By Abdellatif Mansour Morocco Desert Guide | Updated 2026
There is no experience in Morocco quite like riding a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset. The golden light, the silence, the slow rhythm of the camel’s stride across one of the tallest dune fields in the Sahara it is the kind of moment that stays with travellers for the rest of their lives.
As a licensed Moroccan tour operator based in Marrakech with years of experience guiding travellers through Erg Chebbi, I have led hundreds of camel treks into these dunes. This guide covers everything you genuinely need to know before booking from how the trek actually works, to what time of year to go, to how to choose an ethical operator. This is the honest local picture, not a marketing brochure.
What is Erg Chebbi?
Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco’s most spectacular ergs a large sea of sand dunes formed by wind-blown sand on the far western edge of the Sahara Desert. The dunes rise to 150 metres from the surrounding hamada the rocky desert and span approximately 28 kilometres from north to south and 5 to 7 kilometres from east to west, lining the Algerian border.
The gateway village to the dunes is Merzouga, a small settlement on the western lee of the dunes approximately 35 kilometres southeast of Rissani and 560 kilometres from Marrakech. Merzouga is home to more than 70 hotels and related camps, with tourism being the main source of income in the area.
Erg Chebbi has been popular with international travellers since the 1980s and today draws visitors from across Europe, North America, Australia and beyond all drawn by the same thing: the chance to experience the Sahara in its most dramatic form.
Types of Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi
Not all camel treks in Erg Chebbi are the same. Understanding the different options before you book saves considerable disappointment.
Sunset Camel Ride 1 to 2 Hours
The shortest option is a camel ride from the edge of Merzouga village into the dunes to watch the sunset, then return. This is ideal for travellers with limited time, families with very young children, or those who want a taste of camel trekking without committing to an overnight experience. Prices range from 150 to 300 MAD per person approximately 14 to 28 euros.
This option is genuinely enjoyable but it does not give you the full desert experience. You will see the dunes and the sunset but you will not experience the silence of the desert at night or the extraordinary Saharan stars. If your schedule allows, the overnight option is significantly more rewarding.
Overnight Camel Trek The Most Popular Option
This is the standard Erg Chebbi experience and by far the most common option for travellers on organised Morocco desert tours from Marrakech. The overnight camel trekking in Merzouga starts in the evening around 5 to 6 PM from the edge of the dunes. Your camel driver leads the caravan and helps with photographs and any assistance needed along the way. The camel ride to the camp takes between one and one and a half hours.
At camp you spend the night in a Berber tent, enjoy dinner under the stars, experience evening music around the fire, and wake early for sunrise over the dunes before riding back to Merzouga. Prices range from 600 to 1,500 MAD per person depending on camp quality approximately 55 to 138 euros.
How a Camel Trek Actually Works The Real Timeline
Understanding the exact sequence of events removes uncertainty and helps you prepare properly.
Afternoon Departure from Merzouga
Most overnight treks depart between 4:00 and 6:00 PM depending on the season. The timing is deliberate you want to be riding as the light turns golden for sunset and arrive at camp after dark when the stars emerge. You meet your camel guide at the departure point usually a kasbah or guesthouse on the eastern edge of Merzouga. Your guide will help you mount the camel the camel kneels, you sit, and the camel rises back legs first then front legs. This lurching movement catches most first-time riders off guard. Hold the saddle firmly.
The Ride What to Expect on a Camel
Camels walk at approximately 4 to 5 kilometres per hour in sand. The rhythm is a gentle swaying motion that most people find comfortable after the first 10 to 15 minutes. Your guide walks alongside or leads from the front camel. The ride to camp takes between one and two hours depending on the camp location. If the timing works out you will be able to stop along the way to sit on the dunes and watch the sunset. The best photography of the trek happens during this section camel silhouettes against the dune faces, the caravan stretched out across the sand, the deepening orange light.
Evening Arrival at Desert Camp
On arrival you are shown to your tent and given time to settle. A welcome drink of mint tea and dates is served the traditional Moroccan greeting. Dinner is served around 8:00 to 9:00 PM typically a salad plate, harira soup in cooler months, a main tagine of chicken or vegetables, fresh bread, fruit and unlimited mint tea. After dinner the campfire begins. Your guides play bendir drums and sing traditional Berber and Gnawa songs. The atmosphere is informal guests are welcomed to join the drumming. This evening around the fire is one of the highlights of the entire Morocco trip for most travellers.
