Coach (CTM / Supratours)Supratours
Arriving9h 45m(585 min)190–270 MAD
Schedule: Once daily, overnight via Midelt and Erfoud
VillageCoordinates: 31.08° N, 4.01° W
Merzouga
مرزوكةⵎⵔⵣⵓⴳⴰ
Orange dunes of Erg Chebbi, indigo nights
See on the mapAt a glance
- Recommended stay
- 2 nights
- Best season
- October to April
- Elevation
- 698 m
- Best for
- Erg Chebbi sunset camel treks · Starlit Sahara desert camps · Khamlia Gnawa music
- Key landmarks
- Erg Chebbi dunesGrand Dune of Merzouga (about 150 m high)Dayet Srji seasonal lakeKhamlia Gnawa villageHassilabied oasis gardensRissani ksour and soukMausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif (Rissani)
Village at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes. Camel treks and desert camps.
Getting there
Overnight Supratours coach from Marrakech or Fès, or 2-hour drive south from Errachidia Airport (ERH)
Where the Black Hammada Meets the Golden Dunes of Erg Chebbi
At the southeastern edge of the Draa-Tafilalet region, flat expanses of dark desert stone suddenly give way to Erg Chebbi—a 28-kilometer-long sea of wind-sculpted orange sand dunes rising up to 150 meters above the village of Merzouga. As the sun drops, the sand shifts from pale gold to deep apricot and crimson before giving way to some of the clearest stargazing skies in North Africa.
Planning the Journey & Desert Experience
Because Merzouga sits 560 kilometers southeast of Marrakech and 460 kilometers south of Fès, break the overland journey in Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, or Ouarzazate—or take the overnight Supratours coach from Fès or Marrakech. Spend at least two nights on the dune line so you can pair an evening camel trek and Berber camp dinner with a morning visit to Khamlia’s Gnawa musicians and the traditional market town of Rissani.
Weather and climate
Weather now
Live–––
- Feels like
- ––
- Wind
- –
- Humidity
- –
- UV index
- –
- Today's UV peak
- –
Next 12 hours
Climate by month
Average low and highRainy daysFestivals & cultural events
- Erfoud International Date Fair (SIDATTES)(October, November)
| Month | Average low and high | Rainy days | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4°C – 17°C38°F – 62°F | 1 | — |
| Feb | 6°C – 19°C43°F – 67°F | 1 | — |
| Mar | 10°C – 24°C50°F – 75°F | 1 | — |
| Apr | 14°C – 28°C57°F – 83°F | 1 | — |
| May | 18°C – 32°C65°F – 90°F | 1 | — |
| Jun | 23°C – 37°C73°F – 99°F | 0 | — |
| Jul | 26°C – 41°C79°F – 106°F | 0 | — |
| Aug | 26°C – 40°C78°F – 104°F | 0 | — |
| Sep | 21°C – 35°C71°F – 95°F | 1 | — |
| Oct | 16°C – 29°C60°F – 83°F | 1 | Erfoud International Date Fair (SIDATTES) |
| Nov | 9°C – 22°C49°F – 71°F | 2 | Erfoud International Date Fair (SIDATTES) |
| Dec | 5°C – 18°C41°F – 64°F | 1 | — |
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (ERA5 reanalysis), 1991-2020 daily means at 31.08 N, 4.01 W; rain days = days with 1 mm or more. Updated November 7, 2026. open-meteo.com
Suggested itinerary
Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 6, 2026
Day 1 Day 1 — Arrival at the Dune Line & Erg Chebbi Sunset Camel Trek
- Morning
- Travel south through the date-palm canyon of the Ziz Valley and Erfoud, watching the flat black hammada suddenly give way to the golden ridges of Erg Chebbi.
- Afternoon
- Check into a dune-front kasbah in Merzouga or Hassilabied to rest during the midday sun, then set out by camel (or 4x4) 90 minutes before sunset into the high dunes.
- Evening
- Climb the crest of a 150-meter sand dune for sunset over the Algerian border horizon, followed by tagine dinner, Amazigh campfire drums, and zero-light-pollution stargazing.
Day 2 Day 2 — Desert Sunrise, Khamlia Gnawa Music & Rissani Market
- Morning
- Wake 40 minutes before dawn to watch the first pink and gold light ripple across the Erg Chebbi dunes before riding back for breakfast.
- Afternoon
- Visit the nearby village of Khamlia to hear live spiritual Gnawa music (Bambara heritage) over mint tea, then explore the traditional souk and ksar of Rissani (famous for Medfouna stuffed bread).
- Evening
- Take a quiet barefoot walk onto the lower dunes behind Hassilabied oasis gardens at dusk.
Tips
- Bring a long cotton scarf ('cheche') to wrap around your head and face against windblown sand, plus a warm fleece jacket—desert nights between November and March drop to 4–8°C.
- Confirm whether your desert camp includes private en-suite tents and whether camel or 4x4 transfers into the dunes are included in the room rate.
Getting around
- Never attempt Marrakech to Merzouga (560 km, ~9.5 hours) in a single day; break the drive overnight in Boumalne Dades, Tinghir (Todra Gorge), or Ouarzazate.
- Supratours runs a direct daily coach between Fès and Merzouga (overnight, ~9.5 hours) and between Marrakech and Merzouga (~12 hours).
Etiquette
- In Khamlia, a tip or CD purchase (50–100 MAD per group) directly supports the village Gnawa musicians' cultural association.
- Avoid motorized quad bikes on the main sunset ridges so walkers and wildlife enjoy the natural silence of the dunes.
Sources, updated November 6, 2026
Getting here by train and bus
Direct rail, high-speed train, and coach routes connecting Merzouga.
Festivals and events here
Annual cultural festivals, gatherings, and seasonal events in Merzouga.
- October · NovemberLate October to early November (2026 edition: 28 October to 1 November); Erfoud is about 1 hour from Merzouga
Erfoud International Date Fair (SIDATTES)
The Tafilalet oases celebrate the date harvest with a large fair of growers, tastings and folk music; nearly 90,000 visitors were expected. Merzouga is the nearest base on this site.
Recommended trip plans featuring Merzouga
Curated multi-day itineraries connecting Merzouga with other Moroccan destinations.
Photo: bachmont CC BY 2.0 Original file 7 daysMar · Apr · May7-Day Classic Route: Marrakech, High Atlas, Merzouga Dunes & Fès
The premier overland journey across Morocco connecting Marrakech over the 2,260m Tizi n'Tichka pass to the earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou, Todra Gorge, sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi, and the medieval medina of Fès.
Photo: Fbrandao.1963 CC BY-SA 4.0 Original file 10 daysApr · May · Sep10-Day Grand Morocco: Imperial Cities, Blue Rif, Sahara & Atlantic Coast
The ultimate 10-day route covering Morocco's highlights: Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, imperial Rabat, the blue medina of Chefchaouen, ancient Fès, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorge, Aït Benhaddou, Marrakech souks, and breezy Essaouira.
Guides
_-_Chaouen.jpg){kind=link}
Nearby
Todra Gorgeمضايق تودغىCanyon walls up to 300 m high, good for walks and climbing.Site · 1 night · 1,500 m
OuarzazateورزازاتⵡⴰⵔⵣⴰⵣⴰⵜFilm-studio town and gateway to the kasbahs of the south.City · 1 night · 1,151 m
Aït Bouguemezأيت بوكمازⴰⵢⵜ ⴱⵓⴳⵎⵎⴰⵣThe Happy Valley of the High Atlas: hut-to-hut backpacker trekking, dinosaur tracks, and conical hill granaries.Village · 3 to 5 days · 1,800 m