2-Day Private 4x4 Desert Tour from Merzouga: Erg Chebbi Off-Road

Fossil valleys, ancient ruins, and desert silence a short drive from the crowds

A 2-day private 4x4 tour from Merzouga that takes you off-road into the open desert west of Erg Chebbi, away from the standard tourist route. Your Berber guide leads you through fossil-rich valleys, past Neolithic petroglyphs and a 1500s ghost ksour, with a homemade BBQ lunch in the middle of nowhere and an overnight stay at a remote desert riad under the stars. Day two moves at your pace through hidden viewpoints and canyon overlooks before the return journey on a different route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Into the open desert

• Morning pickup and 4x4 departure
• Explore fossils and ancient sea life
• Visit Pinturas Piedras petroglyphs
• Spot desert wildlife
• Enjoy Berber picnic BBQ lunch
• Explore the Lost city ruins
• Arrive at remote desert riad
• Dine on traditional Berber dinner

Day 2: Sunrise and secret viewpoints

• Optional sunrise walk
• Breakfast at the riad
• Visit hidden scenic viewpoints
• Slow afternoon in the desert
• Return journey via different route
• Drop-off at accommodation or meeting point

The experience

You arrive in Merzouga with a free afternoon or morning, and your guide picks you up in a 4x4 to head west into the open desert, not toward the dune crowds at Erg Chebbi, but into the landscape most travelers drive straight past. The first day is built around discovery: you walk through fossil-rich valleys where trilobites and ammonites sit embedded in stone, stop at Pinturas Piedras to see Neolithic petroglyphs carved into rock between 6000 and 3000 BCE, and watch for desert foxes, sand gazelles, and migratory birds moving across the stony terrain. No other tourists follow this route.

Lunch arrives as a homemade BBQ picnic set up in the open desert (fresh bread, grilled meats, mint tea) the way locals actually eat out here. In the afternoon, you explore the Lost City, a ghost ksour of ruined stone buildings perched on a rocky outcrop from the 1500s, built to guard the old road to the oasis of Mharech. By evening you reach the remote desert riad, where the local cuisine is prepared according to Moroccan tradition and the sky fills with stars above.

Day two moves at your own pace. An optional sunrise walk catches the golden light before anyone else wakes, followed by riad breakfast of local bread, honey, argan oil, and Moroccan coffee or tea. Your guide then takes you to hidden viewpoint excursions: scenic overlooks and canyons that change with the season, always off the beaten track. The return journey follows a different route, so you see new landscapes on the way back to your accommodation or agreed meeting point.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 with your own Berber guide.
• pickup from your accommodation.
• homemade BBQ lunch in the open desert on day one.
• dinner and breakfast at the remote desert riad.
• water throughout the tour.
• overnight stay at the riad.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 5 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Elbaz Sahara Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your guide alone rather than joining a group, and the itinerary moves at your pace rather than following a set script: ideal if you want to linger at fossil sites or viewpoints without waiting for others. The 4x4 and off-road routes mean you'll spend time on rough terrain and in a vehicle. If you prefer staying on main roads or need smooth, paved surfaces, a standard Erg Chebbi dune tour would suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (2 to 5 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What's the difference between this tour and the standard Erg Chebbi dune tours?

This tour goes off-road west of Erg Chebbi into remote desert valleys and fossil sites, away from the main dune crowds. You travel privately with a Berber guide, stop at Neolithic petroglyphs and a 1500s ghost ksour, and eat lunch in the open desert with no other tourists around. Standard tours follow the same route and share space with multiple groups.

What do you actually see and do on the first day?

Day one includes fossil exploration in valleys where you find trilobites and ammonites in stone, a stop at Pinturas Piedras to see rock carvings from 6000–3000 BCE, wildlife spotting for desert foxes and sand gazelles, a homemade BBQ picnic lunch in the middle of nowhere, and an afternoon visit to the Lost City, a ruined 1500s ksour perched on a rocky outcrop.

Where do you sleep, and what's the overnight like?

You sleep at a remote desert riad located in the middle of the Moroccan desert in a spectacular location. Dinner and breakfast are prepared according to Moroccan tradition using local ingredients, and you wake to stars overhead.

How much time do you spend driving versus exploring on foot?

The 4x4 takes you between sites, but most stops involve getting out to walk through fossil valleys, explore the petroglyphs and ghost ksour, and move through the desert landscape. Day two is designed to slow down, with optional sunrise walks and time at hidden viewpoints without a fixed schedule.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes pickup from your accommodation, all meals (lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast on day two), water throughout, and the private Berber guide. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, or German depending on availability.