1 Night Camel Trek Merzouga: Erg Chebbi Desert Camp

Sunset from a camel's back, then a night in the dunes under open sky.

A one-night camel trek in Merzouga's Erg Chebbi desert starts with a ride across golden dunes to a luxury camp, includes dinner and traditional Berber drum music, and ends with a sunrise breakfast before the return journey. The trek takes roughly 90 minutes to reach the camp, with a sunset break along the way. You sleep in a private glamping tent with bathroom facilities and ride back the next morning after breakfast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Overnight camel trek and desert camp

• Meet in Merzouga desert
• Begin 1.5-hour camel trek
• Stop to watch sunset and sandboard
• Continue camel trek to camp
• Enjoy mint tea and Berber music
• Dinner and overnight glamping
• Wake early to watch sunrise
• Breakfast at camp
• Return camel ride to Merzouga

The experience

The trek begins when you meet the camel caravan in Merzouga. From there, you ride across the sand for about an hour and a half toward Erg Chebbi, stopping midway to watch the sun drop behind the dunes. If you want, you can try sandboarding on the slope. Once the light fades, the caravan continues to the camp, where you're greeted with mint tea and shown to your private tent: a luxury glamping setup with its own bathroom, not a traditional Bedouin shelter. Dinner is served at the camp, and afterward, live Berber drum music plays by the fire while you sit under the stars.

You sleep in the camp that night and wake early to catch the sunrise from the dunes. Breakfast follows in the tent or at the camp, and then the guide leads you back to Merzouga on camel, retracing the route. The whole experience (trek out, overnight, trek back) fits into a single calendar day, so you don't need to rearrange your schedule around multiple nights away.

A live English-speaking guide leads the trek and stays with you throughout. Children from age one are welcome, though infants must sit on an adult's lap during the camel ride. Your car can be parked safely in Merzouga while you're in the desert. Drinks beyond the mint tea and breakfast coffee are not included, and the trek involves real riding time, not a short photo stop. This is the way Bedouin have crossed the desert for centuries, and the pace reflects that.

What’s included

• Private luxury glamping tent with bathroom.
• camel riding with a live English-speaking guide.
• dinner at camp.
• breakfast the next morning.
• mint tea and coffee.
• Berber drum music and campfire.
• car parking in Merzouga while you're in the desert.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:00

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 29

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Visit Merzouga

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day free and want to sleep under stars in the desert. Choose a different tour if you prefer returning the same day or need hotel-standard facilities.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the actual camel riding each way?

The ride to the camp takes roughly 90 minutes across the dunes, with a sunset break in the middle. The return ride the next morning follows the same route and takes about the same time.

What is Erg Chebbi and why does the trek go there?

Erg Chebbi is the massive sand dune field near Merzouga, the heart of the Sahara in this region. The trek crosses it because the dunes are where the landscape opens up. That's where you get the sunset view and where the camp sits, surrounded by sand rather than rock or scrub.

Do I sleep in a traditional Bedouin tent or something else?

You sleep in a private luxury glamping tent with a bathroom attached, not a traditional nomadic structure. It's set up in the middle of the dunes, so you're still in the desert under the open sky, but with more comfort and privacy than a canvas Bedouin tent would offer.

Is there anything to do besides riding and sitting at camp?

You can try sandboarding on the dunes during the sunset break if you want to. It's optional. The evening includes Berber drum music and a campfire. The main event is the riding itself and the time under the stars.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Dinner, breakfast, mint tea, camel riding, the guide, and your private tent with bathroom are all included. Drinks beyond tea and coffee cost extra, and if you need air conditioning (some camps offer it), that's an additional charge.