Merzouga Activities
Merzouga desert walk: cross the dunes of Erg Chebbi on foot with a local guide, at your own pace, for the widest views and the deepest silence.
Overview
Walking is the oldest way to cross the desert and still the most intimate. Without an engine or a saddle you notice the details: the ripples the wind draws on the sand, the tracks of beetles, lizards and desert foxes, and the way the colour of the dunes changes as you climb.
Your guide chooses a route to suit you, from an easy loop along the lower ridges to a climb to one of the highest dunes of Erg Chebbi, around 150 metres above the plain. You walk barefoot or in sandals, stop often and reach the top in time for sunset or just after sunrise.
Detailed programme
Start
Your guide meets you where the village ends and the sand begins, and chooses a route to suit your pace.
The walk can last from one to three hours. Wear closed shoes or go barefoot when the sand is cool, and carry water.
The walk
You follow the firm crests where walking is easiest, learning to read animal tracks and the shapes the wind leaves in the sand.
Your guide points out the plants that survive here, the tracks of beetles, lizards, jerboas and desert foxes, and how the wind builds and moves a dune.
Viewpoint
From the summit the whole of Erg Chebbi is laid out around you, with the black desert and the Algerian plateau beyond.
The highest dunes of Erg Chebbi rise about 150 metres above the plain. The climb is steady rather than difficult, with as many pauses as you like.
Return
The descent is the fun part: long strides straight down the soft face of the dune and an easy walk home.
Sunrise and sunset are the best times: cooler, quieter and far more colourful than the middle of the day.
This is a private experience, so times and stops can be adjusted to your arrival, your pace and the season.
Ask About This ProgrammeThe experience
Why choose this experience
Your guide reads the sand like a map: where it is firm, which animal passed in the night, where nomads once drew water.
Why Choose This ExperienceWhat’s included
Not included
Good to know
Location
Frequent questions
Along the crests the sand is firm and walking is easy. Climbing a high dune is slower, two steps up and one back, so we take it gently with plenty of pauses.
The highest dunes of Erg Chebbi rise about 150 metres above the surrounding plain. The climb takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Yes. Children usually love the dunes, especially running down. The guide adapts the route to their age.
Yes. It is arranged for you and the people you travel with, so the timing and pace are yours.
Send us a message on WhatsApp or by email with your date and the number of people. We reply with availability and the price, and nothing is charged for enquiring.
Yes. It can be booked on its own or added to any of our private tours that pass through Merzouga.
What to know before you book your Merzouga desert walk, and what else to do nearby.
Walk in the Desert in Merzouga is one of 6 private Merzouga activities on our list. Other Merzouga activities include 4x4 Desert Tour (3–4 hours), Quad Bikes (1–2 hours), Buggy Experience (1–2 hours) and Cooking Class (2–3 hours).
The best things to do in Merzouga start with Erg Chebbi Dunes (morocco's great sea of sand), Desert Camps (a night among the dunes) and Khamlia Village (the home of Gnawa music). Other things to do in Merzouga include Nomad Tents, Dayet Srji Lake and Rissani; our Merzouga travel guide covers each one.
Our Merzouga excursions include 4x4 Desert Tour (3–4 hours), Quad Bikes (1–2 hours), Buggy Experience (1–2 hours) and Cooking Class (2–3 hours). Every one of our Merzouga excursions is private, so the start time and pace are yours.
