Merzouga Travel Guide: The Dunes of Erg Chebbi
Merzouga is the small village in south-east Morocco where the Erg Chebbi dunes begin. This guide covers how to reach it, what to do, where to sleep and when to go. Fares and timetables were checked on 23 and 24 October 2026, and prices come from operator listings and booking sites, so check current price before you book.
Merzouga at a glance
| Merzouga | |
|---|---|
| Where | South-east Morocco, at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes |
| From Marrakech | 550 to 560 km, 9 to 12 hours by road (sources differ) |
| From Fes | direct Supratours night coach, 20:30 to 06:00 (9 h 30) |
| Nearest big town | Errachidia, the nearest official climate station |
| Time needed | 1 night minimum, 2 is easier after the long drive |
Erg Chebbi
Merzouga is a simple village of guesthouses, cafes and shops. Visitors come for Erg Chebbi, the sand dunes at its edge. Unlike the stony Agafay desert near Marrakech, this is a real sand desert, and the colour changes from pale gold at midday to orange at sunset. Most visitors spend one night in a camp in the dunes, arrive by camel at sunset and watch the sunrise.
How to get there
- Supratours from Marrakech: one direct overnight coach, 14:35 to 06:00 (15 h 25), 450 MAD. The way back leaves Merzouga at 07:30 and arrives in Marrakech at 20:00 (12 h 30). It drops you in the village itself.
- CTM from Marrakech: there is no direct service to Merzouga. To Ouarzazate there are four coaches (00:30, 10:15, 11:30, 16:15), 4 h 15 to 4 h 45, 115 MAD. To Errachidia every option needs a change, takes 11 h 30 to 18 h 45 and costs 235 to 485 MAD.
- From Fes: Supratours has a direct coach to Merzouga at 20:30, arriving 06:00 (9 h 30), no fare shown. CTM runs one direct night coach to Errachidia at 21:00, arriving 04:20 (7 h 20), 180 MAD.
- Tour: a 3-day shared tour from Marrakech is the usual choice, and reseller listings run roughly 99 to 300 USD per adult. See the 3-day guide for the route and the tours guide for how to check an operator.
- Car: the route over the Tizi n’Tichka pass is covered in the road trip guide.
These legs end in Errachidia, not Merzouga, so book your camp first and ask whether they will collect you.
Getting there compared
| From | Option | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | Supratours direct overnight coach, 14:35 to 06:00 | 15 h 25 | 450 MAD |
| Marrakech | CTM to Ouarzazate only (4 coaches), then onward | 4 h 15 to 4 h 45 to Ouarzazate | 115 MAD to Ouarzazate |
| Marrakech | CTM to Errachidia (needs a change) | 11 h 30 to 18 h 45 | 235 to 485 MAD |
| Fes | Supratours direct coach 20:30 to 06:00 | 9 h 30 | no fare shown |
| Fes | CTM direct night coach to Errachidia, 21:00 to 04:20 | 7 h 20 | 180 MAD |
| Marrakech | Shared 3-day tour | 3 days | about 99 to 300 USD |
Only the Supratours coaches drop you in the village itself. Both CTM legs end in Errachidia, so ask your camp whether they will collect you.
Things to do
Guides and operators mention these. We could not verify opening times or prices for most, so ask your camp.
- A camel ride into the dunes at sunset, usually ending at a camp.
- A night in a desert camp, with dinner and music. One operator lists a double tent at 60 EUR a night with dinner and breakfast, and an estimate for a camp-only stay is 600 to 1,200 MAD per person, which is a different scope.
- A climb up a dune for sunrise, which is harder than it looks in loose sand.
- Sandboarding, quad bikes and 4×4 tours, which many camps offer.
- Khamlia, a village near Merzouga known for Gnawa music, and the Rissani market, about 40 minutes away. Ask locally which days the market runs.
