3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour: Camel Ride & Berber Camp

Wake in the dunes, ride out to nomad villages, sleep under stars twice

A 3-day tour based in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi desert, this trip strings together a camel ride to a private tent camp, a sunrise over the dunes, a full day exploring Berber settlements and the Gnawa music village of Khamlia by 4x4, and a return journey by jeep. You arrive in Merzouga on your own. The operator handles the rest: camel transport, camp stays with private tents and bathrooms, all meals, and a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Camel Adventure

• Arrive in Merzouga
• Transfer to Erg Chebbi dunes
• Camel ride at sunset
• Arrive at tent camp
• Enjoy typical Berber dinner
• Listen to Berber drum music

Day 2: Sunrise, Culture and 4x4 Route

• Wake up for sunrise
• Breakfast at camp
• Return by camel
• Begin 4x4 route
• Visit Khamlia village
• Meet Berber nomads
• Explore Lmifis mines and villages
• Enjoy lunch with locals
• Return to camp by 4x4
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3: Return from Desert

• Breakfast at camp
• Transfer by 4x4 to Merzouga pick-up
• End of services

The experience

You arrive in Merzouga and meet your guide, who transfers you by 4x4 to the edge of Erg Chebbi. From there, you climb onto a camel for the ride out as the sun drops behind the dunes. The camp sits in the sand itself (private tents with bathrooms, not a hotel), and dinner is Berber food cooked on-site. After dark, drums play and you have the sky to yourself.

Day two starts before sunrise. You watch the light come up between the dunes, eat breakfast at camp, then ride the camel back. A 4x4 and driver wait to take you through the day: Khamlia village, where Gnawa musicians still play the traditional way; Berber nomad settlements where you see how people live out here; the Lmifis mines and small adobe villages with their mosques. Lunch happens during the route, cooked by locals. You return to camp for another dinner and another night in the tent.

On day three, breakfast comes first, then a 4x4 transfer back to Merzouga where the tour ends. The whole route runs on camel and jeep (no walking treks, no long hikes), so the pace is set by the vehicle and the animal, not by fitness or stamina.

What’s included

• Camel rides at sunset and sunrise.
• 2 nights in a private desert tent with bathroom.
• 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch, all cooked at camp or during the route.
• a full day 4x4 exploration of Berber villages, nomad settlements and Khamlia.
• water to drink throughout.
• a guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• all transport by camel and 4x4 from arrival in Merzouga to departure.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two nights in the Merzouga desertUp to 10 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 04:00Pickup is included

MoroccoUp to 12 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 05:00, 05:30, 06:30 and 16:30Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 04:00, the last at 16:30

Book up to2h before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marrakech Camel Trips - Day Trips

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are arriving in Merzouga on your own and want the camp experience without arranging the logistics. The guide meets you, handles every transfer, and the fixed itinerary means you know exactly what each day holds. The 3-day length gives you two full nights under the stars and a full day to explore beyond the dunes, which a 2-day version does not.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

What happens on the camel ride to the camp on day one?

The camel ride to Erg Chebbi takes place in the late afternoon and evening as the sun sets. You ride out to the tent camp in the dunes, arriving in time for a Berber dinner and the sound of drums under the stars.

Do I sleep in a tent or a hotel in the desert?

You stay in a private tent with a private bathroom attached, both nights you are in the camp. The tents are set up in the sand at Erg Chebbi, and meals are cooked and served at the camp itself.

What is Khamlia and why do we visit it?

Khamlia is a village known for its traditional Gnawa music, a form of Moroccan folk music played on stringed instruments. The 4x4 route on day two includes a stop there so you can experience the music and the musicians in their own setting.

How much of day two is spent in the 4x4?

After a sunrise and breakfast at camp, you spend most of the day traveling by 4x4 through Berber villages, nomad settlements, and the Lmifis mines. Lunch is included during the route. You return to camp in the afternoon for dinner and the night.

Is the camel ride difficult, and can children do it?

The camel ride is described as relaxing, and children can ride if accompanied by an adult. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.