Night The Desert Sky
The Merzouga desert is a stunning landscape at night. The desert is bathed in silver light when the moon is full. When the moon is small the night sky stretches out in front of you dazzling with a billion stars. Shooting stars are frequently seen. There is no urban light pollution within 50 kilometres of Erg Chebbi. On a clear moonless night which describes the majority of nights in this region the Milky Way is fully visible from horizon to horizon. Many travellers describe this as the single most impressive sky they have ever seen.
Temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Even in summer nights in Erg Chebbi can drop to 20 degrees Celsius. In winter months they drop to 2 to 8 degrees. All camps provide blankets luxury camps provide duvets. Bring a warm layer regardless of season.
Morning Sunrise Over the Dunes
Guides wake travellers approximately 45 minutes before sunrise usually between 5:30 and 6:30 AM depending on the season. The short walk or camel ride to a high dune for sunrise is for many the single best moment of the entire Morocco trip. The light in the Sahara at sunrise moves through deep purple, orange and gold before the full light arrives. The process takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes and changes completely every few seconds.
Breakfast is served after sunrise at camp bread, olive oil, jam, honey, eggs and mint tea. Return to Merzouga is by camel (same route, one to one and a half hours) or by 4×4 vehicle (15 to 20 minutes). Most tour operators offer 4×4 return as an option at no extra cost.
Best Time of Year for Camel Trekking in Erg Chebbi
The most favourable time to visit Erg Chebbi is between October and April, when temperatures are milder and conditions are more suitable for camel trekking and desert excursions.
The best months for camel trekking in Erg Chebbi are October, November, March and April. During these months daytime temperatures range from 23 to 30 degrees Celsius with cool nights between 8 and 14 degrees perfect conditions for desert travel.
December and January are cold at night dropping to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius but offer exceptional clear skies, fewer tourists and some of the best stargazing of the year. Bring warm layers for these months.
February and March see temperatures warming gradually. March is one of the most beautiful months warm days around 23 degrees, cool nights around 8 degrees and excellent light for photography.
April is widely considered the best single month to visit. Days reach 27 degrees, nights stay at 12 degrees and the dunes are at their most photogenic. October and November are equally excellent with very similar conditions.
May is acceptable with days reaching 33 degrees but evenings remain pleasant. June begins the hot season with days reaching 39 degrees camel treks are limited to early morning and after sunset only.
July and August are the hottest months with temperatures reaching 43 to 44 degrees Celsius during the day. These months are not recommended for camel trekking and most international tourists avoid Erg Chebbi entirely during this period. During the warmest part of the year some Moroccans do come to Erg Chebbi for a traditional sand therapy practice being buried neck-deep in the hot sand as a treatment for rheumatism but this is not a tourist activity.
September remains very hot at 38 degrees and is best avoided. By October temperatures become comfortable again and the peak tourism season resumes.
What to Pack for a Camel Trek in Erg Chebbi
Packing correctly is the difference between a comfortable experience and a difficult one. The essential items to bring are a warm jacket or fleece even in summer for the cold night, a scarf or shesh to wrap around your face in case of sand wind, sunscreen SPF 50 and sunglasses for the morning dune walk, a camera or smartphone with good low-light performance for the stars, a small backpack only leaving large luggage at your hotel in Merzouga, cash in MAD for tips with 50 to 100 MAD per guide being appropriate, personal medication since the nearest pharmacy is in Rissani 42 kilometres away, a torch or headlamp for moving around camp at night and earplugs if you are a light sleeper as wind and animal sounds are common.
Do not bring large suitcases or wheeled luggage as camels carry small bags only. Leave valuables locked at your hotel. Avoid white or very light clothing as desert sand stains permanently.
Choosing an Ethical Camel Trekking Operator
This is the section most guides skip. It matters enormously.
Camels in the Merzouga area vary considerably in how they are treated. Some operators run their camels multiple times per day without adequate rest, food or water. Others treat their animals well and limit daily trek frequency. As a visitor you have the power to choose operators who maintain proper welfare standards.