Is Merzouga worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a real sand desert and can give it two nights. The dunes are the reason to come, and a camel ride at sunset followed by a sunrise climb is what most visitors remember.
The cost is time. The direct Supratours coach from Marrakech takes 15 h 25 and costs 450 MAD, and by road it is 9 to 12 hours. That is why one night feels rushed.
Short on days? A night in the Agafay desert is much closer to Marrakech, but it is stony, not sand. Comparing dune areas? Read Merzouga vs Erg Chigaga. Want a ready route? See 3 days from Marrakech to the Sahara.
Where to stay
A camp gives you the night in the dunes, while a guesthouse at the edge of the sand has a room and often a pool. Check what is included: dinner, breakfast, the camel ride, a private or shared bathroom, and heating or blankets in winter.
When to go
There is no WMO climate table for Merzouga itself. The nearest official one is Errachidia, and Merzouga is probably a little more extreme. Errachidia averages 15.9 C by day and 2.0 C at night in January, 22.1 C and 8.8 C in March, 26.8 C and 14.2 C in October, and 39.5 C and 25.8 C in July. So spring and autumn are the easiest, summer is very hot, and winter nights are cold in a tent. September and October have the most rain days in the table (5 each), so a dry trip is not guaranteed.
What the official climate says
| Month | Errachidia average high | Average low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15.9 C | 2 C |
| March | 22.1 C | 8.8 C |
| July | 39.5 C | 25.8 C |
| October | 26.8 C | 14.2 C |
| November | 20.6 C | 7.7 C |
Errachidia is the nearest official WMO climate station, not Merzouga itself, which may be more extreme at night. The averages cover 1991 to 2020. Our Morocco weather guide has the full table.
What to pack
- A small bag for the camp night, because large suitcases usually stay in the hotel or the car.
- A scarf to protect your face from sun and sand.
- A warm layer for the night, even in spring and autumn.
- Closed shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen.
The downside: the journey is long, and a 3-day tour gives you only one night in the dunes.
Safety
Official Canadian advice is to hire only official guides recommended by hotels, travel agencies or the tourist authorities, to carry drinking water, and to use 4WD for off-road driving. Do not follow a stranger who offers a cheaper camp at the bus stop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Merzouga from Marrakech?
A direct Supratours overnight coach takes 15 h 25 and costs 450 MAD. By road it is 550 to 560 km, 9 to 12 hours. A shared 3-day tour is the usual choice.
Is there a direct bus from Fes?
Yes, Supratours runs a direct coach at 20:30, arriving 06:00 (9 h 30). CTM runs a night coach to Errachidia, 7 h 20, 180 MAD.
How many nights do I need?
One night at minimum, and two is easier after the long drive.
When is it too hot?
Errachidia averages 39.5 C in July. November to March days are mild, but January lows drop to 2 C.
What is the difference with Agafay?
Agafay is stony and 30 km from Marrakech. Erg Chebbi is a real sand desert.
Is the desert camp price per person?
Quotes differ in scope. One operator lists a double tent at 60 EUR a night with dinner and breakfast, and a camp-only estimate is 600 to 1,200 MAD per person.
Is Merzouga worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a real sand desert and can give it two nights. The dunes at Erg Chebbi are the draw, and a sunset camel ride plus a sunrise climb is what most visitors remember. The cost is the journey: 15 h 25 by the direct Supratours coach from Marrakech, or 9 to 12 hours by road. See the full verdict above.
How far is Merzouga from Marrakech?
About 550 to 560 km by road, and 9 to 12 hours depending on the source and the route. The direct Supratours coach takes 15 h 25 and costs 450 MAD (check current price).
Sources checked
Checked on 27 October 2026.
- Supratours and CTM timetables and fares, checked 23 and 24 October 2026
- WMO World Weather Information Service (Errachidia averages, 1991 to 2020)
- Operator listings and booking sites for tours and camps
- Rissani and Khamlia details come from guides and were not verified
