10 Best Things to Do in Merzouga (Morocco)

The Erg Chebbi dunes on the Morocco-Algeria border chime with everyone’s most romantic notion of the Sahara.

These ethereal dunes are shades of orange, gold and bronze, and a whole industry has sprouted on their western cusp, allowing you to live like a nomad for a day or two.

On expeditions into the desert you’ll taste Berber food, learn about desert lifestyles and hear the ancient, haunting music of the Gnawas.

Merzouga is near the shore of the seasonal Lac Dayet Srij, nourishing a kaleidoscope of birdlife in the middle of the desert.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Merzouga:

1. Erg Chebbi

People travel all this way for the magnificent sea of dunes rippling for almost 30 kilometres east of Mezouga along Morocco’s border with Algeria.

The dunes, always moulded by the wind, can rise as high as 150 metres over the surrounding desert and are almost magical late in the day when they cast long shadows and the low sun brings out the sand’s reddish tones.

There are countless ways to encounter this otherworldly terrain, by camel, by ATV, on foot, camping overnight and even on a snowboard!

Available tour: Overnight in Luxury Tent in Desert Camp Erg Chebbi Merzouga

2. Camel Trekking

What brings people hundreds of miles to this far flung desert settlement is the chance to taste the nomadic lifestyle as we know of it from movies.

The hardest part will be choosing a tour company that is right for you.

You’ll normally begin by picking out a headscarf in Merzouga before mounting your camel and loping off into the desert.

Tents, food and water will usually be included in the price, though you may need to establish this long before you leave, and with many companies you’ll be expected to haggle down the price.

Evenings are a joyous time, when you’ll have a tagine cooked on the fire, perhaps hear some live music and just gaze up at more stars than you’ve seen in your life.

If you’re out for multiple days, then you’ll escape the midday heat in your tent.

3. Lac Dayet Srij

This brackish seasonal lake four kilometres west of Merzouga dries out in the summer but is replenished by the autumn rains.

As a giant blue sheet against the desert dunes, Lac Dayet Srij would be photogenic under any circumstances, but is all more incredible for its profuse birdlife.

More than 30 different species have been spotted on the lake’s shores, from pipits to shelducks, sandpipers, plovers, wagtails and storks.

But the stars are the greater flamingos, which are best seen around March and April.

4. Tagines

Chances are that you’ve had a tagine before.

These traditional Moroccan stews, slow-cooked in a heavy clay pot and often contrasting sweet and savoury flavours, have travelled the world over.

Tagines, as you may well know, have a conical lid that circulates the steam, and after a couple of hours or more is removed to reveal a spiced lamb, mutton, chicken or vegetable dish that melts in the mouth and comes with couscous.

Now, many people can claim to have cooked their own tagine, but few can say that they’ve visited a Berber family in the middle of the Sahara and taken tips on how to make a tagine the proper way.

You can do just that in Merzouga, and finish it all the traditional way with a glass of mint tea.

5. Khemliya

A short way out of Merzouga is the village of Khemliya, which has a small community of people from the Gnawa ethnic group.

Gnawas originated in Central and West Africa, and were brought to what is now Morocco and Algeria as slaves (the word, Gnawa derives from the Berber for “slave”). After Islam was adopted by the Berbers, and slavery was abolished, the Gnawas adopted Sufism, allowing them to practise certain pre-Islamic traditions.

These included healing and prayer rites, which involved musicians playing bassy, driving melodies on a string instrument called a sintir, accompanied by hand-claps and call-and-response singing.

Often independent of its ritualistic purpose, Gnawa music has been exported beyond Morocco and is celebrated at major events like Essaouira’s Gnaoua World Music Festival.

In Merzouga you can arrange a guided trip Khemliya for an intimate performance of this ancient art form.

After the show you’ll be invited to pluck a few notes on the sintir.

6. Morocco National 4×4 Auto Museum

Morocco National 4x4 Auto Museum — Morocco National 4×4 Auto Museum

One of the more surreal sights in Merzouga is a national museum dedicated to off-road vehicles, here on the edge of the desert.

This attraction is free to enter, and presents a small fleet of 4×4 vehicles including Jeeps, Fords, Land Rovers, Range Rover, Toyotas, Moroccan army vehicles, as well as some more outlandish exhibits like a single-seater buggy and an amphibious vehicle.

The oldest car on show is a Ford Model T, strangely fitted with off-road tyres.

7. Sand Baths

An alternative therapy that will give you a story to tell to your friends back home, a sand bath means being immersed in a dune at the very height of summer.

The sand will be naturally heated to more than 40°C and a hole will be dug for you to lie in, with just your face uncovered.

This treatment has been practised for centuries, and is claimed to offer relief for rheumatism, back pain, arthritis and skin problems.

You’ll be supervised and constantly hydrated to prevent dehydration and sunstroke, and after leaving your sand bath will be given a blanket to prevent your body cooling too quickly.

8. Chez les Artistes (Galerie Laoun)

This endearing gallery in Khemliya is run by wife and husband, Johanna and Lahcen, both of whom are artists.

Their works are on canvas and cedar panels, with portraits of Berbers in traditional dress.

Also on show are painted ceramics, all available for purchase.

There’s a little cafe attached with extra seating in the courtyard, a peaceful place for a glass of mint tea, potent cup of coffee or a soda.

There’s a sintir at the cafe and if you’re lucky you may catch an impromptu performance.

9. Overnight in Luxury Tent in Desert Camp

If you’re a high-maintenance person and would prefer your journey into Erg Chebbi to be as comfortable as possible, there’s a package for you on GetYourGuide.com.

The Overnight in Luxury Tent at Desert Camp begins with an unforgettable sunset camel ride, after which your mount will be hobbled and you’ll repair to a plush tent for mint tea followed by a satisfying meal and lots of stargazing.

The next day you can zoom off on quad bikes or try sand-boarding, followed by a much-needed shower.

This experience includes water, and transfers to and from your accommodation or the bus station in Merzouga.

10. Full-Day Small Group 4×4 Dunes Tour

4x4 Dunes Tour, Merzouga — 4×4 Dunes Tour, Merzouga

You may be pushed for time, so you can swap a camel for an air-conditioned 4×4, and cram enough activities for a couple of days into just seven hours.

On this trip you’ll leave the roads behind, breezing through the desert scenery, take a look around Khemliya, play a sintir and meet a genuine Berber family for lunch.

You’ll learn about Berber customs and the ins and outs of life in the desert, living with sheep and goats, and working donkeys.

Your meal will be madfouna, a stuffed flatbread affectionately known as “Berber Pizza”.

Book online: Full-Day Small Group 4×4 Dunes Tour