Merzouga Camel Trek & Desert Camp: Overnight in Erg Chebbi

Ride into the dunes at sunset, camp under the stars, and wake in the Sahara

An overnight camel trek in Merzouga takes you from the village into Erg Chebbi's sand dunes on foot and by camel, ending at a nomad desert camp where you sleep in a tent, eat Moroccan food cooked on-site, and wake to breakfast before the return journey. The trek departs in late afternoon roughly two hours before sunset, lasts around an hour and a half to the camp, and includes a break mid-dunes for photos as light fades. Dinner and breakfast are provided. Sandboarding is optional during the ride.

The experience

You start in Merzouga village, where you leave your car at secure parking and pack what you need for the night. A Berber guide meets you and the trek begins in late afternoon, heading straight into Erg Chebbi's dunes on camel. The ride takes roughly an hour and a half, with a stop halfway through so you can photograph the landscape and watch the sun set over the sand. If sandboarding interests you, the guide can arrange it during this part of the journey.

The camp sits deep in the dunes. When you arrive, mint tea is waiting. Dinner is Moroccan tajine cooked in the camp kitchen. You sleep in a spacious tent, and breakfast comes the next morning before the camel ride back to the village. The guide is a native Berber, so the food, the setup and the evening's live entertainment reflect the region itself rather than a tourist version of it. Bottled water, coffee and tea are included throughout.

The whole experience runs about twelve hours from pickup to return. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, so communication is straightforward. The trek suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

What’s included

• Overnight camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes.
• nomad desert camp accommodation in a tent.
• Moroccan dinner and breakfast.
• bottled water, coffee and tea.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.
• pickup from Merzouga village.
• optional sandboarding during the trek.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesUp to age 40

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Top sahara tours

Is this one for you?You ride the camel yourself across the dunes rather than watching from a vehicle, and the overnight format means you sleep where the trek ends, so the Sahara becomes your setting rather than a place you pass through. This suits anyone with a free afternoon and evening in Merzouga who wants to move through the desert at the pace of the animals and the light, not a schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Arabic.

What time does the camel trek leave Merzouga?

The trek departs in late afternoon, roughly two hours before sunset, so you start riding as the light begins to soften and reach the camp as darkness falls.

Do I ride the camel the whole way to the camp?

You travel by camel for the roughly hour-and-a-half journey into Erg Chebbi, with a break in the middle of the dunes for photos and to watch the sunset before continuing to the camp.

What is included in the overnight stay?

Dinner, breakfast, bottled water, coffee and tea are all provided. You sleep in a tent at the nomad camp and return to Merzouga the next morning by camel.

Can I try sandboarding during the trek?

Sandboarding is optional and can be arranged during the journey if you are interested. Let your guide know when you arrive.

Is pickup from Merzouga included?

Yes, the guide meets you in Merzouga village, where you leave your car at secure parking before the trek begins.