Overview
A Merzouga camel trek is the slow way into the Sahara. You ride out of the village into the Erg Chebbi dunes, reach a camp among the sand and spend the night there: sunset on the way in, sunrise in the morning.
You set off from the edge of Merzouga, where the houses stop and the sand starts. The camels walk in a line at an easy pace, and within minutes the village has disappeared behind the first dunes. The tallest dunes of Erg Chebbi rise to around 150 m, so the view keeps changing as you go up and down the ridges.
The reason most people come is the light. Late in the day the sand turns from gold to deep orange, then red, and the shadows between the dunes grow long and sharp. Early the next morning it all happens again in reverse, and it is worth setting an alarm for.
The trek ends at a desert camp among the dunes, where you spend the night. Once it is dark the sand goes quiet and, far from the village lights, the sky fills with stars.
Highlights
- Ride out of Merzouga straight into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Look out over dunes that rise to around 150 m
- Watch the sand turn from gold to orange and red at sunset
- Spend the night in a desert camp among the dunes
- See the sky fill with stars, far from the village lights
- Wake up early for sunrise over the dunes
How it works, step by step
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1
Choose your date and your camp
Pick your date, the number of people and the camp, standard or superior, in the booking panel on this page. Pay online, or send us an enquiry if you would like to ask something first.
€40 per person, standard camp · €70 per person, superior camp
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2
Meet us in Merzouga
The activity runs from Merzouga, the village at the edge of Erg Chebbi. If you are already in Merzouga or on one of our tours, tell us where you are staying when you book, and we confirm the details when we reply.
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3
The camel trek into the dunes
You set off from the edge of the village with the camels walking in a line at an easy pace. Riding a camel takes no experience: lean back when the camel stands up and sits down, hold on, and let it do the walking.
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4
Evening and night at camp
The light is at its best as the day ends, with the dunes turning orange and then red. The trek ends at a camp among the dunes, where you spend the night under a sky full of stars.
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5
Sunrise, then back to Merzouga
Early the next morning the colours come back over the dunes in reverse, so set an alarm. After sunrise you head back to Merzouga.
Photos
Good to know before you go
Standard camp
At €40 per person, the standard camp has electricity and shared bathrooms. There is no Wi-Fi. Choose it if you are mainly there for the dunes and the stars.
Superior camp
At €70 per person, the superior (luxury) camp gives you a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi. The trek is the same; only the camp changes. Compare them in desert camps: standard or luxury.
Layers for the night
Even after a hot day the desert cools quickly once the sun goes down. Winter nights are cold, so bring a warm jumper or fleece and something for your head.
Sun and sand
A hat or a scarf you can wrap around your face, sunglasses and sunscreen. If the wind picks up, the scarf keeps sand out of your nose and mouth.
Comfortable clothes
Long trousers are more comfortable on a camel than shorts. Shoes you can slip off are handy for walking barefoot on soft sand.
A small bag
Pack what you need for one night in a small bag: a torch or phone light, water, a toothbrush and any medication.
Merzouga camel trek: your questions
What is included?
The camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and one night in a desert camp, standard or superior depending on what you choose. We confirm the full details when we reply to your booking.
How much does the camel trek cost?
€40 per person with a night in a standard camp, €70 per person with a night in a superior camp.
What is the difference between the two camps?
The standard camp has electricity and shared bathrooms, with no Wi-Fi. The superior camp has a private bathroom with hot water, charging outlets and Wi-Fi.
Can I add the trek if I am on one of your tours?
Yes. If you are already in Merzouga, travelling on your own or on one of our tours, you can add the camel trek and a night in the dunes. Tell us your tour and dates when you book.
When is the best time of year?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer middays are hot, so sunset and sunrise are the gentlest hours. Winter days are often mild and clear, but desert nights can drop close to 0 °C, so pack warm.
What travellers say about our tours
Rated 4.9/5 by 64 travellers on Tripadvisor, across all the tours we run.
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