and arrived directly to our Hotel in the limit of the dunes with a small car, it was easy and fun to it ourselves but you can take an overnight bus from Fez or Marrakech with CTM or you can also book a tour directly from those cities.

You will find several tour companies offering extended itineraries from Marrakech and Fez, like Marruecos.com. These tours usually include a guide, different organized activities like camel rides and 4×4 tours.

 

Conclusion

If you are planning your Morocco trip I would highly suggest you include Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. You will experience all the life around the Sahara and the memories will stay forever in your mind.

The area is having great options for activities to do and good hospitality offer enough to choose for any budget.