Merzouga has quite the package for anyone who wants a full desert experience. You can get a tour of the desert either by camel, 4x4, walking or quad bike. Get to mingle with the locals courtesy of a town tour and check out some landmarks like Marruecos and Galerie Laoun. Sleep under the Erg Chebbi stars in a tent. There is so much to do in Merzouga and below are just a few of those activities. Read on to learn about the best things to do in Merzouga, Morocco.
1. Visit the curious Morocco National 4x4 Auto Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A small museum with just 30 off-roading, quirky vehicles on display, the Morocco National Automobile Museum (MNAM), also known as, Morocco National 4x4 Auto Museum, was built under the direction of Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan, to showcase a tiny part of his car collection. The remaining fleet is housed in a pyramid-shaped museum in Abu Dhabi. The Morocco National 4x4 Auto Museum lies on the edge of the Sahara Desert, just south of Merzouga. The place can be hard to find as there’s little to no information online about it, which makes it all the more intriguing. Don’t miss the double jeep that was made on purpose for the museum.
Morocco National 4x4 Auto Museum
Address: 13 N13, Merzouga, Morocco
2. Spend a night in a tent at Maison Chez Nous Merzouga
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
A once-in-a-lifetime experience is offered by Maison Chez Nous Merzouga. Not far from Lake Dayet Srij, this magical place is made up of nine white tents. Guests appreciate the kind and attentive staff, as well as the candle-lit banquets laid out on low tables placed over long Persian carpets. In perfect Bedouin tradition, guests are invited to enjoy the conviviality of the experience while they listen to traditional songs and savor local specialties.
Maison Chez Nous Merzouga
Address: Ksar Merzouga, Boite Postale 75, Merzouga 52202 Morocco
3. Go on a daytrip to Merzouga Dunes and learn about the Berber Culture (from USD 187.0)
A full day of adventure lies ahead of the eager visitor who will be in for a treat. When visiting a foreign country, it’s always a unique, enriching experience to mingle with the locals, and Viator has just the tour for you. You’ll be traveling across the giant Erg Chebbi dunes in the Merzouga desert. Here, you’ll visit a Berber family home - a tent! - and try a delicious, traditional pizza cooked over the fire. All the while you’ll be learning about their livelihood and culture. The next stop will have you dancing and playing traditional instruments together with the inhabitants of Khamlia village. To conclude a splendid day, you’ll have the chance to admire the pink feathers of the flamingos moving in the sink across Lake Tamezguida (or Dayet Srij). What are you waiting for?
Merzouga Dunes and Berber Culture Private Day Trip with Lunch
Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Take a camel trek tour of the desert
Posted by MerzougaCamelTrekking.Com on Friday, 27 May 2016
Camels, what can I say about them other than they are the best things to happen to desert trekking, especially in the olden days when 4x4 cars were not even an idea in anyone’s mind. Anyway, fast-track to our time and we get leisurely rides on camels while taking in the wonder that is the Moroccan desert. At Merzouga, you will have the opportunity to plan and set in motion a camel trek with an experienced guide which will lead you into the Moroccan desert. Your camel trek will depart from Merzouga for an overnight experience at Erg Chebbi dunes.
At the foot of Erg Chebbi, a little before darkness engulfs the surroundings, camp will be setup and a fire will be going. Enjoy your dinner while sharing stories and adventures, with Berber songs in the background. In tented accommodations, be blanketed by galactic Saharan stars as you nod off to slumber land. A little before the crack of dawn, you will climb up the Erg Chebbi dunes to have a breathtakingly spectacular view of the sun rising over the desert while eating your breakfast. A sort of an anti-climax, after breakfast, it is back on the camels and back to Merzouga.
Camel Trek Tour
Address: Ksar Merzouga, Province Errachidia, C.P 52202 Morocco
Website: Camel Trek Tour
5. Take a walking trek of the desert
Nobody needs to tell you that walking through the desert is just asking for trouble, big trouble. But if you will be doing it with an experienced guide who knows the route through the shifty sands, it can be an adventure not to be forgotten. If you have a day to spare on your Moroccan adventure, plan to have a guided walk to the desert.