Signs of well-treated camels include animals that appear alert and in good body condition, not thin with visible ribs. Camels should have adequate time to rest between treks and saddles should be padded and properly fitted with no raw sores on the animal’s back.
Questions to ask before booking include how many treks each camel does per day, what the camels eat and when, and how long the guide has worked with these specific animals. A responsible operator will welcome these questions. An operator who dismisses them is telling you something important
Sand Therapy A Traditional Saharan Practice at Erg Chebbi
One of the lesser-known aspects of Erg Chebbi is a centuries-old Berber healing tradition practiced in the summer months. During the warmest part of the year some Moroccans come to Erg Chebbi to be buried neck-deep in the hot sand as a treatment for rheumatism, joint pain and skin conditions. The practice known locally as Rmal therapy is based on the extreme heat of the sand in July and August when surface temperatures can reach 70 degrees Celsius.
This is not a tourist activity. It is a genuine traditional practice observed in this region for generations, primarily by Moroccan visitors rather than international tourists. It represents an aspect of Erg Chebbi’s cultural significance that goes beyond the camel trek experience most visitors know.
How to Get to Erg Chebbi from Marrakech
Merzouga is approximately 560 kilometres from Marrakech around 9 to 10 hours by road. The most convenient option for first-time visitors is an organised 3-day Morocco desert tour from Marrakech which includes transport, accommodation en route, the camel trek, desert camp and return journey typically via a different route through the Draa Valley or Todra Gorge.
If you prefer to drive independently the road is paved and well-maintained throughout. Fuel up in Erfoud the last reliable petrol station before Merzouga. Supratours also runs bus services from Marrakech to Merzouga taking 12 and a half hours, and from Fes to Merzouga taking 11 hours a budget-friendly but long option.
Practical Information
Merzouga is approximately 560 kilometres from Marrakech (9 to 10 hours) and 480 kilometres from Fes (8 to 9 hours).
Camel trekking is suitable for children aged 6 and above. Younger children can ride with an adult. For elderly travellers or those with back problems a 4×4 transfer to the desert camp is always available as an alternative delivering the same camp experience without the physical demands of the camel ride.
Prices for camel trekking in Merzouga range from 150 to 300 MAD for a short sunset ride, 600 to 1,500 MAD for an overnight trek including camp, and 1,500 to 3,500 MAD for a multi-day trek of 2 to 3 nights. Prices vary by season and group size. Booking directly through a licensed local operator typically costs 20 to 30 percent less than booking through international platforms.
Advance booking is strongly recommended particularly in peak season from October to April. Desert camps have limited capacity and the most popular dates fill weeks ahead. Book at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead for travel in October, December, March and April.
For a complete guide to choosing the right desert camp for your overnight stay see our detailed breakdown of desert camps near Merzouga covering everything from budget Berber tents to luxury ensuite camps with real price comparisons. Desert Camps Near Merzouga: Complete Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be sore after riding a camel? Many first-time riders experience mild soreness in the inner thighs and lower back after 1 to 2 hours on a camel. For the overnight trek the ride each way is 1 to 1.5 hours which is usually manageable. For multi-day treks expect to feel it more your body adapts after the second day.
What if a sandstorm happens? Sandstorms in Erg Chebbi are relatively rare but do occur particularly in spring. Your camel guide will wrap your face in a scarf and lead you to shelter. Desert camps are designed to withstand wind. Follow your guide’s instructions and stay calm.
Is it safe to drink the water at desert camps? Use bottled water only. All reputable camps provide bottled water. Do not drink from any well or natural water source in the desert without purification.
Can I do a camel trek without a guide? No. Erg Chebbi covers 28 kilometres of identical-looking dunes. Without a guide disorientation is extremely dangerous. Always trek with an experienced local guide who knows the terrain.
Book Your Camel Trek with Morocco Desert Guide
Morocco Desert Guide offers private and shared camel trek packages as part of our 3-day and 4-day Morocco desert tours from Marrakech. Every trek we offer includes licensed experienced camel guides, well-rested and properly maintained camels, desert camp with dinner and breakfast included and return transport to Merzouga village.
Contact us by email at moroccodesertguide1@gmail.com, by WhatsApp at +212669565458 or visit morocco-desert-guide.com to browse our full range of desert tour packages.
