From Fez to the Sahara: everything about the Merzouga desert (Erg Chebbi)

It is one of the most beautiful journeys you can make from Fez: reaching the great golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, at the gateway to the Sahara. Here is the complete guide — route, activities, best season and safety — so you can experience the desert with total peace of mind.

Merzouga and Erg Chebbi in brief

Erg Chebbi is a spectacular sea of dunes whose crests reach around 150 metres high, making them the tallest easily accessible dunes in Morocco, according to descriptions of the Erg Chebbi dunes. At dawn and at dusk the sand shifts through every shade of gold and red: a sight you will never forget.

Getting there from Fez

Allow around 460 to 470 km and 7 to 8 hours of driving from Fez, via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Errachidia and Erfoud. The road is paved all the way to Merzouga: an ordinary passenger car is perfectly adequate — a 4x4 is only needed for driving within the dunes themselves, as confirmed by guides comparing Morocco's deserts. The journey is best split over two days, with an overnight stop in Midelt or the Ziz Valley. Our article Fez → Merzouga road trip in 3 days breaks the route down day by day.

What to do in the desert

• Camel trekking: the classic experience, usually at sunrise or sunset, riding out to a camp deep among the dunes.
• A night at a desert camp: sleeping in a Berber tent (khaima) lets you watch the sun set and then rise over the dunes, beneath a star-filled sky untouched by light pollution, as recounted in accounts of camping at Merzouga.
• Sandboarding: surfing the dunes, open to everyone with no prior experience needed, according to local operators.
• 4x4 and quad rides: to explore the surroundings (oases, villages, the seasonal Dayet Srji lake and its flamingos in spring).
• Sunrise over the dunes: the highlight — an early alarm is compulsory, but you will remember it forever.

The best season

The ideal time to visit the desert is October to March-April, when temperatures are bearable; avoid the height of summer (June to August), when the heat becomes extreme, as recommended by guides to the Moroccan desert. Even in the right season, pack warm layers: Saharan nights are chilly.

Erg Chebbi or Erg Chegaga?

Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is the most accessible and the most popular. For a more remote experience, Erg Chegaga (near M'Hamid, further south) is wilder — but the paved road ends at M'Hamid, and from there you need a 4x4 to reach the dunes, as noted in comparisons of the two ergs. Coming from Fez, Erg Chebbi remains the logical choice.

Safety: the golden rules

• Never venture into the dunes or onto sandy tracks in a standard car. Off-road driving on sand requires a 4x4 and specific know-how; leave it to the local operators.
• Keep a generous fuel reserve and fill up at Erfoud or Rissani before entering the desert zone — petrol stations thin out fast.
• Navigation: carry an offline map (such as maps.me) and a local SIM so you stay reachable, as advised by desert-driving specialists.
• Avoid driving at night (animals, unlit stretches, sandstorms) and let someone know your route.
• Water and sun: carry plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen.

Ready for the wide open spaces?

The Merzouga desert is within driving distance of Fez — all it takes is a well-prepared journey. Book the car you need (a comfortable compact will get you all the way to Merzouga), brush up with our article Driving in Morocco, and let the dunes do the rest.