Before the end of the day, you will get to a camp just on the foot of Erg Chebbi desert whereby after setting up camp, you can go up the dune for a spectacular sunset. Spend the night cozied up in a desert tent. In the morning, you will head back up the dune for the sunrise, an experience on its own, while having breakfast. After some time of taking pictures and enjoying the overall experience, you will walk back to the departing point.
Walking Trek
Address: Ksar Tiharien, Merzouga Erg Chebbi 52202, Er Rachidia, Morocco
Website: Walking Trek
6. Sandboarding in Merzouga
Erg Chebbi dunes is always a flurry of activity being one of the main attractions in Merzouga. One such activity is the opportunity to sand board down the side of this dune. This thrilling activity has become a must-do for many people visiting Erg Chebbi. It is fun for both first timers and those that are acquainted with snowboarding and skiing.
You will be required to walk up the precipitous dune to reach the top, an arduous endeavour on its own. But the thrill you will get as you whiz down the dune makes up for all the sweat you broke climbing up. It is an unforgettable experience which has seen a few people going up two to three times to relive the experience.
Merzouga Desert Sandboarding
Address: Merzouga, Morocco
Website: Merzouga Desert Sandboarding
7. Mingle with the locals: tour the town and cool down at Galerie Laoun
Galerie Laoun, Khamlia, Maroc
Posted by Chez les Artistes - Johanna et Lahcen Mahmoudi - Artistes Peintres on Saturday, 15 February 2014
Get lost in this small town while discovering its people, food, markets and all other characteristics that make it what it is. It is a quiet town with not so much hustle and bustle, that can be found in Casablanca or Marrakech. Do some local shopping in the little shops dotting the streets. After a run around the town, take yourself to Galerie Laoun, a gallery cum coffee shop. While here, check out the art on display which outlines the Berber culture and way of life. Enjoy some mint tea or coffee while chatting or reading away the time.
Merzouga City Tour
Address: Merzouga 52202, Morocco
Website: Merzouga City Tour
8. Sleep in a desert tent
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Nothing better then a #merzougaluxurydesertcamps Breakfast to start your day @merzouga_luxury_desert_camps__ #breakfast #food #morocco#glamping#deset#glamping #africa
Posted by Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
For the avid adventure seeker, get to spend a night cozied up in a tent while on an overnight stay at Erg Chebbi dunes at Ali & Sara’s Desert Palace. Their tents will feel like you are in a highly rated hotel room with their plush cushions, lavish interior and incredible comfort levels.
Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
Address: Av. Hassan, Koutoubia center, 1er Etage, Bureau N°5, Morocco
Website: Merzouga Luxury Desert Camps
9. Savor the local dishes
Posted by Desert Hotel Haven la Chance on Thursday, 6 February 2014
If your adventure extends to trying out the local foods, then by all means, eat at one of the restaurants in the village like the Haven La Chance Desert Hotel, which is known for its great Berber cooking. If you opt for a more vegetarian dish, sashay over to Café Azul, whose menu is predominantly vegetarian with a few exceptions.
Haven La Chance Desert Hotel
Address: B.P. 17, Hassilabied, Merzouga 52202, Morocco
Website: Haven La Chance Desert Hotel
10. Jump into a 4x4 for a desert off-roading experience (from USD 55.0)
Merzouga is surrounded by quaint villages and great scenery which can be explored with the aid of 4x4s. Take a thrilling drive through the desert dunes spotted with black volcanic rocks, which get you to a few villages, on the route made famous by the Paris Dakar Rally. Stop over at El Khamlia village to mingle and possibly have some mint tea with the locals.
The 4x4 drive will get you to Rissani, a slightly bigger village where you will have lunch in one of the local restaurants that serve local foods including vegetarian dishes. Walk off the heavy lunch by visiting historical sites in Rissani, which will include a stopover at Sijilmassa ruins. You should note that you can make your experience a morning one or an afternoon one.
Merzouga 4X4 Half-Day Tour with Lunch
Duration: 5 to 7 hours
A world of desert experiences
A small town with a line-up of activities to be had, Merzouga will have you planning another trip just to experience the desert again. Feel the sand slide through your toes or the thrill of wind and sand on your face as you sand board down the dunes that surround this wonderfully surprising town, or just enjoy the friendly hospitality from the locals.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to